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Prepared by Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

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January Key Points:

  • Average temperatures in January were near normal for much of the state, although temperatures varied throughout the month from record warm to record cold.
  • Rainfall was generally below normal for the month, although a few places had above normal rainfall including southeastern Florida and parts of the central Panhandle.
  • The La Niña advisory remains in effect and is expected to continue through spring (~67% chance).
  • Moderate drought (D1) emerged in the extreme western Panhandle in January.

 

Average temperatures in January were near or below normal for much of Florida. Average temperature departures from normal ranged from -2.0 ̊F in Pensacola to +0.6 ̊F in Tampa for the month (see Table 1 and Appendix 1 for select cities). Temperatures varied throughout the course of the month. January began with unseasonably warm weather, when average temperature departures from normal ranged from +5 ̊F in the south to +27 ̊F in parts of northwestern Florida on the 1st of the month. From January 1-2, many stations in North and Northwest Florida observed record warm maximum and minimum temperatures. Several cold fronts then impacted the state later in the month, with record cold temperatures and freezes on the 29th and 30th impacting even southern Florida. Several stations had a record cold day on the 29th and/or 30th based on mean temperatures, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Usher, Lakeland, and Fort Lauderdale. Several daily temperature records were set throughout the month, including daily high maximum and high minimum temperatures as well as daily low maximum and low minimum temperatures (see appendices 2-5).

Table 1.  January average temperatures and departures from normal ( ̊F) for selected cities.

Station Mean Temperature Departure from Normal
Pensacola 51.2 -2.0
Tallahassee 51.1 -1.1
Jacksonville 52.4 -1.8
Orlando 61.0 +0.4
Tampa 62.6 +0.6
Miami 68.7 +0.1
Key West 70.6 0.0 

 

Rainfall totals in January were below average for much of the state. The monthly precipitation departures from normal ranged from -2.90 inches in Pensacola to +4.15 inches in Miami (Table 2 and Appendix 1). Most places across the state recorded a precipitation deficit for the month, except for parts of the central Panhandle region and southeastern Florida (Figure 1). The Cape Florida station at Key Biscayne recorded its wettest January on record, with 7.58 inches total, and Fort Lauderdale Beach had its second wettest January on record with 6.49 inches of rainfall for the month.

Table 2. January precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.

Station Total Rainfall Departure from Normal
Pensacola 2.13 -2.90
Tallahassee 4.34 -0.07
Jacksonville 1.18 -2.10
Orlando 0.92 -1.56
Tampa 1.46 -1.19
Miami 5.98 +4.15
Key West 1.64 -0.19 

 

Figure 1. A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for January (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).

Figure 1.  A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for January (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).

 

La Niña Advisory Continues.

La Niña conditions, the cool phase of the ENSO climate pattern, continued in the tropical Pacific Ocean in January. According to the latest official NWS update, La Niña is likely to continue into the Northern Hemisphere spring (67% change during March-May) and then possibly transition to ENSO-neutral late spring/early summer (51% chance during April-June 2022).

 

Hazardous Weather Events in January.

According to the Local Storm Reports issued by the local National Weather Service offices serving Florida, there were 345 individual local reports of hazardous weather events recorded across the state during the month of January 2022 (see Table 4 for a breakdown by event type). Several reports of coastal flooding were reported in Taylor and Dixie Counties on the 3rd. On the 10th, 2-inch sized hail was reported in St. Lucie west of Fort Pierce. Several tornadoes associated with heavy thunderstorms moved through southwest Florida on the 16th, with 6 tornadoes reported in Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties, including an EF2 tornado in Fort Myers. The tornadoes resulted in three injuries and localized damage.

 

Table 4. Breakdown of storm reports submitted in Florida during the month of January (compiled from Iowa State University/Iowa Environmental Mesonet).

Report Type Number of Reports
Flash Flood 3
Coastal Flood 9
Heavy Rain 3
Dense Fog 0
Hail 7
Marine Thunderstorm Wind 55
Non-Thunderstorm Wind Gust 187
Non-Thunderstorm Wind Damage 4
Tornado/Waterspout/Funnel Cloud 13/3/0
Thunderstorm Wind Damage 20
Thunderstorm Wind Gust 41
Lightning 0

 

Drought-Related Impacts.

2022 began with abnormally dry conditions (D0) across much of the Panhandle. By mid-month, moderate drought conditions (D1) emerged in the extreme western Panhandle, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. By the end of the month, abnormally dry conditions were alleviated in some parts of the Panhandle; however, moderate drought persisted but remained confined to the western Panhandle (1.36% area) and abnormally dry conditions remained across parts of the eastern Panhandle and Big Bend regions (15.93% area) (Figure 2).

As of January 31, the Lake Okeechobee water level was 14.94 ft. above sea level (Feet-NGVD29), which is above the average for this time of the year. The water level remained above average throughout the month. At the first of the month, the water level was around 15.50 ft. above sea level.

 

drought monitor

 

Agriculture-Related Impacts.

During the month of January, Florida cattle and pasture conditions continued to be mostly fair to good. Dry conditions and several frost events were reported during the month, which caused some damage to cover crops, fruits and vegetables. Sugarcane planting and harvest progressed well. Several citrus fruits were harvested, and several vegetable crops were marketed. For more information, consult the Crop Progress - State Stories reports, which are produced monthly December through March.

 

Appendix 1
Additional January departures from normal data for select Florida locations (Source: NWS).

Station Average Temperature (˚F) Departure from Normal (˚F) Total Rainfall (in.) Departure from Normal (in.)
Gainesville 54.0 -0.8 0.88 -2.41
Sarasota 62.0 -0.4 0.44 -2.35
Melbourne 61.4 -1.9 1.44 -1.19
Fort Myers 65.7 +1.0 2.05 -0.38
West Palm Beach 66.3 0.0 2.27 -1.20

 

Appendix 2
Select daily record high maximum temperatures broken or tied during January (compiled from NOAA).

Location Date Record (˚F) Broken/Tied Last
Chipley 1 82 Broken 80 in 2020
Clermont 1 86 Broken 85 in 2019
Jacksonville Beach 1 82 Broken 81 in 1975
Marianna 1 84 Broken 80 in 2019
Vero Beach 1 85 Broken 84 in 1989
Key West 1 86 Broken 85 in 2016
Orlando 1 85 Tied 85 in 2021
Crestview 1 82 Broken 78 in 2019
Jacksonville Beach 2 85 Broken 80 in 2006
Titusville 2 84 Tied 84 in 2016
Marianna 2 83 Broken 80 in 2017
Key West 2 86 Broken 84 in 2020
Jacksonville 2 84 Broken 82 in 2017
Pensacola 2 78 Broken 77 in 2006
Tallahassee 2 83 Broken 80 in 1996
Cross City 3 81 Tied 81 in 1974
Niceville 3 76 Broken 75 in 1965
Quincy 3 83 Broken 79 in 1996
Wewahitchka 3 80 Broken 78 in 1966
Key West 7 85 Broken 84 in 2007
Pensacola 9 76 Broken 75 in 1972
Clermont 10 84 Broken 83 in 2013
Punta Gorda 10 86 Broken 84 in 2013
Fort Myers 10 87 Broken 86 in 1975
Key West 26 86 Broken 83 in 1975
Fort Lauderdale 31 83 Tied 83 in 1957

 

Appendix 3
Select daily record high minimum temperatures broken or tied during January (compiled from NOAA).

Location Date Record (˚F) Broken/Tied Last
Chipley 1 69 Broken 65 in 2019
Jacksonville Beach 1 73 Broken 68 in 2021
Niceville 1 69 Broken 63 in 2019
Marianna 1 71 Broken 67 in 2019
Key West 1 77 Tied 77 in 2016
Crestview 1 74 Broken 68 in 2019
Pensacola 1 73 Broken 68 in 2019
Chipley 2 72 Broken 65 in 2019
Jacksonville Beach 2 70 Broken 68 in 2021
Niceville 2 70 Broken 66 in 2019
Panama City 2 72 Broken 68 in 2006
Perry 2 72 Broken 69 in 2021
Venice 2 72 Broken 68 in 2021
Gainesville 2 68 Broken 65 in 2006
Fort Myers 2 70 Broken 68 in 2021
Key West 2 77 Broken 76 in 2017
Tampa 2 71 Broken 69 in 2021
Tallahassee 2 67 Tied 67 in 2006
Jacksonville 2 63 Tied 63 in 2021
West Palm Beach 8 73 Tied 73 in 1993
Daytona Beach 9 68 Broken 65 in 2013
Fort Lauderdale 9 75 Broken 73 in 2013
Hialeah 9 72 Broken 71 in 1964
Jacksonville Beach 9 67 Broken 63 in 1993
Vero Beach 9 72 Broken 67 in 2013
Key West 9 77 Broken 76 in 2013
Ochopee 26 65 Broken 62 in 2012
Key West 26 77 Broken 74 in 1957

 

Appendix 4
Select daily record low maximum temperatures broken or tied during January (compiled from NOAA).

Location Date Record (˚F) Broken/Tied Last
Marianna 21 45 Broken 46 in 2020
Crestview 21 40 Broken 44 in 1978
Niceville 22 38 Broken 42 in 1961
Marianna 22 44 Broken 48 in 2014
Jacksonville 22 44 Broken 48 in 1961
Lisbon 23 46 Broken 48 in 1985
Mayo 23 42 Broken 46 in 1987
Panama City 23 45 Broken 48 in 1987
Usher Tower 23 46 Broken 54 in 2011
Deland 29 47 Broken 53 in 1973
Melbourne 30 52 Broken 54 in 2007
Usher Tower 30 47 Tied 47 in 2014
Perrine 31 62 Broken 69 in 2014

 

Appendix 5
Select daily record low minimum temperatures broken or tied during January (compiled from NOAA).

Location Date Record (˚F) Broken/Tied Last
Wewahitchka 23 22 Broken 24 in 2011
Deland 29 16 Broken 20 in 1940
Ochopee 29 39 Broken 40 in 2011
Archbold Bio Station 30 21 Broken 23 in 2007
Perrine 30 38 Broken 43 in 2017
Plant City 30 27 Broken 28 in 1900
Wauchula 30 25 Broken 28 in 1978
Miles City 30 34 Broken 39 in 2007
Marianna 30 22 Broken 24 in 2014
Fort Myers 30 35 Tied 35 in 1978
Vero Beach 30 30 Broken 35 in 1955
Archbold Bio Station 31 20 Broken 30 in 2017
Perrine 31 37 Broken 44 in 2009
Tampa Bay 31 35 Tied 35 in 1977
Wauchula 31 25 Broken 26 in 1966
Miles City 31 35 Broken 40 in 2009
Vero Beach 31 28 Broken 34 in 2017
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Florida Climate Center