(WSYR-TV, Syracuse) We've crunched the numbers, and January 2012, came out tied for the 9th warmest January on record, with an average temperature of 31.1°. That compares to an average from 1971-2000 of 23.6°. The surplus of 7.5° pales in comparison to the warmest January ever in Syracuse of 37.2° set back in 1932. If we look at modern era numbers, meaning since measurements have been taken at Hancock Airport since 1949, we ended up 4th warmest, compared to the warmest January recorded in 2006 which averaged 33.4°.
There were quite a few days, in which the daily high temperature hit, or exceeded 50°. January 2012 had 7 days of 50 or better, which ties us for second with 2007, 2006, 1990 and 1913. The record number of days with a high temperature of 50° or better is 8, set in 1950, 1933 and 1916.
Snowfall for January 2012 was 24.6", 9 and a half inches below the average of 34" and well below last year's total of 43.2". What we lacked in snow,, we more than made up for it in rainfall. Rain and melted snow resulted in 3.88" for the month, which is an inch and a third above normal, and way above last January's total of 1.43". We've had over 6" of rain/melted snow since December 1, which is above normal for that 2 month period. The water table is doing well, especially coming off such a wet year as 2010 was.
