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Paducah, KY

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Weather Summary for February 2005

 

February weather was very unsettled for most of the country.  For the Quad State Region, fast moving storm systems brought frequent precipitation chances with wild temperature swings.  Daily average temperatures ranged from the middle 30s into the lower 60s. 

 

An inverted trough from an area of low pressure along the Gulf Coast brought light rain and even a few flurries to the region on the 2^nd.  Rainfall amounts were light, with totals generally less than one-quarter inch.  Only trace amounts of snow fell.  A weak high brought a little bit of a warm up before the next system dropped south out of the Northern Plains on the 6^th.  This front combined with an area of low pressure in the Southern Plains before being pushed east by an area of cold Canadian high pressure on the 10^th.  Showers with moderate to sometimes heavy rainfall produced amounts ranging from three-quarters to almost 2 inches of rain.  Some of the precipitation ended as light snow across our northern counties.

 

Two quick systems tracked across the region between the 12^th and 16^th.  Warm southerly flow brought warmer temperatures and Gulf moisture.  Temperatures soared into the 60s and even around 70 degrees.  Widespread rainfall produced amounts generally less than one inch.  This rainfall, combined with precipitation earlier in the month, caused many rivers to rise fairly rapidly.  A third system passed over the HSA between the 19^th and 21^st bringing wildly varied weather.  Weather ranging from sleet showers, thunderstorms with penny-size hail, and even some light snow.  Rainfall during this time was less than one inch.

 

Between the 23^rd and 24^th, a storm system moved out of the Gulf of Mexico across the southeastern United States.  Light rain and snow fell in the wrap-around moisture.  Some accumulating snow fell across the northern part of the region.  Rain amounts were less than one-quarter inch and snow amounts were less than one inch.  Northwest flow aloft finally took control of the upper levels of the atmosphere by month’s end.  An upper level disturbance dropped south out of the Northern Plains, bringing light rain and snow to the region on the 28^th.  Rain amounts were around one-quarter inch or less and snow amounts were one inch or less.

 

February Temperatures Across the Quad State Region

 

The following table (Figure 1) displays average February 2005 temperatures at five locations across the Quad State Region where this information is consistently collected. For comparison, historical average daily temperatures for February are also given for these locations. The Normal period used to calculate normal high, low, and average daily temperatures and rainfall is currently 1971 through 2000.

 

The high, low and average daily temperatures are averaged for all days of February 2005. Column 5 allows a comparison of the 2005 average temperature to the highest and lowest February average temperatures recorded during the Normal Period (1971 through 2000). High and Low daily temperatures were not compared.

 

The last column indicates the difference of the February 2005 average temperature from the average temperature observed during the Normal Period, and the percentile of the February 2005 mean temperature compared to February mean temperatures during the Normal Period.

 

Percentile is the percentage of years during the Normal Period that had mean February temperatures equal to or below the February 2005 mean temperature. In most cases, this is based on the entire 30-year Normal Period, but in some cases data was missing that only allowed comparison to 28 or 29 years of the Normal Period. 

 

Figure 1. February 2005 Daily Temperatures (°F) Compared to February Normal Daily Temperatures Based on the Normal Period 1971-2000, at Five Quad State Region Locations.

(source: Midwest Regional Climate Center) 

 

Location	Temp > Normal 2005	High	Low	Mean	1971-2000 Range of Mean Temps * (Normal Period)	2005 Deg from Mean Percentile**
Carbondale IL	Norm > 2005 >	46.0 50.8	24.6 33.1	35.5 42.2	max: 42.5 in 1998 min:  20.8 in 1978	+7.7 °F 94
Cape Girardeau MO	Norm > 2005 >	46.8 52.2	28.2 33.4	37.7 43.1	max: 45.0 in 1992 min:  23.9 in 1978	+5.4 87
Evansville IN	Norm > 2005 >	45.2 49.2	26.8 31.8	36.3 40.8	max: 43.1 in 1990 min:  20.9 in 1978	+4.5 82
Paducah KY	Norm > 2005 >	48.3 52.6	29.0 34.2	38.9 43.7	max: 45.9 in 1976 min:  24.4 in 1978	+4.8 82
Poplar Bluff MO	Norm > 2005 >	48.5 50.1	28.0 36.9	38.5 43.7	max: 45.0 in 1992 min:  26.4 in 1978	+7.4 80

* This column indicates the highest and lowest February mean temperatures observed during the Normal Period of 1971-2000.

** Percentile is calculated as percent of February temperatures during the normal period that were equal to or below the 2005 February average temperature.

 

 

As Figure 1 indicates, temperatures across the Quad State Region for the month of February were all well above normal, ranging from 4.5 degrees above normal at Evansville, to 7.7 degrees above normal at Carbondale. Percentiles ranged from 80 to 94.  Average temperatures were all near the high end of the normal range.

 

February Precipitation Across the Quad State Region

The next table (Figure 2) displays normal precipitation and the observed precipitation for February 2005. The historical time periods are the same as those in Figure 1. Frozen precipitation – if any – is not available from this data except as liquid equivalent, which is included in the total precipitation for the month. There were no significant snow events across the Quad State Region in February 2005.

 

Figure 2. February 2005 Observed Precipitation (inches) and February Normal Precipitation for Five Quad State Region Locations

 

Location	Normal** Record***	2005	2005 Difference	Normal Range (years 1971-2000)	Percentile* (2005)
Carbondale	2.94 7.61 in 1945	2.58	-0.36	max: 7.09 - 1990 min: 0.89 - 1983	50
Cape Girardeau	3.48 9.66 in 1989	2.74	-0.74	max: 9.66 - 1989 min: 0.93 - 1983	41
Evansville	3.10 7.26 in 2000	2.64	-0.46	max: 9.15 - 1982 min: 0.51 - 1981	48
Paducah	3.47 13.33 in 1989	2.55	-0.92	max: 13.33 - 1989 min: 1.09 - 1996	28
Poplar Bluff	3.23 13.39 in 1989	1.90	-1.33	max: 13.39 - 1989 min: 0.10 - 1999	28

* Percentile is the percentage of years during the Normal Period (1971-2000) that had

   total February precipitation equal to or less than February 2005 (it ranges from zero to 100).

** Normal is average February precipitation during the Normal Period: 1971-2000

*** Record is the highest February precipitation for all years available at the location.

 

 

As Figure 2 indicates, precipitation for February was below normal at all five locations, ranging from 0.36 inch below normal at Carbondale (in the 50^th percentile), to 1.33 inches below normal at Poplar Bluff (in the 28^th percentile)..   

 

February 2005 was much warmer than normal and slightly drier than normal, across the Quad State Region.