January 2017 Temperature Details Compared To Climatology

January 2017 began cold, but became quite warm in the middle. The graphs below show how the observed temperatures at Milwaukee and Madison compare to climatology. The period of climate runs from ~1870 to 2017.

Jan 17-25 was the longest streak of temperatures above freezing during January or February in Milwaukee (9 days). The previous streak was Jan 2-9, 1992 at 8 days. Other long streaks were Feb 16-21, 1998 and Feb 22-27, 2000 at 6 days. The previous streak in January was 4 days in 1997. Madison's longest Jan-Feb above freezing streak is Feb 22-26, 2000 at 5 days. Jan 20-23 had 4 days above freezing. There were 3 other years with 4 days in 2008, 1998, and 1985.

How rare is it to see temperatures warmer than 32 degrees in January? The table below shows the number of days that the average high temperature would be greater than 32 degrees, greater than 35 degrees, and greater than 40 degrees. As you can see, it is not uncommon to see a warm spell during the month of January.

Days with Average High Temperatures for January
	Milwaukee	Madison
>32°	13	11
>35°	9	7
>40°	4	3

This table shows how many days so far in January 2017 (through 1/23) that the high temperature has been above 32 degrees, 35 degrees, and 40 degrees. Milwaukee is already ahead of normal.

Observed Days with High Temperatures for January 2017
	Milwaukee	Madison
>32°	15	13
>35°	15	8
>40°	6	3
Dates > 32°	Jan 14-23	Jan 15-23

Milwaukee tied the record high temperature on Saturday, January 21st with a high of 56 degrees! The previous record was set in 1934. The low temperatures (minimum) have been quite mild over the past few days as well. In fact, records were set for the highest minimum temperatures at Madison and Milwaukee. The minimum temperature of 38 degrees on Saturday, January 21st at Milwaukee was the warmest min temp on record. The previous record of 37 degrees was set in 1934. At Madison, the minimum temperature on Saturday was 35, which tied the record set in 1880. We tied the record high mins at both Madison and Milwaukee on Sunday.

Maximum Temperatures
	Milwaukee	MKE Record	Madison	MSN Record
Fri, Jan 20	39	61 (1906)	37	53 (1906)
Sat, Jan 21	56	56 (1934)	45	52 (1964)
Sun, Jan 22	46	53 (1964)	41	53 (1964)

Minimum Temperatures (and Record High Minimum Temperatures)
	Milwaukee	MKE Record	Madison	MSN Record
Fri, Jan 20	37	38 (1921)	35	40 (1921, 1984)
Sat, Jan 21	38	37 (1934)	35	35 (1880)
Sun, Jan 22	38	38 (1933, 1883)	36	36 (1964)

NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan

~Cronce