Climate of 2003
January in Historical Perspective

National Climatic Data Center
13 February 2003

Introduction

The January 2003 mean temperature was above the 1988-2002 average across Alaska, Canada, western U.S. and southeast Australia as shown in the adjacent map of blended satellite and in situ data. Cooler than average temperatures were noted over Scandinavia and western Europe, as well as the eastern U.S. The mean position of upper level ridges and troughs of low pressure (depicted by positive and negative 500 millibar height anomalies), are generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature anomalies at the surface, respectively. Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures were observed throughout the tropical Pacific, the signature of El Niño conditions.

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January temperature anomalies calculated from the Global Historical Climatology Network data set of land surface stations using a 1961-1990 base period also show above average temperatures throughout Canada, Alaska and much of the western United States. Monthly temperatures were 4-6°C (7.2-10.8°F) above the mean. Notable cool anomalies were present throughout the eastern U.S., northern Europe, and parts of southern Asia where monthly temperatures were as much as 3-6°C (5.4-10.8°F) below average.

Temperature

January For January 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.60°C (1.08°F) above the 1880-2002 average, ranking as the third warmest January in the period of record The warmest January occurred in 2002, with an anomaly of +0.72°C (+1.30°F) Globally averaged land temperatures were second warmest on record, or 1.03°C (1.85°F) above the long-term mean

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January 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were third warmest on record, or 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the long term mean Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were fourth warmest, or 0.53°C (0.95°F) above average

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Precipitation

During January 2003, much above average precipitation fell across most of Europe into northern Africa, as well as southern Brazil and parts of southeast China Below average precipitation was observed across most of the U.S., the eastern half of Australia and northern Brazil Additional regional analysis can be found on the Global Hazards page

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Microwave Sounding Unit Data

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Temperatures in the lowest 8km (5 miles) of the troposphere were 0.36°C (0.65°F) above average during January 2003, the second warmest January in the satellite period of record (1979 to present) Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were second warmest on record for January, 0.45°C (0.81°F) above the mean Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were second warmest on record for January, 0.27°C (0.49°F) above the mean

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January 2003 temperatures were below average in the lower stratosphere, or 0.32°C (0.58°F) cooler than the mean This was the tenth consecutive January with below average temperatures in the lower stratosphere

  For additional details on precipitation and temperatures in January, see the Global Hazards page .

References:

Peterson, T.C. and R.S. Vose, 1997: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network Database. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 78, 2837-2849.

For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:

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For questions about this report, please contact:

David Easterling
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
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fax: 828-271-4328
email: David.Easterling@noaa.gov

Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
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Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: Jay.Lawrimore@noaa.gov

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