Provided by the State Climate Office of Ohio, a collaboration of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Geography Department, and OSU Extension with support from Energent Solutions.
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Temperature
January saw a significant drop in temperatures compared to previous months, with average temperatures across Ohio ranging from 20–25°F, except in the extreme south, where they were slightly warmer at 25–30°F (Fig. 1a). Temperature departures from normal varied across the state, generally ranging from 5–8°F below average. However, the northwest experienced a smaller deviation, with temperatures only 3–5°F below normal (Fig. 1b).
At the county level, nearly the entire state ranked in at least the coldest third of the historical record, except for Williams, Fulton, Lucas, and Henry counties, which experienced near-normal temperatures for January. Gallia, Meigs, and Monroe counties ranked in the coldest tenth of their respective records. Statewide, January ranked as the 27th coldest on record (Fig. 2).
Precipitation
Accumulated precipitation across Ohio varied widely in January, with most of the state experiencing below-normal totals. Precipitation amounts ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 inches across much of the state, with higher totals of 2 to 4 inches along the Lake Erie shoreline (Fig. 3a). Departures from normal were generally 0.5 to 2 inches below average, except for a small area between Ottawa and Sandusky counties, where precipitation was about an inch above normal (Fig. 3b). It is important to note that the accumulated precipitation maps depict liquid-equivalent precipitation which is why totals are not much higher in areas that received snow.
At the county level, January precipitation was below average in every county except Lawrence County. A total of 37 counties ranked in the driest tenth of their 131-year record, and the state as a whole recorded its 13th driest January (Fig. 4).
Soil & Energy
Soil moisture levels have been gradually returning to near-normal values over the past few months. By the end of January, the 0–40 cm soil moisture map indicated continued dry conditions in the northwest, with newly emerging wetter-than-average conditions in the southwest, while the rest of the state remained near normal (Fig. 5a). In contrast, the 0–200 cm soil moisture map revealed more pronounced differences, with much of northern Ohio experiencing significantly below-normal moisture levels with a small section in the southwest noting near normal levels (Fig. 5b).
Product Note: Both NASA SPoRT LIS soil moisture products contain small pockets of inaccurate data indicating extremely wet or dry conditions. These small-scale errors can emerge in remote sensing products covering large areas or grid-spacings. For more information, please contact Geddy Davis (davis.5694@osu.edu).
In January, the number of Heating Degree Days (HDDs) was above normal, reflecting the colder-than-average temperatures. As expected during the winter months, Cooling Degree Days (CDDs) remained at zero across the state (Fig. 6).
Notable Events
This January was characterized by above-average snowfall and below-average temperatures across much of the month. One particularly impactful event was the winter storm that occurred from January 5–6, which brought significant snowfall to southern Ohio. The storm developed as a low-pressure system moving through the Tennessee Valley. The northern portion of systems like these typically produce the heaviest snowfall. In this case, the region of heaviest snow included southern Ohio, with widespread snowfall totals ranging from 5 to 12.5 inches across the southern half of the state (Fig. 7).
In addition to the snow, the storm brought wind gusts of up to 30 mph, significantly reducing visibility and creating hazardous travel conditions. Cold temperatures and slippery roads made commuting difficult, with reports of sleet, ice, and freezing rain near the Ohio River further complicating travel. A traffic camera image captured by the Ohio Department of Transportation on I-74 at Morgan Road shows treacherous road conditions for commuters at 8 a.m. on January 6th (Fig. 8). The combination of heavy snowfall, strong winds, and icy conditions led to numerous accidents, road closures, and school delays. While Ohio is accustomed to snow in January, southern Ohio does not experience snowfalls of this magnitude as often as other parts of the state. This brought unique challenges due to its topography and roadways.
Looking Ahead
The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) three-month outlook projects warmer and wetter-than-average conditions across Ohio. The temperature outlook indicates above-normal temperatures statewide, with the highest probability in the southeast and the lowest in the northwest (Fig. 9a). Similarly, the precipitation outlook suggests an increased likelihood of above-average rainfall, with the greatest probability along the western border (Fig. 9b).
These outlooks align with the ongoing transition from an ENSO-neutral state to La Niña conditions, which is historically associated with increased precipitation across Ohio. The combination of warmer temperatures and above-normal rainfall could increase the risk of flooding, impact agriculture, and contribute to more active storm systems. While the overall trend favors warmer and wetter conditions, short-term variability will still occur as a result of short-term impactful weather patterns.
Note: these outlooks do not provide the quantity of above or below normal conditions, just the likelihood of occurrence (i.e., the probability).
Authors
Aiden Ridgway: Undergraduate Student, Student Assistant: Climate Services, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, ridgway.72@osu.edu
Geddy R. Davis: Meteorologist/Atmospheric Scientist, Program Coordinator: Climate Services - Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, davis.5694@osu.edu
Aaron B. Wilson: State Climate Office of Ohio, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center & OSU Extension, The Ohio State University, wilson.1010@osu.edu