The average temperature was minus 6.5 degrees which was the eleventh warmest January in the last 55 years. Precipitation was 22 percent below normal with 12 mms. of rain and 47 cms. of snow which melted to an additional 49 mms. of water. The Chateauguay River still has some open water spots but the Canada geese seem to have departed now and been replaced with ice fishermen.
It was fortunate to have snow cover on the ground for the entire month which helped protect winter cereals and hay fields from the wide temperature swings and resulting potential winter kill.
- 2021: -6.5
- 2020: -4.8
- 50-year average: -9.4
- 10 year normal: -8.6
- Record warm 1990: -3.0
- Record cold 1994: -16.8
As noted above, January was 2.1 degrees above normal. Our neighbour to the south, Burlington, Vermont, reported an average temperature which was 2.4 degrees Celcius above normal. A “climate specialist” was interviewed on CBS television Monday morning in anticipation of the expected “super snow storm” tomorrow. In explaining the reason for this large storm, he stated that we can expect greater amounts of precipitation with warmer weather. I also thought this might be possible and yet last year Ormstown had our second warmest year in 54 years but was the eighth driest in 35 years. I really wonder if anybody knows for sure.
Perter Finlayson
