March 5, 2007

Much below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation made February the 11th Coldest and 26th Driest February in the Past 112 Years. After an extended cold spell mild temperatures during the final week helped to keep this month from the "Top Ten" list of coldest February's. Temperatures in the single digits and low teens were common which contrasted with a max temperature of 72 degrees at Paducah on February 28th. Additionally, very moist conditions continued in west, central and bluegrass areas for the entire month. Yet, southeastern sections of the state moved into the Moderate hydrologic drought stage. The west received twice as much liquid precipitation as the eastern section of the State. Snow events were also common with locations west and north receiving 4 to 15 in. of snow. Temperatures for February 2007 averaged 29.7 degrees, 7.7 degrees below normal. Precipitation (liq. equ.) totaled 2.30 in., 1.45 in. below normal. Monthly precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.55 in. at Buckhorn Lake to a high of 3.69 in. at Cape Girardeau.

The first three days of the month were very cold with below normal precipitation. There were, however, several light snow events and flurries were frequent with snow covering the ground in most sections of the State by the weekend. Temperatures averaged 23 degrees, 10 degrees below normal.. Precipitation (liq. equ.) totaled 0.08 in. statewide which was 0.73 in. below normal. Arctic air, bitter cold wind chill temperatures and several snow events dominated Bluegrass weather for the first full week of the month. The week started with a major winter storm moving through the State providing light rain/snow for most locations and 3 to 6 in. for north and eastern sections. Temperatures averaged 21 degrees, 11 degrees below normal. Precipitation (liq. equ.) totaled 0.06 in., 0.82 in. below normal. Precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.00 in. at Bardstown to a high of 0.36 in. at Covington.

Temperatures started the second full week of February in the 40s, but returned to very cold conditions into the weekend. A clipper system moving southeast out of the northern Plains brought a light snow event to Kentucky for the weekend. The arctic air mass fully entrenched over the area enabled the snowfall to quickly accumulate. Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 4 in. with southern sections receiving below an inch. Temperatures averaged 26 degrees, 10 degrees below normal. Extreme high temperatures were in the mid and upper 40s and extreme low temperatures were in the single digits. Precipitation (liq. equ.) totaled 1.14 in., 0.26 in. above normal. Precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.18 in. at Somerset to a high of 2.13 in. at Cape Girardeau. The eastern section of the State continued the below normal moisture trend from the past several weeks.

The third full week started out cold with lows in the teens, but warmed into the 40s and 50s, with some 60s in the west for the remainder of the week. Two precipitation events occurred; the first was early midweek and the second late in the week. The last event, spread three quarters to 2 in. of rain across the State. Temperatures averaged 43 degrees which was 5 degrees above normal. Precipitation (liq. equ.) totaled 0.96 in. statewide which was 0.08 in. above normal. Precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.14 in. at Huntington to a high of 1.81 in. at Covington. Mild temperatures during the last few days of the month were accompanied by limited precipitation to end the month.

Cold temperatures stressed livestock the first half of the month while frequent precipitation and muddy conditions provided further stress into the latter half of February. Producers continued to provide extra grain and hay to their cattle. Farmers continued hauling tobacco to receiving stations and auction markets. Greenhouses began preparing trays for tobacco seeding. Farmers accessed their small grain and hay fields for winter kill. Soil moisture was very moist across Kentucky except for the southeast which became increasingly dry as the month progressed.