February weather at Trenton will be noted for temperatures much above average and precipitation much below normal.
Seven of the 28 days saw temperatures exceed 70 degrees – setting four record highs and tying one in the process – all within one week. We almost had another tie Tuesday when it was 73 degrees, one shy of the record of 74.
For the fifth consecutive month at Trenton, precipitation was below normal.
Each of the last five months has seen less than an inch per month. In fact, add the moisture for January and February together and it’s just 62 hundredths year to date.
Trenton’s’ maximum temperatures last month averaged 53.6 which is 12-1/2 degrees above normal. Trenton’s minimum temperatures averaged nearly 32 degrees which is 11 degrees below normal.
The temperature range was 12 degrees on February 9th up to 78 on February 22nd. New record highs were recorded with 74 on the 16th, 75 on the 17th, the record was tied on the 18th at 72; and records were established on the 21st at 71 and 78 on the 22nd. While 78 is unseasonably warm for February, Trenton has had hotter temperatures for that month with record highs set in 1930 on consecutive days: February 24th and 25th with 82 and 80 respectively in 1930.
Trenton and the state of Missouri are not alone as far as warm February temps are concerned – according to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippy:
Minimum temperatures last month did not dip below zero – although every day of February has a minimum temperature record of below zero – many double digits below.
Like the lack of melted precipitation at Trenton, snowfall in the past three months is well below normal. Trenton has only had four measurable snow events which collectively add up to only six and two-thirds inches. (4.3 inches for December 18)
February rain and melted precipitation is just a quarter inch (.24). That comes on the heels of only 38 hundredths in January. Last months’ amount is the least at Trenton since only 14 hundredths came in February 2006; and 25 hundredths in Feb. 1996.
The 62 hundredths of melted precipitation for January and February is the least amount to begin a calendar year since 1970 when Trenton noted less than half an inch for the two months combined (.48)
U-S-D-A Meteorologist Brad Rippy talks about the shortage of soil moisture:
KTTN has been keeping monthly precipitation statistics since 1970. Over the years, there have never been five consecutive months with less than one inch of precipitation per month. There was one period that consumed four consecutive months with less than an inch per month. Those were November / December 1976followed by January / February of 1977. Collectively, those four months totaled two inches at Trenton. A year later: December 1977 plus January and February 1978 saw less than an inch per month – adding up to nearly two inches.
Since the first of October 2016, Trenton’s’ (five months) precipitation totals just over three inches. (3.08)
