Special Weather Statement
Dept Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences UCLA
7:45 AM PST Friday 03 February 2012...correction to temperature section

This January was wetter than last year, but total rainfall for the month 
was still much less than normal. Only 1.53 inches fell on campus, which was
2.46 inches below normal. The last wetter than normal January was two years
ago(5.89 inches). There were just two measurable rain days this month(fewest
January total since 2003 when only one measurable day occurred for the month).
Six days would be normal for January. The first rain event of the month didn't
occur till the 15th. Possible sprinkles occurred early that morning(based on
radar imagery). Probable light showers fell during the mid-evening hours. A
trace amount was likely(recorded on the 16th, however, when using Greenwich
Mean Time). A storm produced mostly light rain on the morning of the 21st(started
in the overnight hours and ended mid-morning). Intense rainfall occurred briefly
between 8:18-8:20 AM and 8:22-8:24 AM. The storm total was 0.71 inch. On the 23rd,
a storm produced rain from early morning till late afternoon(showery in the afternoon).
Occasional, brief bursts of intense rain fell between 10:08 AM and 2:18 PM.
Rainfall for the day was 0.82 inch. No precipitation records were set or tied this
month.

This month was much warmer than normal due to infrequent off-shore flow events. The
average temperature of 63.3 degrees was 4.3 degrees above normal. This was the fourth
warmest January on record(2003 was the warmest with an average of 65.9 degrees). The
average maximum temperature was 73.7 degrees, which was 6.6 degrees above normal. The
average maximum ranked second highest for the category(average in 2003 was over
a degree higher). The average minimum temperature was 52.8 degrees, which was
just 1.9 degrees above normal. Thus, it ranked only eighth warmest in that category.
There were individual cooler than normal days(mainly between the 15th and 23rd), but
the other days more than off set those cool days. There were 11 days that reached at
least 80 degrees. Normally only two days of such weather occur in January. It was the
highest number of 80 degree days(January) since 2009(also 11 days). The most 80 degree
days occurred in 2003(12 days). Not surprisingly, there were several days that set or
tied record maximums for the date. They occurred on the 1st,2nd,4th,5th,and 26th.
On the 5th, the minimum temperature of just 67 degrees(this
is equal to the normal maximum temperature) was a record high minimum for the date.
The old record was 66 degrees in 1969.  The highest temperature of the month was 88
degrees(4th). It beat the previous record maximum for the date(2001) by five degrees.
The lowest temperature of the month occurred on the mornings of the 17th and 18th(44
degrees). Altogether three days fell to at least 45 degrees. Normally, there would be
five such days.

Only on one day this month was the visibility observed or estimated at one mile or less.
Early morning fog may have reduced visibility as low as 0.25 mile for a brief time after
6 AM.

The month recorded seven days with significant wind(gusts of at least 25 mph). The first
event occurred on the 8th. Periodic brisk northwest to north-northwest winds blew early
morning and early evening. The maximum gust of the day was 25 mph(north-northwest) at
6:16 PM. A storm brought breezy weather for much of the 21st.  Early morning winds were
southerly but gradually shifted to southwest by afternoon. Brisk northwest to north-northwest
winds prevailed in the early/mid-evening hours. The peak wind gust for the day was a 
north-northwest wind to 32 mph(6:53 PM). Periodic brisk northwest to north-northwest winds
occurred from the 24th through the 28th. Significant wind on the 27th and 28th were restricted
to the overnight and evening hours. On the 24th the peak wind gust was northwest at 32 mph
(8:13 AM). On the 25th it was north-northwest at 26 mph(1:56 PM, 2:12 PM). The peak gust of
the month occurred on the 26th. There was a north-northwest gust to 35 mph at 10:20 PM. On
the 27th the highest gust was a north wind to 27 mph(12:58 AM). The strongest gust on the 28th
was north-northwest to 30 mph(1:25 AM).

J. Murakami

Rainfall in inches
24 hour rainfall measured from Midnight to Midnight, Greenwich Mean Time
Normals are defined using a 30 year mean from 1981-2010
UCLA records date back to 1932
All times given in Pacific Standard Time