January started out mild, then 'bottom dropped out of thermometer'

The start of the new year was a pleasant one, and who wouldn't like a 30-degree New Year's Day high temperature with clear skies?
In fact ... the entire first week was relatively warm with only some slight precipitation in the form of light rain and light snow. 
However, the bottom dropped out of the thermometer shortly thereafter with the month's low temperature of minus 17 occurring the overnight hours on Jan. 10.
While 17 below zero is cold, it certainly is not even close to the record setting lows colder than minus 25 to minus 29 degrees.
Temperatures moderated quickly, but then were followed by another short cold blast before ending the last two weeks of the year with beautiful, warm temperatures in the upper 20s and upper 30s.  Overall, temperatures were almost 2 degrees above normal for the month, thanks to very warm overnight lows.
Precipitation was fairly light throughout January with the one exception of a 4-plus-inch snowstorm on Jan. 8.
Otherwise, additional precipitation amounts were recorded anywhere from a trace to just shy of 2 inches — nothing that a Minnesotan can't deal with.
The light, but more frequent precipitation produced over 8 inches of snow, which is just slightly above normal for January. 
All in all, it was a very pleasant Minnesota January.
While January was kind to all of us, the beginning of February has not been.  I will deal with that in my next month's report, but suffice it to say the wheels of this warm winter bus have quickly fallen off.
 
A blog of daily summary and other interesting weather events for the Luverne area is at http://luvernemnweather.blogspot.com. Thone can be reached at tathone@gmail.com.