January seemed to be an extremely wet month, and for good reason, with a record amount of precipitation falling in Mount Airy.

A report from the city’s F.G. Doggett Water Plant shows that nearly 10 inches drenched the area last month — 9.93 to be exact, which broke a 77-year-old record. In January 1936, 9.17 inches fell, which had stood as the all-time high for the first month of the year in Mount Airy.

Weather records have been kept here since 1924. Aside from the 1936 record, the next-highest total for January was noted in 1937 when 8.56 inches fell.

Last month’s output was 6.53 inches, or 192.1 percent, above normal for January, when the average is 3.40 inches for Mount Airy.

Illustrating this domination was the fact that measurable precipitation was reported on 16 of January’s 31 days, according to a breakdown from the water plant, the city’s official weather-monitoring station.

The largest amount for a single day was 2.41 inches logged for Jan. 15. Although January tends to be most associated with snowfall where precipitation is concerned, only 0.2 inches of the white stuff was included among the total for the month.

In keeping with the typical wintry conditions, Mount Airy experienced eight days with frost and four with fog.

Temps Vary Widely

Mercury-wise, last month produced a high reading of 70 degrees on Jan. 14, while the monthly low of 13 came 10 days later.

Overall, it was a slightly warmer January than usual, averaging 39.6 degrees compared to the 38.3-degree figure that is the norm for Mount Airy.

The average high temperature this January was 50.3 degrees and the average low reading, 28.8.

Reach Tom Joyce at 719-1924 or tjoyce@civitasmedia.com.