January was the warmest year on record worldwide, according to the European Union's climate monitoring system, and temperatures in Gainesville during January were about five degrees warmer than normal.
In addition to reporting that last month was the world's warmest January on record, Science X says last year was the globe's second-hottest year on record.
Meanwhile, it was the fifth-warmest January in the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA reports all 48 contiguous states saw above- to much-above-average temperatures last month. January was also quite damp for the Lower 48 and ranked in the wettest third of the 126-year climate record. No state in the Lower 48 ranked average or below average temperature-wise for January 2020. The month ranked as the fifth warmest January on record for Michigan, and the sixth warmest for Wisconsin and Rhode Island.
Locally, temperatures in Gainesville were 4.5 degrees above normal, on average, for January, according to the National Weather Service's January 2020 Climate Summary. The average temperature in Gainesville in January, according to the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City, is 41.7 degrees. This year it was 46.2 degrees.
Temperatures averaged below normal in Gainesville on only 8 of 31 days during the month, and freezing or below temperatures were recorded on just five days, according to part of the report.
Meanwhile, record highs were recorded for the month in Macon, Cartersville, Peachtree City, and Atlanta.
Rainfall statewide was above normal. Gainesville, for instance, recorded 7.52 inches, which is 2.49 inches above average.
