BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — What a difference a year can make! After one of the harshest and snowiest winters on record, 2018 is off to a much different start. If you need proof, just compare January 2017 to January 2018.

January 2017 vs. January 2018: The snow story

Last year, the month of January became familiar with the record books, breaking records in more than one category. Most notably, it was the fourth snowiest January on record in Boise. (These records date back to 1892). It was also one of the coldest.

In 2018, January came in fourth again...this time though, in the 'least snowy' category. Boise recorded 0.1 inches of snow on January 25th, accounting for the only measurable snowfall that month. For perspective, it has snowed less than that in January just three times in Boise's history, dating back to 1892.

The average amount of snowfall in a 'typical' January? Just over five inches (5.1"). It's safe to say neither of these January months were 'average', or anything close to it. Instead though, we saw two consecutive January months that couldn't have been more opposite.

January 2017 vs. January 2018 - The temperature story

Even though Boise saw above-average precipitation for the month (1.36 inches compared to an average of 1.24 inches), most all of that precipitation came as rain in the Treasure Valley, largely because of above-average temperatures. High temperatures were considered 'above average' all but four days last month, meaning it was warmer than it should have been almost all month long.

Just how warm was last month? January 2018 will go down as the sixth warmest January on record. (Temperature records date back to 1877).

The average temperature (which combines daytime high and overnight low averages throughout the month) was 37.8 degrees. Here's how that stacks up to the three warmest January's on record:

On January 30, the temperature in Boise peaked at 59 degrees, which set a daily temperature record and ties for the eighth warmest temperature ever recorded in January. (Compare that to last January, when the temperature gauge never climbed above 45 degrees). Boise's warmest temperature recorded in January was 63 degrees back in 1953.

The coldest overnight low temperature last month was 18 degrees. Last year, it got as cold as -11 on January 6, 2017.

What's next?

The month of February looks to start on a similar note, with mild temperatures expected all the way through the 7-day forecast and beyond. Long range forecast models hint that temperatures will stay above average under the influence of a strong, stubborn ridge of high pressure, possibly for the next 10-14 days. While subtropical moisture and some instability will support on-and-off snow showers in the mountains through the weekend and into early next week, a drying pattern looks to set in by mid-week.

In fact, NOAA's monthly outlook also suggests warmer than average temperatures will persist through February.

This is not an ideal scenario for Idaho's mountains and ski areas, which still need winter to continue. However, it's a possibility that we may have to wait until the second half of the month before we see any major pattern changes developing for the western United States. That being said, keep in mind that forecasts are impossible to pinpoint, especially beyond five to seven days.

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