Thaw (weather)

January thaw is a term applied to a thaw or rise in temperature in mid-winter found in mid-latitude North America.

Sinusoidal estimates of expected temperatures, for northern locales, usually place the lowest temperatures around January 23 and the highest around July 24, and provide fairly accurate estimates of temperature expectations. Actual average temperatures in North America usually significantly differ twice over the course of the year:

During this "thaw" period, usually lasting for about a week, temperatures are generally about 6 °C (10 °F) above normal. This varies from year to year, and temperatures fluctuate enough that such a rise in late-January temperature would be unremarkable; what is remarkable (and unexplained) is the tendency for such rises to occur more commonly in late January than in mid-January or early February, which sinusoidal estimates have to be slightly warmer.

Warm Spell

Warm Spell (1988–1994) was an American Eclipse Award winning thoroughbred racehorse, a Kentucky-bred son of Northern Baby, owned and trained by John K. Griggs and bred by Robert Kluener. He was ridden primarily by the owner/trainer's son, Kirk Griggs.

In 1994 Warm Spell won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse, and his career ended with him as the Number 2 all-time leading American steeplechase earner. He was over $120,000 ahead of Lonesome Glory, with the two having split decisions in their head-to-head meetings. Warm Spell won The American Grand National in 1994.

At 3: WON Raymond G. Wolfe Memorial Hurdle; Future Champions Cup hurdle.

At 4: WON Coca-Cola Steeplechase H.; 3RD Iroquois Steeplechase H.

At 5: WON New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase H.; A.P. Smithwick Memorial; Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase H.; 2nd Iroquois Stp S.

At 6: WON A.P. Smithwick Memorial; Breeders' Cup Grand National Hurdle S., Atlanta Cup Hurdle H.; 2ND Iroquois Steeplechase S., Temple Gwathmey Hurdle H.