As area temperatures climbed from sub-freezing Thursday morning to close to 60 degrees by this afternoon, state weather officials say it’s just that kind of year.
“This is a year of a lot of dramatic swings,” Pam Knox, assistant state climatologist, said.
She said the cold spell that swept through this week was well below average, adding that she hasn’t seen numbers that low since 2004 and the mid 1990s.
But, they weren’t the coldest the area has seen.
According to the U.S. National Climactic Data Center, the lowest temperature recorded in January in Georgia is -17 degrees. The record was set on Jan. 27, 1940.
“We have not set any records. They’ve been below normal, but no records yet this year,” she said.
Knox blames the rapidly changing weather on an air current coming from the South. She said this means area temperatures will be warmer for the majority of the weekend and into next week.
While the South is known for rapidly changing weather, she said this year has been even more turbulent than most.
“The last few years we haven’t seen these big extremes,” Knox said.
So residents shouldn’t get too comfortable with the current warming trend because it’s only a matter of time before things change. Knox said it’s a good idea to stay informed and be prepared for any kind of weather because there’s a good chance that we will get a lot more cold weather.
She said with the unpredictable cycles, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine the possibility of snowfall for a few more months.
“It’s not at all uncommon to see swings late in March,” she said. “Winter is not over yet, so don’t put away the winter coats.”
“This is a year of a lot of dramatic swings,” Pam Knox, assistant state climatologist, said.
She said the cold spell that swept through this week was well below average, adding that she hasn’t seen numbers that low since 2004 and the mid 1990s.
But, they weren’t the coldest the area has seen.
According to the U.S. National Climactic Data Center, the lowest temperature recorded in January in Georgia is -17 degrees. The record was set on Jan. 27, 1940.
“We have not set any records. They’ve been below normal, but no records yet this year,” she said.
Knox blames the rapidly changing weather on an air current coming from the South. She said this means area temperatures will be warmer for the majority of the weekend and into next week.
While the South is known for rapidly changing weather, she said this year has been even more turbulent than most.
“The last few years we haven’t seen these big extremes,” Knox said.
So residents shouldn’t get too comfortable with the current warming trend because it’s only a matter of time before things change. Knox said it’s a good idea to stay informed and be prepared for any kind of weather because there’s a good chance that we will get a lot more cold weather.
She said with the unpredictable cycles, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine the possibility of snowfall for a few more months.
“It’s not at all uncommon to see swings late in March,” she said. “Winter is not over yet, so don’t put away the winter coats.”