The numbers are in—and it’s no surprise! January 2018 was colder than average in Augusta.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures during the month averaged 43.2° at Augusta Regional Airport, which is 2.3° below the 30-year average for the month of January. The coldest temperature was observed on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 14°. The warmest temperature of 75° occurred on Thursday, Jan. 11.
[Related: Augusta in the Deep Freeze Since Christmas]
Precipitation was light during the month, with Augusta Regional Airport recording just 2.09″, which is nearly 2 inches below the 30-year average. According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, it was the 18th driest January on record at Augusta Regional Airport, going back to the early 1940s.
[Related: Augusta Sets Record for Cold Streak]
Snow showers greeted local residents on Jan. 17, but no accumulation occurred in many areas, while others saw just a slight dusting of snow.
It wasn’t only chilly in January. The past few months have reversed the noticeable trend of above average temperatures that the area experienced for most of 2017. Since November 1, temperatures have been just about on target—only 0.1° above average according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.
[Related: Thanksgiving Day Looking Much Cooler than Last Year]
February Outlook
While the groundhogs will have the ultimate say (not really!), February remains a bit of a challenge when it comes to how warm or cold it will be. In reality, we will probably experience both extremes. The Climate Prediction Center shows a propensity toward warmer than average temperatures and drier than average conditions for the month as a whole:
It’s probably a fairly safe bet that precipitation will remain below average during February, but I think temperatures remain a bit more uncertain at this point.
That's Rich 