Despite the highly publicized ongoing El Niño and how it may impact this winter, the first month of the 2023-24 meteorological winter season brought near normal temperatures and precipitation to the Augusta area. To determine how the month’s statistics stack up, we need to review data from two of the most prominent official weather reporting stations in the Augusta area — Augusta Regional Airport and Daniel Field Airport.
According to the National Weather Service, at Augusta Regional Airport, the average high temperature for December 2023 was 61.9°, just a tad above the 30-year normal of 61.5°. The average low temperature for the month was 37.4°, very close to the normal value of 37.3°. Rainfall was a bit above average at Augusta Regional Airport, with a total of 4.42″, compared to the 30-year normal of 3.87″.
At Augusta’s Daniel Field Airport, the average high during December was 61.0°, compared to the normal of 60.2°. The average low was 43.4°, compared to the normal value of 42.1°. These figures indicate a month that was about one degree warmer than normal for Daniel Field. Rainfall there was less, at 3.66″. The 30-year normal rainfall amount for the month of December at Daniel Field is 3.82″.
What’s ahead?
The official outlook for January from the Climate Prediction Center shows the following:
- Temperature: Equal chances of below average, average, or above average
- Precipitation: About a 50% chance for above average
This means that there is a 50% chance that precipitation will be above the 30-year normal of 3.84″ at Augusta Regional Airport or 3.77″ for Daniel Field Airport.
That's Rich 