Winter coats, gloves and hats might stay in the closet as weather models predict more warm and dry weather for the Augusta area this season.
A three-month outlook forecasts a 40 percent chance of above-normal temperatures for the remainder of the winter and into the spring months, said Gregory Lamberty, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Columbia.
Through April 30, the model also predicts a 33 percent chance of below normal rainfall amounts.
“The northern jetstream is keeping the coldest weather north of here,” Lamberty said. “The air source is Pacific origin and not Arctic or Canadian.”
High temperatures for this time of year normally measure in the upper 50s. By the end of April, normal highs hit the lower 80s.
Springlike temperatures were common in December and January but rarely broke record highs.
The last record-breaking day was Dec. 22, when the temperature hit 77 degrees – 19 degrees above the normal temperature and 3 degrees above the previous record set in 1889, Lamberty said.
A warm week will end with a predicted high of 67 degrees today.
A front moving into the area during the afternoon will bring clouds but no rainfall.
On Sunday, temperatures will dip slightly with a high around 60 degrees.
Simply a fantastic week to have visitors in town with the Futurity. It would be hard to find a locale anywhere in the world with better weather for golf, tennis, riding and sailing on the lake.
I want to be thankful even more for this great Janurary weather. Temp in the mid 60's today, clear blue sky, my palm trees moving slightly in the breeze, not a gnat or mosquito in the county. That does it, I'm firing up the grill today. It's like a trip to Hawaii.
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