January 2006 Warmest On Record For Dallas-Ft. Worth

[hatrack]

Could it happen: A Year Without a Winter? There are reasons for North Texans to begin asking the question this week, which marks the midpoint of what is usually the year's coldest season.

The daily high temperatures during January were, on average, the warmest ever for the month – 68.3 degrees, a figure that broke an 83-year-old record. The normal high is 54. A cold snap hit in early December, but since winter officially began Dec. 21, there have been only three days when the high was below normal. And there was only one hour – around daybreak Jan. 14 – when the official thermometer at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport fell below freezing.

Needless to say, there has been no winter snow or ice. "We're kind of stuck in a rut," said Jennifer Dunn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. "It really has been a year without winter, and it's not likely to change soon."

EDIT

"Usually, we have a red-light/green-light situation around here, where it gets warm for a while, then it gets cold. But this year it's all been green light," said Dave Forehand, who is in charge of plantings at the Dallas Arboretum. "The problem is that it's been so warm that they're all ready to go." The arboretum's Japanese magnolias, which usually bloom in mid- or late February, are in full glory. That's fine, as long as the weather stays warm. This week, he said, marks the point of no return. Buds are far enough along that a cold snap would damage them.

EDIT

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020106dnmetwinterless.123eb840.html

[w8liftinglady]

1. I have worn sleeveless shirts every day this week

we are going to have terrible tick and flea problems this summer

[Jane Austin]

3. That was my first thought, too.

Man, the bugs are going to be terrible in Texas this year. :(

I was in the Dallas area on business for a week in the middle of the month, and there was only one day when I even considered wearing a sweater - - even though I had to walk a dog late at night and early in the morning.

I have pretty much not worn any of my winter clothes this year, and I am sick of my summer duds.

[Pirate Smile]

2. I have a feeling it is the warmest in the entire US. January in

Iowa has had many days in the 50's, tons in the 40's.

It is freaky. It feels like March. There have been some threads on this about how warm it has been in other places.

I fear this coming hurricane season considering how warm it has been this winter.