CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 02/06/15

Cool and dry conditions in January 2015

By Pam Knox

Georgians' introduction to 2015 included cooler-than-normal temperatures, which hurt some winter grain crops, but conserved soil moisture for the coming planting season.

Temperatures at almost all recording locations were a bit below normal for January. In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 43.1 degrees Fahrenheit, 0.2 degrees below normal. In Athens, the average was 41.9 degrees F, 1.6 degrees below normal; in Columbus, the average was 45.8 degrees F, 1.4 degrees below normal; in Macon, the average was 44.1 degrees F, 2.2 degrees below normal; in Savannah, the average was 49.6 degrees F, 0.1 degree above normal; in Brunswick, the average was 52 degrees F, 0.5 degrees above normal; in Alma, the average was 49.4 degrees F, 1.3 degrees below normal; in Augusta, the average was 44 degrees F, 1.4 degrees below normal; in Albany, the average was 48 degrees F, 0.6 degrees below normal; and in Valdosta, the average was 51.6 degrees F, 1.2 degrees above normal.

Brunswick broke its record lowest daytime high on Jan. 8, when the daytime temperature topped out at just 37 degrees F, beating the old record of 38 degrees F set in 1958. Columbus tied a record nighttime low of 13 degrees F on Jan. 8, beating the old record from 1970. Savannah tied its 1964 record for lowest daytime high temperature with a 60 degree F high on Jan. 12. Other stations also recorded their coldest temperatures early in the month, getting down to 10 degrees F in some locations.

Climatological models show that the dry and cooler-than-normal weather should last through the first half of February, but there is an increased chance of wetter-than-normal conditions in south Georgia through the end of the month. Because there are no clear El Niño or La Niña patterns to affect the climate in early 2015, late-winter and spring weather will be somewhat more unpredictable than normal.

The neutral ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) conditions also create a greater chance for a late frost than in in years when El Niño conditions are present.

Precipitation

The cooler-than-normal temperatures across the state helped preseve soil moisture, which help to make up for lower-than-normal rainfall across the state.

The highest monthly total precipitation from National Weather Service stations was 4.56 inches in Valdosta, 0.01 inches below normal, and the lowest was in Augusta with 2.10 inches, 1.81 inches below normal. Atlanta received 4.36 inches, 0.16 inches above normal; Athens received 2.98 inches, 1.07 inches below normal; Macon received 2.44 inches, 1.80 inches below normal; Columbus received 3.15 inches, 0.70 inches below normal; Savannah received 4.12 inches, 0.43 inches above normal; Alma received 2.21 inches, 2.05 inches below normal; Brunswick received 3.03 inches, 0.19 inches below normal; and Albany received 3.30 inches, 1.52 inches below normal.

Savannah set a daily precipitation record on Jan. 12, receiving 1.89 inches and beating the old record of 1.81 inches set in 1964.

The highest single-day rainfall from Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network volunteers was 4.21 inches in Woodstock, Cherokee County, on Jan. 4, followed by 3.98 inches received near Cedartown, Polk County, on the same date. The highest monthly total rainfall recorded by a volunteer was 6.84 inches, observed west of Valdosta in Lowndes County, followed by 6.61 inches by the Cedartown volunteer observer listed above.

Volunteers recorded snowfall at a few higher elevations during the month. A CoCoRaHS volunteer north of Blue Ridge in Fannin County reported 0.3 inches on Jan. 24. Another observer near Ringgold, Catoosa County, reported 0.1 inches of snow both Jan. 16 and 27.

In addition to snow, several Georgia counties were hit with severe weather during January.

On Jan. 3, ahead of a strong cold front, scattered wind damage occurred. Tornadoes hit multiple counties on Georgia on Jan. 4: an EF1 in Tift County, which damaged a church, an EF0 in Pulaski County, an EF1 in Dodge County and an EF1 in Chatham County. An EF1 in Bacon County east of Alma severely damaged two mobile homes and caused two injuries.

For more information, please see the UGA Extension Climate and Agriculture blog or visit the new agricultural climatology website for Georgia. Please email weather and climate impacts on agriculture to share on the blog to pknox@uga.edu.

Pam Knox is the director of the UGA Weather Network and serves as an agricultural climatologist with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

Authors:
Pam Knox
Experts/Sources:
Pam Knox
While the weather was drier than normal in January 2015, cooler temperatures kept the lack of rain from impacting soil moisture levels. While the weather was drier than normal in January 2015, cooler temperatures kept the lack of rain from impacting soil moisture levels.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate who went on to earn a master’s degree in 1982 and education specialist degree in 1984 from UGA’s College of Education. CAES News
Innovator, educator inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame 04/11/24 Maria M. Lameiras
An innovator in peanut breeding whose research revitalized an industry and an ardent champion of agricultural education were inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame at the 68th University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association Awards in Athens. The 2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate.
UGA wheat breeder and geneticist Mohamed Mergoum smells one of several test brews created by Creature Comforts on its annual Get Comfortable collaboration using a variety of wheat Mergoum developed at CAES. CAES News
Creature Comforts partners with UGA wheat breeder to create 2024 Get Comfortable brew 04/09/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile. These two exacting professions came together this spring when Athens-based Creature Comforts Brewing Co. reached out to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to find a sustainable wheat variety they could use to make a good beer for a great cause.
A field of corn at sunset. CAES News
UGA Extension protects family farms and sensitive species 04/04/24 Emily Cabrera
Stanley Culpepper has dedicated the length of his career to supporting farmers in their mission to feed and clothe the world. For the past 25 years, Culpepper has been a weed science specialist for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and a College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences faculty member. Recently his job has become increasingly complex as mounting challenges around the availability of pesticides — primarily herbicides — have taken center stage in agricultural production.
The Research Awards Program is sponsored by the University of Georgia Research Foundation (UGARF). Awards are given annually to honor outstanding faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, and to recognize excellence in UGA research, scholarly creativity, technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. Award winners are selected by accomplished faculty peers who give their time and energy to help honor well-deserving researchers at UGA. CAES News
UGA to recognize groundbreaking achievements at 2024 Research Awards 04/02/24
As the spring semester starts winding down, the University of Georgia’s annual Honors Week marks a time to celebrate exceptional performance in the classroom, in the service arena and in research, as faculty and graduate students are recognized for their contributions to scientific discovery. Celebrating its 45th year, UGA’s Research Awards banquet and ceremony, set for April 4, will pay tribute to those who have made groundbreaking strides in their respective fields through research, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
Five UGA professors were named NAI Senior Members, giving the university 16 in its history. Pictured (clockwise from left) are Elizabeth Brisbois, David Crich, Jack Huang, Ralph Tripp, and Paul Raymer. CAES News
Five professors named Senior Members of National Academy of Inventors 03/06/24 Brandon Ward
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has selected five University of Georgia researchers as 2024 NAI Senior Members, the largest single induction for the university in its history. UGA now has 16 Senior Members overall. NAI Senior Members recognize faculty, scientists, and administrators for their ability to innovate and commercialize new technologies. UGA’s 2024 inductees are Elizabeth Brisbois, David Crich, Qingguo “Jack” Huang, Paul Raymer, and Ralph Tripp.
Exterior of the Administration Building front entrance on a blue sky spring day. CAES News
Newest round of Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants awarded 03/05/24 Olivia Randall
Ten university-wide projects devoted to advancing interdisciplinary research across multiple application areas have been awarded Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants as part of the 2023 cohort. The Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant Program was launched in 2017 and offered again in 2019 and 2021 through a partnership between the offices of Research and Public Service and Outreach. These 10 awards were chosen from 70 proposals and reflect a commitment of $1 million from UGA President Jere W. Morehead.