Anyone in the Northeast will tell you that this past weekend’s weather was fantastic for January! Not only did the temperatures reach the 60’s, but the sun was out for the majority of the weekend! It felt more like a day in April rather than January, and has many people thinking about spring. And why not? Spring is welcome whenever it feels like arriving with its longer days, more sunshine, warmer temperatures, sprouting plants, migrating animals, and more time spent outside. For my house, it means more fresh air for my son, which makes him sleep better.
Yet, we all know that spring is not here early; it’s just a January Thaw. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, a January Thaw usually occurs during the last week of January and rise about 10 degree higher than the previous week. The Farmer’s Almanac reports that January 23rd is usually the coldest day of the year, and conversely July 24th is the warmest. The January Thaw is considered a weather “blip”, just like an Indian Summer. Also, neither is guaranteed, but both are welcomed! This “thaw” and false sense of spring lasts about a week and will drop back to seasonal temps by time February arrives, but that’s all it takes to get people thinking spring.
Maybe this is Mother Nature’s way of telling us that we all need to get our Christmas decorations down already!
Sadly, our January Thaw is ending. This weekend’s weather for my area has cold temperatures, snow, and wind in the forecast. Anyone in upstate New York knows that the second half of winter is usually the worst. February has been notorious for snow storms with high winds, ice accumulation, and large snow totals. Most snow days, late arrival, and early release days are in February. So get the shovels and ice melt ready, check your plows and snow tires, stock up on things for your kids to do on snow days, and get ready for real winter folks!
Reference:
McLeod, Jaime. The Farmer’s Almanac. What is a January Thaw. Jan 2020. https://www.farmersalmanac.com/what-is-a-january-thaw-10671