Warmest January On Record For Kansas City

[hatrack]

The calendar said January, but the weather said March. Kansas City enjoyed its warmest January on record, according to the National Weather Service, lulling flowers, trees and birds into thinking spring had arrived.

The average temperature of 42.7 degrees for the month sent daffodils, lilies and crocuses peeking through the soft soil. Grass is greening up, some accompanied by clover. Buds are swelling on dogwoods and other trees, though not flowering. Cardinals started singing weeks ago. Red-winged blackbirds are back from the south.

EDIT

The warm January — which almost equaled the March average temperature of 43.8 degrees — also has affected the behavior of some birds, authorities said.

Mark Robbins, ornithologist at the University of Kansas, said red-winged blackbirds returned to the area about a month earlier than usual. Cardinals began singing in early January to establish territory, weeks ahead of the norm, he said.

EDIT

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/13760005.htm

[NNadir]

1. Uh Oh. I know where these threads are going.

Speaking for Central New Jersey, I do note we had a few really cold days in mid-December. We saw no snow whatsoever in January. Lots of rain, but no snow. Zero.

[GrumpyGreg]

3. Boston area-same thing. My son's very large hocky rink has been like

a swimming pool all winter.

[wtbymark]

2. Burlington, VT - 4th warmest January

28 or 29degrees F

[REP]

4. Going to Be Warm This Week, Too

At least during the day; the forecast for pm temps is horrible (yes, I'm visiting home).

[htuttle]

5. It's all about the "degree days"

When the temperature gets above freezing during the winter (where it normally doesn't), the natural cycle gets all screwed up.

If we get another frost, all those budding plants will be frozen, and potentially not bud again all year.