Rain fell in streaks across the state of Georgia in February, soaking some areas while others were left lacking.  Temperatures were generally near normal to slightly above average conditions.  Several severe weather outbreaks brought tornadoes and high winds to the state this month.

Temperatures varied across the state but most were slightly above normal.  In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 48.5 degrees F (1.3 degrees above normal), in Athens 47.6 degrees (0.4 degrees above normal), Columbus 51.3 (0.2 degrees above normal), Macon 50.6 (0.6 above normal), Savannah 53.7 (0.7 above normal), Brunswick 54.3 (0.2 below normal), Alma 53.5 (0.7 below normal), Augusta 49.8 (0.7 above normal), Albany 53.1 (0.7 above normal), Rome 46.1 (0.0 below normal) and Valdosta 54.8 (0.6 degrees above normal).

feb 16 temp dep

Atlanta set a record high of 76 F on February 2, beating the old record of 74 F set in 2014.  Savannah and Augusta tied their record highs on the same date.  Alma set a record high of 68 F on February 3, surpassing the old record of 66 F set in 1974.  Augusta also set a record high minimum temperature on February 3, reaching a low of only 62 F, beating the old record of 60 F set in 1932.  The normal low there is 34 F.

feb 16 precip

Most of Georgia was above normal in precipitation in February except for a streak of dry conditions across the center of the state from Columbus through Macon to Augusta.

The highest monthly total precipitation from National Weather Service reporting stations was 7.39 inches in Atlanta (2.72 inches above normal) and the lowest was in Macon at 3.21 inches (1.15 inches below normal).  Athens received 4.49 inches (0.01 inches above normal), Columbus received 4.23 inches (0.21 below normal), Augusta 3.76 inches (0.16 below normal), Savannah 3.28 inches (0.49 above normal), Alma 4.66 inches (0.86 above normal), Brunswick 3.99 inches (0.52 above normal), Rome 5.64 inches (0.77 above normal), Valdosta 4.97 inches (0.81 above normal), and Albany 6.65 inches (2.49 above normal).

feb 16 precip dep

Atlanta, Athens, Macon and Rome all reported a trace of snowfall in February on the 9th and 10th.

The highest single-day rainfall from CoCoRaHS stations was 5.42 inches west of Albany in Dougherty County on February 24, followed by 4.75 inches received north of Cochran in Fulton County on February 4. The highest monthly total rainfall was 9.34 inches observed by the Albany observer listed above, followed by 9.02 inches near Dillard in Rabun County in northeast Georgia.  The Dillard observer also had the highest snowfall for the month, with a total of 5.2 inches reported.

Severe weather was reported on four days during February.  A tornado was observed at Fort Stewart near Hinesville in Liberty County on February 3.  Numerous vehicles were destroyed and 40-50 people were displaced from housing due to the twister.  A storm outbreak brought high winds to much of Georgia on February 15; no tornadoes were observed in the state but several were seen nearby in southeast Alabama.  Several tornadoes were reported on February 23, including one near Blakely in Early County, an EF1 near Clarks Hill in Terrell County, plus reports in Chokee in Lee County and Whigham in Grady County.  The tail end of that outbreak hit the far northeast corner of Georgia on February 24 as the system moved to the east.

Lightning associated with the severe storms early in the morning of the 24th caused a barn fire in Bishop in Oconee County.  Fourteen Clydesdale horses were safely removed from the barn before it burned to the ground.

Fruit growers continue to be concerned about the low number of chill hours that have occurred this winter, due mainly to the extremely warm temperatures in December.  Low chill hours reduce fruit set and lengthen the harvest season, leading to increased labor costs needed to harvest the orchards more than once.

Corn and peanut farmers are watching soil moisture conditions carefully in the areas that received the most rain.  Some are concerned that planting and other field work may be delayed due to the wet conditions.  The moisture may also promote the development of fungal and other diseases which will require additional costs for treatment this growing season.  By the end of the month, soil temperatures in southern Georgia were approaching the threshold of 55 F needed for germination of corn and farmers were starting to plant fields there.

The outlook for March and spring shows that the continuation of El Nino-like rainfall conditions, especially in south Georgia.  The first two weeks of March are expected to be warmer than normal with a return to average conditions later in the month. Longer-term spring temperatures do not show a clear trend. The El Nino appears to have passed its peak and will be dying away over the next few months.  After the El Nino disappears, a swing first to neutral and then to La Nina is expected by late summer, which will increase the chance of dry conditions later in the growing season.  The Atlantic tropical season is also expected to be more active than usual in the absence of an El Nino.

For more information please see the “Climate and Agriculture” blog at https://site.extension.uga.edu/climate/  or visit our web page at https://www.gaclimate.org.  Please feel free to email your weather and climate impacts on agriculture to share on the blog to pknox@uga.edu.

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