Weather Summary for first half of January 2012 in Taney County!

“The winter of aught twelve has been rather strange

Flying on past me like a freight train.

Boxcars repeat and flash before my eyes

In cyclical patterns that none could denigh

Telling a tale of warmth followed by cold

As high follows low, a story unfolds.”

And that poor attempt at a rhyme pretty much sums up the zonal flow pattern that has been our weather here, not only in southwest Missouri, but across the Nation. The fronts have come through pretty much from west to east, never seeming to stay very long. As a result, even though there have been a few cold spells, they haven't lasted more than a few days before another warmup builds in behind them. Not that I'm complaining, mind you!

The first two weeks of January have certainly followed this see saw pattern, as you can see in the graph of temperature highs and lows. And, because the incursions of cold Canadian air have had limited opportunities, it's also been a rather warm two weeks. The average or mean temperature has been 6 degrees above the historical average. That's huge! That fact combined with the lack of snow across much of the country is unusual and has me guessing again about global warming.

It has also been a dry two week period with only just about an inch of rain. Traditionally, we will have over three inches for the month, so there is also some concern over the deficit. Everyone, especially the farmers, are concerned as to the possibility of drought conditions as we head on into late winter. I know that in Texas, this is a major concern, so everyone is watching the skies these days.