A little rain but not nearly enough through early Thu. We'll have a couple of other periods of showers -- Fri. & Sun. night into early next week -- but I don't see appreciable rain anytime soon.
So Jan. was the 3rd month in a row with below avg. rain. Just 0.09" at JIA made it the 4th driest Jan. on record (driest=0.06"/1950). Below is a list from our Jax N.W.S. of some other First Coast Jan. rainfall:
JACKSONVILLE VICINITY... NORTHEAST FLORIDA...
JACKSONVILLE BEACH..... 0.14
JACKSONVILLE NAS....... 0.25
GAINESVILLE ......... 0.85
FORT CAROLINE.......... 0.05 LAKE CITY 2E......... 1.21
BIG TALBOT ISLAND...... FEDERAL POINT........ 0.54
LITTLE TALBOT ISLAND... ST. AUGUSTINE LITEHS. 0.23
ST. AUGUSTINE ARPT... 0.08
CRAIG FIELD............ 0.13 HASTINGS 4NE......... 0.41
MAYPORT NS............. 0.21 HIGH SPRINGS......... 0.85
SOUTH PONTE VEDRA...... 0.29 JASPER............... 2.79
GUANA RIVER ST PARK.... 0.26 BELL 4NW............. 0.83
BEAUCLERC.............. 0.18 WHITEHOUSE............. 0.17
PALM COAST 6NE....... 0.52
OCALA................ 0.77
ORANGE SPRINGS 2SSW.. 1.47
FLAGLER BEACH........ 0.37
CRESCENT CITY........ 0.40
BUNNELL.............. 0.20
STARKE............... 1.00
GLEN ST.MARY......... 0.66
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
ST SIMONS ISLAND..... 0.45
HOMERVILLE 5N.......... 1.00 ALMA................. 0.72
PRIDGEN................ 1.45 BAXLEY 5NNW.......... 1.31
WOODBINE............... 0.72 HAZLEHURST........... 1.70
NAHUNTA 6NE............ 1.55
FARGO 17NE............. 1.14 PATTERSON............ 0.82
WAYCROSS 4NE........... 1.30
The map below from NOAA shows just how widespread & intense drought is across the Southern U.S. in particular. The overall pattern into the spring should continue to be dry for NE Fl./SE Ga., & we could be in for a nasty wildfire season.
Otherwise Jan. was a mild month with an avg. high of 69.5 degrees & avg. low of 41.0 degrees for a monthly avg. of 55.2 degrees - 2.1 degrees above avg. We did manage to tie a record low on the 4th of 22 degrees & missed the all-time Jan. high of 84 by just 2 degrees on the 24th & by just 3 degrees on the 26th.
Thu. is Groundhog Day! Punxsatawney Phil will issue his official forecast from Pennsylvania -- click here including a live webcast. Our Jax Zoo & Gardens has a forecaster of its own -- Millie, the hedgehog.
Thu. -- Feb. 2 -- is also a big environmental day:
Earth Gauge: World Wetlands Day
Each year, World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2. Wetlands come in many forms and go by many names – estuaries, bogs, mangrove swamps, vernal pools, marshes, riparian wetlands, cypress swamps, playa lakes and more! Wetland areas improve water quality, provide flood protection and support tons of fish, wildlife and plants. If you’ve been hunting, clamming, crabbing, or enjoy eating salmon, you reaped the benefits of wetland ecosystems. Wetlands are some of the most important resources for migratory birds like ducks, geese and sandhill cranes, and also support moose, black bears, lynx, beavers and other wildlife. Cranberries and blueberries grow in bogs in the northern United States.
Despite their many benefits, the United States loses about 60,000 acres of wetlands each year. Compared to other coastal states, Florida, Texas, California and Louisiana have lost the most coastal marshland – California alone has lost more than 91 percent of its coastal wetlands and the Chesapeake Bay has lost 50 percent of its coastal marshes. Since the arrival of settlers, 70 percent of tidally influenced wetlands in Puget Sound have been lost. And, only about 40 to 50 percent of the prairie region’s original prairie pothole wetlands remain undrained today.
Tip: No matter where you live, chances are there is a wetland nearby. Development that occurs on or nearby wetlands can lead to loss of habitat, changes in water flow, polluted runoff and other impacts. Try these tips to protect your local wetlands:
· Keep lawns and driveways free of pet waste, fertilizers and motor oil. These pollutants can wash into storm drains and eventually reach a wetland.
· Choose native species when planting trees, shrubs and flowers to preserve the ecological balance of local wetlands.
· Use non-toxic products for household cleaning and lawn and garden care. Never spray lawn and garden chemicals outside on a windy day or on a day when it might rain and wash the chemicals into local waterways.
· Many exotic animals are introduced into wetlands by homeowners and hobbyists, where they can harm native wildlife. If you have a home aquarium with exotic saltwater or freshwater fish or raise non-native amphibians or reptiles, do not release them into the wild.
· Volunteer to help monitor local wetlands near you. Visit ** here ** for more information!
