The unseasonably warm Christmas week weather may be only a sign of things to come in 2016. University of Kentucky Agricultural Meteorologist Matt Dixon says longer term projections, even into February, call for higher than normal temperatures. He says that would differ greatly from a year ago. “Outlooks are pointing toward a warm start to 2016 and that would be almost the direct opposite of what we’ve had the last two years,” Dixon said. “Definitely be a break from those minus 20’s we saw last year.”
In fact, on February 20 of this year, the thermometer dropped to minus 18 in Lexington. But, that was nothing compared to the minus 32 recorded in Richmond. Warmer and drier conditions predicted for the next few months don’t sound like a recipe for much snow.
If the unseasonably warm temperatures spill over into 2016, that could prompt concerns among farmers. Dixon says a subsequent cold snap could cause problems. “The fact that, since we’ve been so warm, that a very hard cold air outbreak could have some impacts on vegetation out there, just because there hasn’t been as much cold acclamation,” explained Dixon.
The record high for December 25 in the Bluegrass is 70. The projected high for this Christmas Day is in the low 60’s.?
