It looks like the warmest temperatures of March are likely behind us now. Global patterns, analog years (past history) and global computer models are largely in agreement that there will be more atmospheric blocking forcing the jet stream south pulling colder air with it into early April. Snow could fly AT LEAST as far south as I-40. If flakes were seen further south it would not be a shock. It may not be until mid-April that we put winter firmly in the rearview mirror.

Spring officially begins with the equinox Wednesday March 20th at 7:02 AM EDT but Mother Nature does not care! Despite the weekend warmth, no early spring. The up and down back and forth pattern is now about 7 months long.

Cool off follows our 76F high on Saturday, closer to normal to below as this week wears on. From the 21st through the end of the month into early April the average temperatures look cooler than normal. No early spring, but May and June turn warmer than normal. Trend for summer is for a little warmer than normal and a little drier than normal.

The 3 winter months averaged 3.9 degrees warmer than normal in GA with rainfall 25-50% above average.

I have to give my winter temperature forecast a grade of F. The precip forecast an A-. I got some things right about the winter but got the sign wrong on temperatures by a lot but was ok with the precip. I wrote: "arctic outbreaks can be expected for the coming winter, some rather significant, but their frequency and duration will be limited. And periods of abnormal warmth during the winter would be no surprise, some of extended length. But when added up and divided by the total period December to March the bias will be colder than average here in Georgia.The swings in temperature should make for a more stormy winter with the back and forth swings providing ample frontal passages to make precipitation average out near-normal to a little above-normal by the time we get to March"

As it turned out February was the only cooler than normal month -0.6F while December was +5.8F and January was +6.6F. Precipitation was 43% above-normal. These are all Hartsfield-Jackson stats. So far March is averaging -4F below-normal on temperatues with rainfall running 75% below-normal. This month recorded 3 days with a Trace of official snow at the airport.

This March is the mirror opposite of March of last year, not only here in Georgia but for most of the nation.