What the numbers say about our winter

This winter was not all that far from the long-term average in most places in North Georgia.

Average temps winter of 2021-22

By Kirk Mellish

The winter in metro Atlanta on average was near-normal on precipitation (a little wetter than normal in some spots, a little drier than normal in other spots). Snowfall ranged from near-average to below-average in the Metro Atlanta area. Temperatures were warmer than average.

WINTER TEMPERATURE DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL:

3-month average of winter temp rankings

Winter average temp departure from normal

This was a “La Nina Winter”... cooler than normal sea-surface temps in the equatorial Pacific. The winter of 2020-21 was also a La Nina winter but temps that winter did NOT match the usual pattern.

The map below shows how well the average winter temps this winter matched a typical moderate to strong La Nina:

La Nina winter composite temp pattern The winter of 2021-22 fit the La Nina average pattern pretty well.

WINTER PRECIPITATION THE PAST 3-MONTHS:

Winter inches of precip departure from normal

WINTER PRECIPITATION PERCENT:

Winter percent of normal precipitation

WINTER PRECIPITATION DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL CLOSE-UP:

Winter precip departure from normal Wet in spots, drier than normal in others

WINTER PRECIPITATION IN A TYPICAL MODERATE-STRONG LA NINA:

Composite average of precipitation in a moderate-strong La Nina

TOTAL WINTER SEASON SNOWFALL (DECEMBER 1-MARCH 1):

Snow amounts Dec 1-March 1

WINTER SNOW AMOUNTS CLOSE-UP (December 1-March 1):

Winter season snow amounts Average to below-average most areas

As you can see from the map below, not getting much snow is the NORM for Metro Atlanta and much of Georgia, it is average and typical for us not to get much, we usually get little or none in most years in history:

Historic average number of years with at least 1" of snow

WINTER started very warm in DECEMBER 2021:

December 2021 temp departure from normal

JANUARY 2022 was chilly in many areas:

Widespread below normal temps in January

FEBRUARY temperatures were warmer than normal on average but very up and down to get there:

Average temps this February After the chilly January February warmed-up in Georgia on average despite cold snaps

FEBRUARY precipitation not too far off a typical moderate to strong La Nina:

wet north Georgia dry South Georgia in February

For the winter as a whole on average in Metro Atlanta temperatures were warmer than normal, while rainfall was near-normal...a little drier than normal in spots and a little wetter than normal in other spots.

December was crazy warm, way above-normal. January was a little colder than normal, then February was a little warmer than normal.

Snowfall was about par for the course in most areas of Georgia. A bit above in spots and a bit below in spots.

Here is the winter monthly breakdown for Georgia from the Atlanta National Weather Service Office HQ in Peachtree City:

[ DECEMBER IN GEORGIA. ]

[ JANUARY IN GEORGIA. ]

[ FEBRUARY IN GEORGIA.  ]

The big swings and volatility are typical of a “La Nina winter” and was well forecast in the winter outlook issued in early November.

Average temps winter of 2021-22

Average precipitation winter of 2021-22

This winters thermometer roller coaster maps from Mike Ventrice

WINTER PRECIP AND TEMP TRENDS OVER THE PAST 50-75 YEARS:

Long-term winter precipitation trends

Winter temp average trends past 52 years

Follow me on Twitter @MellishMeterWSB for more frequent updates.