Delicate green daffodil tips peeking out of the ground and pleasant 50 degree weather can hint at only one thing: spring is on the horizon.
But in January?
Balmier days are expected in Illinois over the next few days, a result of warmer air masses flowing in from the west and southwest and the effects of an El Nino year.
While no records are being broken–back in 1876 it was 65 degrees on Jan. 2–temperatures in coming days are expected to remain well above the historic average high of about 30 degrees.
Scarves and earmuffs? Try sunglasses and flip-flops.
But not everyone is celebrating. Ski buffs and snowboarding maniacs have had to find new pastimes, as most area ski parks were closed for the holidays. And at least one travel agency has seen a drop in reservations to warmer climates–there are no snowdrifts from which to flee.
Ardent gardeners are intrigued, but a little spooked. Early-blooming bulbs before a cold snap hits could mean fewer flowers in the spring.
At Wilmot Mountain–a popular destination for local skiers–the high temperatures have been painful. The family-owned business in Wisconsin was closed throughout the holidays, with no relief from the pleasant weather in sight.
“January’s our biggest month and we’re closed, there’s no sign of us getting open completely this year,” said Diane Reese, owner and general manager of the ski resort. “We depend on the weather, just like farmers. We know that you have to write off bad years–and this is certainly one of them.”
This month’s warmer days are a result of a series of factors, say meteorologists.
While colder winters are fueled by cold air sweeping down from the North Pole, puffs of warmer air from the west and southwest have kept temperatures more moderate, said Ken Labas, forecaster at the National Weather Service in Romeoville.
The El Nino phenomenon, which rolls around every three to seven years and typically brings warmer, drier weather to the Midwest, is also in effect this year, Labas said. But this winter, Illinois has seen its fair share of rain.
“That’s kind of the puzzling part,” Angel said of this year’s El Nino.
Although the temperate days are likely to encourage thoughts of sunbathing and swimming, anyone planning on breaking out the skimpy swimsuits need hold back a few months, experts say.
“Even in the mildest winters, we typically get some good shots of snow,” Angel said. “Don’t think we’re out of the woods by any means.”
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No snow means warmth
Fewer snow days have made for warmer weather, said Charles Mott, meteorologist at the National Weather Service. Snow on the ground acts much like ice in a cooler, keeping the surrounding air colder and making it more likely for precipitation to fall as snow, rather than rain.
