State climatologist expects warming soon

GAINESVILLE - State climatologist David Stooksbury says that despite last week's snowfall, north Georgia is having a dry winter.

Stooksbury says Gainesville is probably 2 to 3 inches below normal for the winter, about the same as Atlanta and Athens.

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that most of north Georgia is either "abnormally dry" or "moderately dry."

He says the La Nina pattern, which typically means warmer, drier winters, is in place, but it's been affected by a pattern called ``Arctic oscillation,'' which is bringing colder temperatures.

Stooksbury says the Arctic oscillation pattern is returning to normal, and north Georgia should be getting warmer weather typical for La Nina in February and March.

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story.)