David Stooksbury says compared to recent winters, the probability of a damaging freeze is higher in early 2004 across most of Georgia. This higher freeze risk is because of current and expected atmospheric-oceanic patterns.
Atmospheric-oceanic patterns have a major influence on the type of winter we have in the Southeast. The best known large-scale
atmospheric-oceanic pattern is El Nino. Under the El Nino pattern, much of Georgia has a wetter-than-normal winter.
The opposite pattern is called La Nina. During a La Nina winter, much of the Southeast is drier than normal.
Both El Nino and La Nina patterns tend to keep extremely cold air from making it from Canada into the deep South. Thus, damaging freezes are less likely during El Nino and La Nina winters.
This winter, though, the atmospheric-oceanic system is in the neutral pattern. It's neither El Nino nor La Nina. During winters with the
neutral pattern, extremely cold air from Canada is usually able to invade the Southeast.
This extremely cold air can cause significant freeze-related damage. Between periods of very cold air, the Southeast should have periods of
relatively warm air.
Across extremely south and coastal Georgia, the likelihood of temperatures below 20 degrees this winter is at least one and half times greater than we would expect during an El Nino or La Nina winter.
Across much of Georgia, the probability of temperatures below 14 degrees is at least one and half times greater than we would expect during an El Nino on La Nina winter. Temperatures around 14 and below can cause
extreme damage to Georgia winter crops, especially onions.
But, Stooksbury says don't count on a lot of snow this winter, adding North Georgia might receive "one good snow" between now and spring.
Maps and detailed expectations concerning the extreme freeze probabilities may be found on the Web at www.coaps.fsu.edu/climate_center/frz04.html.
The extreme freeze probability analysis and maps were produced by the Southeast Climate Consortium. The consortium is an outreach and research cooperative between the University of Georgia, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami and the University of Alabama at Huntsville.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/12/166380