It was far from a white Christmas for much of the Plains as the lack of snow continued into the month of December. While winter wheat relies on the snow to protect it during cold stretches, mild temperatures during the month meant not as much stress in that sense for those crops, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Drought conditions were really the bigger issue for winter wheat in the Plains as that continued to stress the crop in some areas.
Temperatures were warm across parts of Texas during the month of December, too. The temperature in Victoria, Texas, hit 86 degrees Fahrenheit three days in a row starting in the middle part of the month. This marked the warmest December temperatures there since 1964.
In the global view, ENSO-neutral conditions remained with a switch to La Niña forecast soon. It will likely be a brief bout of La Niña conditions. La Niña conditions are also forecast to be weak during that time. Then, by spring, ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to return.
Flipping to 2025, above average temperatures are forecast for the month of January for much of Texas. Most of Texas is also forecast to see below average precipitation for the month. Eastern Kansas and northwest Nebraska will likely see precipitation add up above normal.
Through March, below normal precipitation will stretch from Texas into western Oklahoma and southwest Kansas.
The majority of Texas is expected to see above average temperatures for the next three months.
The lack of precipitation in the next few months is expected to lead to more drought development across Texas. Southern Oklahoma is expected to see more drought development, too, as drought persists in northern Kansas and much of Nebraska.
I’m always keeping an eye to the sky (and the weather patterns), so watch for February’s update.
Editor’s note: Regina Bird grew up on a farm near Belleville, Kansas. The views from the farm helped spur her interest in weather. Following high school, she went on to get a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from the University of Kansas. She worked as a television meteorologist for nine years in Nebraska. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaBirdWX.
