Reporter-News Archives Thursday, January 21, 1999 Where's winter? By JERRY DANIEL REED Senior Staff Writer Remember last winter? It lasted four days right at Christmas. Well, perhaps we exaggerate. But not by much, considering the midwinter temperatures that have floated above 80 lately. Wednesday's high reading was a second straight record 82 for Abilene, although Tuesday's reading merely tied the city's previous mark set in 1906. Today, afternoon temperatures are expected to cool all the way down into the lower 70s on the wings of blustery southwest winds. And on Saturday, it's expected to dip another 10 degrees and stay that way for a couple of days before climbing back into the unseasonal 70s early next week. Unofficially through the first 19 days of January 1999, Abilene's average daily temperature of 46.7 has topped the historical norm by 4.1 degrees. Daytime highs have been a whopping 6.5 degrees above normal so far this month. The trend follows last years' pattern, when only two of the 12 months were cooler than usual in Abilene. December afternoon highs were 5.5 degrees warmer than normal, while nightly lows were a modest .8 of a degree higher than normal. Balmy midwinter days may be pleasant now, but will almost surely exact a price to be paid later on. Weeds and bugs always get a head start without a reasonably rough winter to hold them in check. Rain patterns also continue in the footsteps of 1998, the city's fifth driest on record. Through Wednesday, only .03 inches has fallen this year, already 2/3 of an inch below normal. Jerry Reed can be reached at 676-6769 or reedj@abinews.com   Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below:  texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local News Texas News Copyright ©1999, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications