AUSTIN, Texas -- So far, the 2019-2020 winter season has been anything but harsh for Central Texas.

Records show this is the second warmest December 1 to January 15 period in Austin history with an average temperature of 57 degrees according to NOAA records.

Only 1907 was warmer. And, interestingly enough, as many as five days are missing from the record set that year, meaning this could actually be the mildest. Metro Austin's weather records go all the way back to 1897.

Statistically speaking, we just crossed the average coldest time of year in the past week yet temperatures have topped out in the 70s and 80s.

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Since 2000, two other years have made it to the top ten list, including 2000 in fourth place and 2004 in eighth place.

That means it has been 16 years since we've had such a warm start to winter in the Capital City!

We actually experienced colder weather back in mid-November, when a cold snap delivered three very chilly days in a row with highs in the 40s.

At the Airport, the average temp during the December 1 - January 15 period has been 54 degrees according to NOAA records, ranking this as the fifthteenth warmest start to winter at that location.

According to Bob Rose, meteorologist with the LCRA, rainfall has been drier than normal but totals don't rank among the top 20 driest for either the Metro or Airport climate sites.

And there's some good news ahead with our drought status in mind: the Climate Prediction Center's latest outlook optimistically calls for a significant recovery in the next three months. 

Let's hope! The wetter the conditions are in spring, the longer we can hold off the hundreds come summertime.

Enjoy the "cold" season while it lasts.

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