The Climate Prediction Center generally has a good track record of predicting the overall winter season — which it defines as the months of December, January and February — but this year making projections was more challenging than in 2023, said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the center’s operational prediction branch.

Winter runs from Dec. 21 to March 21. The average high and low temperature for Alabama in December is 55-60 and 36-40. For January those numbers are 60-64 and 40-44, compared to 64-67 and 45-50 for February. The ranges are a few ticks lower for north Alabama and higher south.