But February is the month with the highest average temperature increase.

Last updated October 1, 2024

Living in Columbus, Georgia, one might think heat is only a problem in the summer months. Comparisons of the most recent 30-year period (1991-2000) to the 30-year period before (1961-1900), however, indicate our winter months are increasing the most. The city has maximum monthly temperatures that range from 58.7°F to 92.9°F and monthly minimum temperatures from 38.2°F to 73.5°F (lows in January and highs in July). Monthly average temperatures have increased between the two 30-year periods in all months of the year with the greatest increase having occurred in the winter months of February and January.

Fewer frosts in the Columbus area mean plants and animals that currently thrive due to frosts in the winter may no longer thrive flourish. Regional farmers rely on winter freezes to grow blueberries and peaches because these fruits need a certain amount of cold hours to become dormant and to grow blooms in the spring. Earlier warming can lead early blooms leaving fruit plants open to unseasonal late frosts or without the ability to produce fruit1. The "Peach State" has seen farmers growing more citrus and olive crops as a way to adjust to the changing climate2,3. This pattern of early warmth followed by late season frosts could continue with climate change increasing state temperatures overall.

Warmer winters mean an earlier and more potent allergy seasons. Researchers have seen higher pollen concentrations from allergen plants with allergy season starting weeks earlier due warmer Georgia winters4. Less freezing temperatures can lead to shifts species movements that can also be programmatic to people. Disease carrying mosquitos will move north as a result. Recreational birding and hunting may be impacted as birds are not inclined to migrant further south5.

Sources:

1 Lasseter, E. (2023). Georgia blueberries and peaches are hard to find. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The United States. Retrieved from https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/from-frosts-to-drenching-rain-georgia-farmers-battle-extreme-weather/Y46LOTIWSZCKNIO4HCVNDPFJ34/#:~:text=It%20was%20a%20strange%20start,new%20challenges%20to%20farmers%20statewide.

2 Ryssdal, K. (2023). Citrus industry flowers in Georgia as winters get warmer. Marketplace. Retrieved from https://www.marketplace.org/2023/09/05/warmer-winters-climate-change-georgia-citrus/.

3 YCC Team. (2021). Georgia farmers experiment with new crops as the climate changes. Yale Climate Connections, ChavoBart Digital Media. Retreived from https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/11/georgia-farmers-experiment-with-new-crops-as-the-climate-changes/.

4 Manangan, A., Brown, C., Saha, S., Bell, J., Hess, J., Uejio, C., ... & Schramm, P. (2021). Long-term pollen trends and associations between pollen phenology and seasonal climate in Atlanta, Georgia (1992-2018). Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 127(4), 471-480. 

5 Assessment, C. (2018). Fourth national climate assessment. Chapter 18: Southeast. US Global Change Research Program: Washington, DC, USA.