NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center issued their final outlooks for February 2026 late last week. They show that colder than normal temperatures are likely to occur for the month, not a surprise considering the current weather and the likelihood of another cold outbreak the second week of the month. Precipitation has a chance of drier than normal conditions, especially in Georgia, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. This will contribute to the continuation of the drought that is currently affecting most of the region in the February through April period, which could mean issues with low soil moisture during the early part of the next planting season. I know some blueberry farmers in Florida are worried about the use of water to do freeze protection with drought conditions present, especially with all the cold weather we have had lately. See https://www.facebook.com/reel/1437861564353629 for a video showing how the use of water for freeze protection affected blueberry growers in this past storm.
