Weather report

Only a few days last December made it feel as if winter weather reached the area.

No measurable snowfall occurred and the low temperatures dropped to below 20 degrees only four times last month. There were several days in December when the temperatures reach the mid-60s.

In fact, last month's average high temperature was 50 degrees -- about eight degrees warmer than December 2005. The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., reported December 2006 was the sixth warmest on record.

But according to meteorologist Robin Smith, the mild weather "is not unusual at all."

The weather service's next 90-day forecast predicts a 40 percent chance for above normal temperatures and a 30 percent chance for below normal precipitation -- which means "really nice winter weather," Smith said.

"That's not to say we won't have some cold weather from time to time," he said. "Overall it's going to be a really mild winter."

Temperatures throughout the first several days in January, averaged 5 to 10 degrees above normal.

The weather service predicts temperatures this week to reach the mid-40s to low 50s, with lows dropping down into the 30s.

-- Jennifer Freeze