Florida in January
What does winter mean in The Sunshine State? It rarely means snow, but it does snow in Florida now and then. It rarely means ice storms, but we do get those too. Winter certainly brings cold weather highs and rainy lows throughout the state. And with these cold weather air masses, we look forward to to sitting beside a warm fireplace in January just as folks do further north.
January evenings in our capital city Tallahassee will average near 39 degrees F. And yes, northern portions of Florida have experienced snow in some years, but snow's never been seen after the 10th of January in any year so far. At the other end of the state, Key West is still quite tropical in January, and rarely experiences a January night below the temperature of 65 degrees.
Even with the cold waves, days in North Florida warm to an average 65 degrees this month so even with those colder nights, the northern portions of our state still are very comfortable for most of January.
South Florida can easily be as much 12 degrees warmer than North Florida thanks to predominant easterly winds coming off the Gulf Stream modifying the arriving flow of cold air. Daily January temperatures in South Florida will average a warm 77 degrees.
Passing cold fronts often usher in some rain in winter, but clear skies will prevail over much of the state during the next few months giving Florida the beautiful bright blue skies and dependable clear weather its known for. All in all, Floridians find it comfortable to be outdoors this month.
So what do we like to do in January?
So what do we like to do in January?
January can be the perfect month for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and winter kayaking. This is a great month to discover all our Florida trails.
Sportsmen find January a good month to be out fishing, boating and camping. Many Floridian hunters are out in the woods.
January is a great month to stroll the beaches and collect shells. Winter storm swells will often bring lots of treasures to our shores.
Winter migrations of wildlife give both bird-watchers and whale-watchers many successful adventures this time of year.
Sportsmen find January a good month to be out fishing, boating and camping. Many Floridian hunters are out in the woods.
January is a great month to stroll the beaches and collect shells. Winter storm swells will often bring lots of treasures to our shores.
Winter migrations of wildlife give both bird-watchers and whale-watchers many successful adventures this time of year.
Speaking of watching, January is also a wonderful month for sky-watching. Layer-up, pull out a lounge chair, and enjoy yourclear winter sky.
It’s January in Florida.
Where else in the country would you rather be?
The January 2014 Night Sky
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| Photo Credit: Scientific American |
January 1 -New Moon at 6:14AM. Pluto is in conjunction with the Sun at 2PM. The Moon is at the point when it’s nearest the earth, its perigee, at 3:59PM.
January 2 - Mars is at the point in its orbit where it is farthest from the Sun, its aphelion at 7PM.
January 3 - The Quadrantid meteor shower is at peak activity at 5AM.
January 4 - Earth is at perihelion, the point in its orbit when it is nearest to the Sun at 7AM.
January 5 -Jupiter is in opposition to the Sun as seen from Earth at 4PM.
January 7– First Quarter Moon at 10:39PM. - The Moon is just north of Uranus
January 15– Full Moon at 11:52PM. The moon is just south of Mars at 1AM.
January 24 - Last Quarter Moon at 12:19AM.
January 25 - The Moon is just south Saturn at 9AM.
January 28 – The moon is just south of Venus at 10PM.
January 30 –New Moon at 4:39PM.
The Planets
Mercury
This month Mercury moves into the evening sky. The planet will be hard to see early in the month but after the 15th will be visible for more than an hour after sunset. Look approximately 10 degrees above the southwestern horizon at dusk.
Venus
Venus is the brightest light in the January sky. Early in the month, Venus will be seen moving towards the southwestern sky at sunset. By January 11th, Venus returns to the morning sky. Mid-month, Venus will rise a full hour before sunrise, and by January 31st, Venus can be seen rising two hours before sunrise.
Mars
You can see Mars rising on the eastern horizon near midnight on January 1st. By January 31st, Mars will be rising by 10PM each evening. Mars is easiest to spot in the early hours just before dawn when the red planet is high in the southern sky overhead.
Jupiter
Jupiter is at peak visibility during its opposition to the sun on January 5th. Jupiter rises in the east just after sunset and can be seen all night amongst the stars of the constellation Gemini, the Twins.
Saturn
Early in January, Saturn is found rising about an hour before dawn and gets a little higher in the sky every morning thereafter. Saturn appears among the starts of the constellation Libra all month.
Uranus
Uranus is visible until midnight this month, but best observed around 6PM early January when it can be seen high in the sky. The planet is bright enough to see with the naked eye in a dark sky.
Neptune
You’ll need a telescope to find Neptune, but if you’re lucky enough to have one, you’ll find Neptune traveling in the center of the constellation Aquarius and easiest to spot during the early evening hours. Neptune will lie in southwest and about a third of the way up between the horizon and the zenith.
Pluto
Pluto is in the morning sky this month but will be hard to see as it rises just before sunrise in the morning sky and will be hidden from view due to sunlight as it travels through the constellation Sagittarius.
Meteor Showers
The Quadrantids
The Quadrantids are a major annual meteor shower which are visible from December 28 through January 12. The peak of activity is a good deal sharper than most meteor showers, seen only through a few hours. 2014’s peak is expected to be in the predawn hours of January 3rd.
Over 100 Quadrantids an hour can be seen during its peak, although the meteors of this shower are not as bright as the Perseids and Geminids. The Quadrantids radiate from the near the handle of the Big Dipper.
Birds
Listen for Male Cardinals to begin singing in mid-January as they mark their territories for mating.
Nesting season for Roseate Spoonbill is well underway.
Ospreysare nesting in January.
Sandhill Cranes are tending their nests this month.
This is hawk mating season. Hawks will be nesting in January.
Owls are in their nesting season in Florida.
January is a good time to see Red-tailed Hawks in trees and on fence lines along highways.
Tree swallows fly in large masses of “clouds” near sunset as they head toward roosts in marshlands.
January is a great time to watching our “snow birds” such as ducks and geese that migrate to Florida for the winter.
Eagles are actively raising and feeding their latest brood of eaglets.
Mammals
January begins breeding season in Florida for Gray Foxes.
Bobcats enter their breeding season in January.
Raccoons enter their breeding season in Florida.
In North Florida, Deer reach the peak of their rutting season.
North Florida Black Bears become less active in January and some may hibernate in their dens when the weather is cold.
Fish
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| Striped Bass |
Striped Bass and Sunshine Bass move into open water in January to feed.
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| Sunshine Bass |
In Central Florida, Black Crappie feed more heavily.
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| Black Crappie |
Wildflowers
Carolina yellow jessamine is blooming in the woods of North and Central Florida.
Wild Orchids
Large colonies of Wister's coralroot will begin to appear in the woods of North and Central Florida.
Deep in the swamps and wetlands of Southwest Florida, the dingy-flowered star orchid flowers in pop ash trees and pond apple trees.
For an extensive plant list, please see links below.
*Reminder from the Folks at Florida Fish & Wildlife: If you purchased a live Christmas tree this year and are ready to dispose of it, put it to good use and start a brush pile near your bird feeder. Not only will it provide good year-round cover for birds, but it will also take up a lot less space in your county landfill.
Resources: UF/IFAS, Florida Fish & Wildlife, Water Management Districts, Florida Native Plants Society, Florida Audubon, Sky and Telescope, NASA
