Backyard Almanac - Perihelion Does Not Translate to a Warmer Day

Larry Weber observes the cold temps ending this month are in sharp contrast to the warm temps at the end of November.  Our precipitation totals for 2017 are 6 inches above the normal average.  We reach perihelion on the night of January 2 when the earth is closest to the sun on its annual orbital journey.  There will be two full moons in January – on the 2nd and the 31st, and there will ALSO be two full moons in March – on the 1st and the 31st!  Larry is conducting his Christmas bird count today.   He has seen many tracks in the snow; mammals are out and about despite the cold temps, including deer, fox, deer mice, voles, shrews and weasels.  The coyotes are also active as their breeding season is beginning.