The first half of February is showing milder than average and wetter than average conditions are most likely.

As we look ahead to the weather for our second month of the year, it’s worth noting that January was less snowy, drier than average, but also colder than the 30-year normal. This meant that what little snow we did have ended up staying on the ground quite a while, so it definitely felt like a more typical winter month.

Full disclosure: I like February a lot. It’s an interesting month because it’s the final month of meteorological winter and there are, even in a cold snowy February, signs of spring. This doesn’t mean it’s a spring month, it certainly isn’t and it can provide some of the biggest snowstorms of an entire year. But just like in August, there’s a day or two where you know what’s coming — it’s often the same with February.

The national climate center is predicting February to be slightly milder than average with near or perhaps even above-average precipitation. The first half of February is showing milder than average and wetter than average conditions are most likely. The general storm track this winter has brought more precipitation across the interior portions of New England with less precipitation impacting the coastal region, including Boston. This trend may likely continue as we push into February.

Snowfall and temperatures

Average temperatures are still cold, but are going to be increasing and by the end of the month, typical highs get into the 40s. Last February saw the average temperature in Boston run 3.4 degrees above normal.

Yes, snowfall can be abundant in February. Of course, 10 years ago we had a whopping 64 inches of it, although there have been other years with little to no snow. Last year didn’t even bring an inch. Boston generally sees about 14.4 inches of snow each February.

It does look like this year should be more active than a year ago, with more chances for snow and certainly better skiing. Looking back at the winter of 2013-14, the last time a rather weak winter La Niña was in place, similar to this winter, Boston saw 22.9 inches of snow in February 2014, nearly 10 inches above the average. Temperatures ran about 3 degrees below normal.

Longer days return

One thing we can predict with accuracy is the amount of daylight in February: Sunrises are now before 7 a.m. and sunsets after 5 p.m., for more than 10 hours of daylight. Solar spring begins on Wednesday and marks the start of three months with the most amount of light gain of the entire year, coming on the heels of solar winter, the darker three months. This is the time of year where you can actually slowly begin to feed your houseplants again. I recommend a quarter or half strength watering for the next four weeks before resuming regular feeding.

If we do get some warm days, hamamelis or witch hazel will start to bloom, and along the south side of a building crocuses or snowdrops can shine. If you don’t want to wait, cut branches off the witch hazel or forsythia and put them in a vase. In about two weeks you will have spring indoors!

Around the middle of February you’ll start to hear more birds in the morning. The Carolina wren sings through the winter, but the other birds will start chiming in, especially in weeks three and four.

Full snow moon

Astronomically, the moon is full on the 12th. This is called the full snow moon and it reaches peak illumination at 8:53 a.m. Venus also will continue to shine brightly in the evening sky.

The bottom line is that February is short and generally a wintry month, but it’s also a month that can bring hopeful signs of the big thaw coming in March.