For the first week of deep winter
The Bedding Plant Supermoon, full and at perigee (its position closest to Earth) on January 1 began the New Year with all its power, pushing Deep Winter into the Ohio Valley. It wanes throughout the week, entering its final quarter at 5:25 p.m. on January 8.
The Sun: Sunrise remains at the same time until January 11, when the sun finally starts to rise a little earlier.
The Planets: Jupiter and Mars are still the morning stars as 2018 begins. Look for them in the southeast in Libra.
The Stars: In order to tell the time of year, you can watch the Big Dipper travel around the North Star. In January nights, the Dipper is high in the northeastern sky. It gradually turns counter-clockwise throughout the winter, lying directly overhead after dark when daffodils flower in April.
The Shooting Stars: Only a few last Quadrantids might be visible after midnight.
Weather Trends: January in Clark County usually produces an average of nine days in the 20s, three days with highs only in the teens, and one day when the temperature does not get above ten degrees. There is almost always one mild day during the month, sometimes up to ten. About 12 days are in the 30s, and there can be up to five days in the 40s and 50s. An average of two mornings dip below zero (the 9th and the 11th being the days most likely to see such cold).
There are ten to 15 afternoons when highs stay below freezing, and often those days come together, creating the definitive freeze of middle winter. The worst spells fall between the 1st and the 20th. Major storms are most likely to occur around January 1, 8-12, and 19-24.
The coldest January days usually fall between the 7th and the 10th, as well as between the 15th and the 18th. New Moon on January 16 and full Moon on January 31 are likely to intensify the weather systems due around those dates.
The Natural Calendar: In the greenhouse, the season of jade tree bloom is over as camellia season spreads across the Deep. Throughout much of North America, fox mating season and coyote mating season take place as owl nesting season develops. Pine pollination season adds pine pollen to the south winds. Sparrows become even louder as sparrow courting season follows the lengthening days.
Now is the time to start a daily check of the pussy willows. Their opening keeps time for the year; each cracking catkin tells of spring’s approach. If you see the green tips of snowdrops emerging from the garden, measure them before they are covered with snow; then, measure the approach of March as they slowly grow. And if you have made a twelve-week “Advent” wreath, today marks the end of the fifth week. When the twelfth week is over, the chilly but promising season of Early Spring will have begun.
Fish, Game, Livestock and Birds: Lunar influence will be strong throughout this week, increasing the possibility of abortions in weaker mammals, especially when the Moon is overhead after midnight and as the barometer falls near the January 5 and 10 cold fronts.
Owls are nesting now, preparing to lay their eggs at the beginning of late winter. They warm the nest for about a month, and the owlets hatch in the uncertain weather of February or early March. By then, the cardinals that announce the close of Deep Winter around the 25th of January are in full song.
In the Field and Garden: January 8 is Plough Monday, the traditional beginning of the farm and garden year. In the week ahead, continue to put in bedding plant seeds as the Moon darkens. Seed cold-weather broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage and celery for setting out in Early Spring. Test a sample of old seeds for germination. Order supplies for February pasture seeding, spring oats and barley.
Marketing Notes: Epiphany (Three-Kings Day) occurs on January 6 or the Sunday closest to the 6th. Many Roman and Orthodox Christians celebrate this holy day with food.
The Almanack Horoscope: Pine trees have started to pollinate: Allergy Season begins, presenting challenges to people susceptible to colds and flu. Since the full Moon is associated with an increase in physical and psychological challenges, don't be surprised at sickness or erratic behavior in friends and family.
Countdown to Spring
- One week until the tufted titmouse begins its mating calls and pines start to pollinate
- Two weeks until owls and foxes mate
- Three weeks until the traditional January Thaw time
- Three and a half weeks until the beginning of late winter
- Four weeks until cardinals start to sing before dawn
- Five weeks until doves join the cardinals, and maple sap is running
- Five an a half weeks until the first red-winged blackbirds arrive in the wetlands
- Six weeks to the very first snowdrop bloom and the official start of early spring
- Seven weeks to major pussy willow emerging season
- Eight weeks to crocus season
- Nine weeks to the beginning of the morning robin chorus before sunrise
- Ten weeks to daffodil time
OTHER POOR WILL’S ALMANACK COLUMNS
With winter is here, sunset comes a little later in Clark County
Fall welcomes the Apple Cider Moon, Leonid meteors
Daylight Saving Time comes to an end
First chance for snow flurries
Poor Will’s Almanack for 2018 is still available. Order yours from Amazon, or, for an autographed copy, order from www.poorwillsalmanack.com. You can also purchase Bill Felker’s new book of essays, Home is the Prime Meridian, from those websites.
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