From left, Christy Barry, Jeana Klingelhutz and Stacy Bruno enjoy time with their pets at Iron Mountain City Park’s dog park. Playing, from left, are Blue, a Dalmatian; Bella, an Australian shepherd; and Apollo a German shepherd. Snowfall has been plentiful this winter while temperatures have been somewhat mild. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — The National Weather Service sees a neutral forecast for the rest of February after what so far has been a relatively mild but snowy winter.

January’s snowfall total at Iron Mountain-Kingsford was 21.5 inches, which was 8 inches above average. December’s snowfall total of 29 inches was the third-highest on record.

The snowfall total of 55.5 inches from November through January ranks slightly below the typical 62 inches measured an entire snow season, according to the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Wastewater Treatment Plant observation site. The next significant snowfall is predicted for Sunday at up to 2 inches.

Temperatures last month averaged 21.3 degrees at Iron Mountain-Kingsford, which was 7.2 degrees above normal and the 11th-warmest January on record. The warmest was in 1944, with an average temperature of 24.1 degrees.

The highest temperature last month was 39 degrees Jan. 3, while the lowest was minus-9 on both Jan. 17 and 18. Temperatures went below zero just three days in January. December temperatures averaged 21.1 degrees, slightly above normal.

For much of the winter, the polar vortex has hovered near the Arctic Circle, keeping colder air trapped. A weakening of the polar vortex could cause temperatures to plunge, although such episodes may be limited, forecasters say.

“Experts agree there might be colder air that spills into the Plains, Midwest and perhaps the East late in the month, but confidence in this long-range forecast is low,” said Brian Donegan, meteorologist at The Weather Channel.

Although the February forecast calls for average temperature and precipitation trends, a three-month outlook suggests a 40% chance of below-normal temperatures through the end of April and a 26% chance of above-normal. The Climate Prediction Center’s long-range forecast also favors above-average precipitation.

Water-equivalent precipitation at Iron Mountain-Kingsford in January measured 1.9 inches, which was 0.7 inches above average. Precipitation has been above

normal for four of the past five months, with November the only exception.

The highest snow depth so far this year was 25 inches Jan. 25, ranking as the ninth-highest in January for records dating to the early 1900s. The highest January snow depth was 38 inches both in 1971 and 1935.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.