It's been much colder this January compared to 2012, but it didn't set any records. "It felt like a cold month. There's been several Arctic outbreaks across the Midwest on into the eastern part of the country. But when you look at it as a whole for the month of January, our temperature departure is actually above normal," says Brian Edwards, meteorologist for Accuweather.

He says the average temperature last month in Frederick County was 1.8-degrees above average. In 2012, it was 2.2-degrees above average, he said.

Most people think it's cold outside, and we've had more snow so far in 2013 then last winter. "But I think the big thing to note this year is that we had a more prolonged cold spell," Edwards says. "We had five days with the temperature departure of greater than 15-degree below average five days in a row toward the latter part of the month. And that never happened last winter whatsoever."

Edwards noted that Accuweather came to its conclusion that January's temperatures were above average by examining weather data over the past 30 years ending in 2010. "Even though it's been much colder than it was last year, or it felt that way compared to winter's past, it wasn't anything extreme," says Edwards.

He also says part of the problem is that Arctic air has had a hard time trying to make it below the Mason-Dixon Line, which forms the border between Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. "There's been high pressure located over the Atlantic off the southeast coast, and that's not allowed that Arctic air to make that much progress," says Edwards.

As for the rest of February, Edwards predicts temperatures will turn a bit milder over the Mid-Atlantic over the next few days. "Once we get into the latter ten days of February, we will get an opportunity for more cold air masses to move into the area, and that should continue into the first part of March," he says.

Last Saturday, Punxsutawney Phill didn't see his shadow, and that usually means an early spring. But Edwards says the groundhog is only partly right. There will be some mild weather early in February, but it will turn cold late in the month.

For those who had enough of winter, the first day of spring is March 20th.