It's January in Seattle, so it must be shorts weather...

The schizophrenic weather pattern in January 2010 likely had some doubters questioning the climate prognostications of O'Doul the Collie, the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park's (DDGP) resident meteorologist. String together four days when the thermometer topped the mid-50s, and some are want the collie to surrender his credentials to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which predicted a mild El Niño winter.

Not so fast, homes. Maybe you dug out the cotton-twill cargo shorts and Birkenstocks when he mercury rose to 59 degrees on January 18 and 60 degrees the following day. You planted bulbs in shirtsleeves and popped the sunroof on the Passat. And you mocked the collie.

Earlier in the month, though, you were probably wearing plastic boots and duck shoes. Nearly an inch of rain fell on January 4. Four days later, the Seattle area collected 0.81 inches of rain. One week later, 1.07 inches of wetness hit the local ground.

Perhaps the worst of the winter is behind us. O'Doul's owner Tony estimates that the winter shedding of the collie's coat is 85 percent complete. Maybe it's safe to stow away the Gore-Tex parka. But the prudent may also hold off on the all-shorts-all-the-time wardrobe until next month. Even in Seattle.