After .52" of rain this week, the February total is 1.55", still less than 1/2 of normal for the month.  Water is now standing in the yard for multiple days after a rain.  Cloudy, foggy, and misty conditions have kept evaporation at a minimum.  Last night's freeze is the first in several days.  Early blooming trees such as saucer magnolia are showing bud swell.  However, it will be a while before oak and pine trees start pulling moisture out of the ground in any quantity.  Roadside ditches have water standing in them.  There was even some minor road flooding yesterday in a couple of spots, likely due to small berms being pushed up on the road edge by snow plows a couple of weeks ago or storm sewers being clogged.  Kale in the garden has started growing again with the warmer weather. With no other indicators, Near Normal is the best choice for conditions.