from Shade Tree Meteorology
We are in the dead of winter, with the holidays behind us and summer seeming so far away. The days are shorter and (for some) cloudier…and are they affecting our moods as well? Some love this type of year, for the time when we are finally able to slow down and rest, to renew our spirits. On the other hand, many struggle with the extended cold and darkness.
In just one week, spring will have officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere! Although the winter here in upstate New York has been relatively mild in terms of temperatures, the frequency of days on which a cold rain has occurred has me anxiously awaiting the increased sunshine and longer days to come in the next few months. Although we wrote a blog post last year on why we have the seasons, I thought it would be fun to look at some little known facts about the spring, or vernal equinox.
NOAA issued its annual Spring Outlook (April – June 2019) last Thursday, March 21, 2019 which includes outlooks for temperature, precipitation, and flood risk. As those living in the upper Mississippi and Missouri River basins including Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa are still recovering from recent monumental and devastating flooding, forecasters have declared that above-average spring rain and snow will likely worsen flood conditions through May.
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, many might overlook the winter solstice. And in case you didn’t know, the winter solstice is Continue reading “The 2018 Winter Solstice is (almost) Here”