Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Where's Winter?

If you believe the long range forecast, it looks like we'll make it through January without a major cold snap and just one decent sized snow storm.

You know what?  I'm okay with that.

I know people like to ski, and tourism/recreation is one of our area's big industry, but snow is dangerous and disruptive.

We have had more than our share of rain and ice.  The freeze/thaw cycle hit early, and that means potholes.  A mild winter is not all fun and games.

I get the feeling we'll have another early spring.  I smelled a skunk weeks ago.  I even saw one outside Dunmore Cemetery on the ride to work Monday morning. Judging by bunny footprints in the mud and some bunny "residue," the critters are active early this year.

I saw on one of the networks that there's another El Nino setting up, so the winter of 17-18 could be as mild as 15-16.  Warm winters could be the new normal.

Having said that, we've had some of our biggest storms in February and March.  On the bright side, the sun is getting stronger and the snow that falls in the late winter months doesn't hang around long.

Winter isn't over yet, but all the signs, at least to this amateur, point to a change.,