close

We need a new groundhog

By Jack Hughes for The 3 min read
article image -

The cherry blossoms have finally bloomed in Washington, D.C., but more than likely as the peak occurs this weekend, they will have to compete with another winter-type snowstorm.

This will be the fifth snowstorm in recent weeks to affect the Middle Atlantic and Northeast and once again will affect the lives of millions of people. It may be spring on the calendar and the forecast from Punxsutawney Phil may have been just six more weeks of winter, however, Mother Nature has different forecast.

The “La Nina” weather pattern that developed in late December and held a firm grip on the area most of January, along with its polar vortex, subsided in February, but has regained its strength with continuous waves of cold Arctic air coming down out of Canada and plunging temperatures way below the normals for this time of the year. You may have forgotten that the month of February was rather mild with temperatures across the region some seven degrees above average for the month. March was a different story, though, with average temperatures some five degrees below normal and after the warmth of February, we really felt the cold.

So far April is also way below normal. Normal averages for the first two weeks of April are 60 degrees for the high and 35 for the low. By the end of the month, averages are 71 and 45. This weekend and a few days next week should see temperatures not move out of the thirties, which is far below average.

Last week, we reported that we had seen spring as far north as the Carolinas but its forward progress has been halted by all the cold air and snow. In the more urban areas of Southwestern Pennsylvania, we are beginning to see at least a few hints of spring growth as a few daffodils and forsythia are now blooming and we should expect to see a few of the flowering blossom trees show some color this week. But the cold temperatures do worry me.

I am happy to report that on a walk in Ohiopyle a few days ago, I did see plenty of yellow coltsfoot which is typically the first of the wild flowers to bloom each spring. Coltsfoot is a perennial that looks similar to the dandelion. It is wild and edible and unusual in that its flowers bloom before any of the leaves show up. Favorite habitat is along roadsides, trails and ditches. Next to bloom are the white bloodroot, but these guys are staying warm beneath the leaf blanket, and none were to be seen on my hike.

Looking ahead, their does appear to be a bit of a shift in the weather pattern following this coming week of chilly temperatures. Our weather will be more of a zonal flow coming off the Pacific and traveling across the country instead of coming out of Canada. Since it’s a long journey and the air is a bit milder, it should warm a bit by the time it arrives in our area.

The April sunshine it encounters along the way should also help. We are not looking for a drastic change just a bit of improvement. After all the gloomy, dreary, cold days of the past weeks, a few days of sunshine and temperatures near normal will feel wonderful and help boost spirits.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today