Six More Weeks of What?

This morning, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair, saw his shadow and thus the country now believes we will have six more weeks of winter. But here on the Island, as with many other parts of the country, more winter doesn’t necessarily have the same message of doom as it has in years past.

According to Rob Carolan, President and Chief Meteorologist of Hometown Forecast Services, Inc. based in Nashua, NH who reports for WMVY-FM, “December was around 6 degrees above normal and January was about 5 degrees above normal.”

Back in the beginning of December, we asked Carolan and he told us that this was what is known as a La Nina year. La Ninas occur when the surface water temperatures off the coast of Chile and Peru drop below normal and are known for producing milder then normal weather in New England.

According to Carolan, the continued warm temperatures are, “still due to La Nina and a lack of storminess in the western Atlantic. “ And while Phil may have run back into his hole, Carolan said that the warmer temperatures “may begin to affect animals and plants over the course of the next few weeks by bringing them out of hibernation early.”

While there are some among us who are feeling some winter nostalgia, we might consider ourselves lucky. “Fairbanks, Alaska had 19 days in a row of below zero readings last month and their temperatures averaged 19 degrees below normal for the month of January…now you know where the cold air is,” said Carolan.

As to whether or not Phil’s prediction for six more weeks of winter means what we would call actual winter, Carolan doesn’t think it’s likely. “The next six weeks generally look mild and less stormy just like the winter has been this year.  Any cold will be short lived.”