I have records, yes, because we ran until a few years back, a government climate station. Summer temps are definitely cooler and wetter. Winter temps are maybe a tiny bit warmer over all, and snow patterns are pretty constant. We always get a lot of snow, with few exceptions. I have a dirt road past our place that I use to help inform me on snowfall and timing. In my whole life, it has been passable at Christmas time, twice. Once in the Winter of 98/99, and this past Christmas. But since then, we have had LOTS of snow.
The only real back-up I have though, is looking more at field operations, and the timing of such. As in, 20 years ago, in the infancy of my career, seeding first week of May was generally what to expect. Now it is surprising if we can seed by mid May. Same for fall. Our long term fall frost is Early Sept. But other than 2004, and last year, we seldom have Early Sept freezes like when I was a kid.
Basic temperature records tell little about shifting seasonal patterns, you know?
I do know, that if we ever get back to shorter fall seasons, with more usual early Sept. frosts, in the absence of more hot July days, we are screwed in this area, because getting crops to ripen has been a challenge...
The only real back-up I have though, is looking more at field operations, and the timing of such. As in, 20 years ago, in the infancy of my career, seeding first week of May was generally what to expect. Now it is surprising if we can seed by mid May. Same for fall. Our long term fall frost is Early Sept. But other than 2004, and last year, we seldom have Early Sept freezes like when I was a kid.
Basic temperature records tell little about shifting seasonal patterns, you know?
I do know, that if we ever get back to shorter fall seasons, with more usual early Sept. frosts, in the absence of more hot July days, we are screwed in this area, because getting crops to ripen has been a challenge...
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