Spring has arrived, with milder days and lots of rain ahead | Time

Finally, it will definitely look like spring this week, although the sun will be limited and a heavy, if not excessive, amount of rain may dampen our spirits, especially from Wednesday into next weekend.

Monday will be one of the best days, with daytime temperatures reaching 50 or more, depending on how much sun breaks through the clouds. Tuesday will be even warmer, with highs approaching 60 under strong high-angle early April sunshine, with nearly 13 hours of daylight.

Mid-week the first of a series of rain storms arrives, with Thursday washing away although temperatures will remain mild, still slightly above normal. After a break from Thursday evening to noon Friday, another rainmaker moved into the area accompanied by somewhat cooler air. Next Saturday and Sunday should be drier.

No severe weather is in sight this week, but with all the rain and consistently mild highs during the day, lawns could start to green up and the first daffodils should emerge. Listen for the sound of night voyeurs starting around mid-week, especially in areas near wetlands and vernal pools.

The Climate Prediction Center forecast for April 10-15 points to spring temperatures well above average, with slightly below normal precipitation. Average temperatures for this period, according to National Weather Service historical data at Pittsfield Municipal Airport, range from daytime highs in the mid-50s to nighttime lows in the mid-30s.

NATIONAL OVERVIEW

A powerful storm system will move onshore in the Pacific Northwest early this week, producing heavy rain before heading into the Plains and Midwest.

From the Southern Plains to the Deep South, look for heavy rain, flash flooding and severe thunderstorms, but South Florida will be spared.

By mid- to late-week, much of the country east of the Mississippi, including the northeast, will be engulfed in heavy rain as a slow-moving low-pressure system moves in. anchor on the upper Midwest and the Great Lakes region.

A strong fair weather system will park over the West, with well above normal temperatures expected Thursday and Friday, including overnight highs and hot lows in California. Temperatures of 15 to 25 degrees above normal are forecast – near 90 in metro Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California; about 80 in San Francisco Bay Area – warmer interior. Cooler temperatures are forecast for the coming weekend.

The large-scale weather pattern shifts next weekend, with cooling and some rain over the west and a dry trend in the eastern states.

In South Florida, expect full sun most of this week with highs in the mid-80s, while the Gulf Coast from Naples to Tampa-St. Pete will bask in highs near 90 but with thunderstorms likely Thursday and Friday.

The Carolinas will be partly sunny, with midweek highs near 80 dropping to around 70 over the weekend.

CLIMATE UPDATE

Are you already sneezing and sniffling because of allergies? You’re not alone, as research shows that across the country the pollen season is starting earlier and intensifying due to rising global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations – 20 days longer in recent times. years, with pollen concentrations up 20%.

Longer summers and shorter winters in the northern hemisphere are a sign of trouble for the environment. If greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, spring allergy season could begin in early March within the next 50 years, while pollen levels could also triple in parts of the United States.

“When we look at what determines much of the duration of seasonal change, temperature plays an important role,” said Allison Steiner, co-author of the latest study and an atmospheric scientist at the University of Michigan. . Warmer temperatures can shift the growing season earlier and extend it longer, while helping plants produce more pollen.

Higher levels of carbon dioxide can also promote photosynthesis so plants produce more pollen.

Unlike previous studies, the research team looked at different types of pollen across the country for future projections. Overall, each region is expected to experience an increase in grass pollen production in the summer, and the season will lengthen more dramatically in the North due to larger increases in temperature.

For example, the northeast could experience a more intense pollen season because the flowering of various trees, such as oak and birch, overlaps more.

“Trees tend to produce a lot of pollen, much more than grasses and weeds,” Steiner said. “They have a good surface area and can produce a lot of pollen in the spring.”

“What [this study] really highlights the importance of climate policy and tackling climate change,” said William Anderegg, a plant ecologist at the University of Utah who was not involved in the study. “By simply moving from a high emissions scenario to a moderate emissions scenario, we can avoid about half of the changes in pollen season severity.”

Anderegg previously conducted a study showing how climate change affected the pollen season across the country from 1990 to 2018. He found that the amount of pollen in the air was at least 8% worse due to climate change. of human origin. At least half of the trend in past pollen seasons is also due to human-induced climate change.

Steiner is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to potentially create a pollen forecasting model. “You could show animations where we think the pollen is going to be high that day, and that could help people make decisions about medications or days to stay indoors if you’re allergic,” a- she declared.

Meanwhile, a Wall Street Journal report last week highlighted the benefits of wearing COVID masks to protect against allergens. According to the Journal, “Regular wearing of masks, at least outdoors, is supported by many allergists, who say research and their own experience have led them to recommend masks when pollen levels are high.”

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