Friday, February 27, 2015

Spring Snow Explaining Climate Change - More School Problems in Central CT



Just when we are starting to get really tired of snow, along comes Spring and the snow storms pick up.  More storms, more snow.  And then tornado season starts in the south.  Why?

The answer is heat.  The Sun shines longer each day, and is higher above the horizon.  The Earth heats up and it warms the air above it.   Warmer air (heat = energy), more movement.  The jet stream wobbles as cold and warm air masses move about.  The fiercest storms are often in the spring.

Compare that to climate change.  We add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, it warms up.  Air masses start to move about faster and more erratically.  Dryer dries, wetter wets, warmer warms and colder colds.  (So that congressman who brought in a snowball as proof that the climate is not changing is just showing that he didn't pay attention in science class.)

What does this have to do with school days in central Connecticut?  There is a storm moving in Sunday night (March 1) after dark.  It won’t stop until about 8 am on Monday (March 2).  While it is still early, I am predicting at least a late opening.  Everyone wants to get out of school before June 30, so I’m guessing that if the roads are clear, schools will open.  As we get closer I will update this.

Then another snow storm arrives Tuesday night (March 3) and continues into Wednesday morning before changing to ice then rain.  Be prepared for another late opening.   And if that rain freezes Wednesday night, maybe another late opening on Thursday.  

Because we are getting warmer.

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