In regard to the recent snowstorm, Edward Pokras, environmental and sustainability studies lecturer, quoted author Mark Twain: “If you don’t like the weather in New England, wait a few minutes.”
Pokras said, “It’s hardly news that we have changeable weather.” He added it is important to distinguish between weather and climate.
On the other hand, weather focuses on what’s happening within a smaller area, as opposed to climate, which focuses on casual averages and an overall bigger picture, Pokras said.
Pokras studies research in climate change and has seen several projections about the future of the climate. One is “that while the world warms up it’s clearly because of what human beings are doing, especially putting greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which traps more energy and energy is what runs the entire climate system.”
However, as the world warms up, not only will there be “warmer climates but there will be more extreme [temperatures].”
“The predictability of the weather becomes more difficult,” said Pokras.
Pokras concluded by saying, “We do not generally have the winters we used to have. Our winter now has shown up for the last few.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Gray, Maine, which focuses on day-to-day weather, was able to give the forecast for this following week.
We are looking at highs in the upper 20s to around 30s. Thursday, Feb. 13 is the warmest day this week with a high around 35. Wednesday night and Thursday will see a mix of rain and snow.
Sunday, Feb. 16 is another day of potential active winter weather and snow mix. It will trend colder into next week, with Monday, February 17 being in the low 20s.
The NWS stated, “We are certainly looking at an active pattern of weather for the next couple of weeks.”
Katie Aguilar can be contacted at
kaguilar@kscequinox.com
