A very pleasant early spring day embraces this second Sunday of March (the 11th) in central Ohio. The sun is shining, a gentle breeze has pushed the temperature into the 60s and I have opened a few windows in the house. The forecast for the week reads like late April --- rain and daily high temperatures a couple degrees on either side of 70.
What a delight.
Like many, I’ve long been an amateur weather and climate observer. Given the usual rapid change in Ohio weather this time of year, intuition this morning said “winter is over and it’s okay to think about short-sleeved shirts.” Yeah, that’s what it said and I know I’m just jinxing myself and others here, but I can’t help it.
So yes, after two loads of morning laundry I decided to create a third load and by early afternoon I was washing, drying and hanging with care those shirt-sleeve shirts that I very soon each day will wear.
But I hedged my bet a little and also tempered my enthusiasm, fearful that I could next week or the week after be humbled by a return of Old Man Winter. It would not be the first time, but I just felt it necessary today to begin packing away some of my winter wear and preparing my warm weather wear. For my money, my climate intuitions strongly suggest much of Ohio will have an early, warm and wet spring, followed by a very hot, buggy summer. In fact, I predict that by July 4th, many folks will wonder which is better – a very mild winter followed by a very buggy summer, or a typical winter followed perhaps by a less buggy summer.
I will take the mild winters each and every time, but yes, I do detest bugs, ticks and flying insects. Can’t have it both ways, I know, so I’ll choose “Bugs For $200 Alex” instead of “Typical Winters” at any cost. I did pack away my winter coats and gloves, kept a couple sweaters around and the rain gear is always close at hand. I hope that I am right.
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