Autumn Leaves Of Green

The recent hot temperatures aren’t just keeping you in shorts until God-knows-when, probably sometime in mid-December. No, the hottest October on record — average temperature: 67 degrees — has also managed to screw up all the fall leaves changing color.

Leaves change color because cool fall nights destroy the chlorophyll which gives leaves a green color. Reds, yellows and the less fun browns can’t show up if there’s still a large amount of chlorophyll in the leaves, so that’s why the tree across the street from you still makes it look like we’re in the middle of summer.

The upside is an expected mild winter. Of course, that also means we all die of excessive heat next summer, or something like that.

Can’t find colorful foliage? Blame the record warmth [Inquirer]
[Image by JoJan, licensed via Creative Commons]

Summer Continuing To Ruin Autumn Weather

Plenty to talk about today, but let me start with something that affects everyone (as they say): The weather. In case you didn’t hear, it’s going to be 85 degrees today.

You may remember 85 degrees from such times as mid-July.

Yet here we are, on October 8, flirting with the same temperature. And so comes the dreaded “unseasonable weather” stories, which are the same damn thing every year. But nobody remembers the last time it was unseasonably hot in October (well, besides last week) and so everyone’s all, “Man, has it ever been this hot in October?”

Well, apparently, no, not on October 8. We’re shooting to break — shatter — the 1887 record of 84 degrees today. We can feel better than those Philadelphians of 120 years ago, though: We have air conditioning. On the plus side for them: They only had to sit through 4 years of Phillies losses.

Even hotter today than 1887? [Inquirer]

Obligatory Post About Unseasonable Weather

I love this view of the Comcast Center from Dilworth Plaza.

It’s September 27. It’s 85 degrees outside. Go out and eat some ice cream or something. I love fall, but let’s enjoy summer for a bit longer.

Weekend Weather Guy Not Convinced Of Something

David Aldrich, the guy who does the weather on the weekend on Fox 29, is not convinced of global warming and he wants you to know the truth (or, rather, “expose you to the multiple sides of this argument”):

I am a global warming skeptic. This does not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. If you have had doubts, you have come to the right place.

After the 13th COLDEST February in Philadelphia and the coldest since 1979, many are scratching their heads on what to believe when it comes to global warming.

We are also off to an “extremely cold” April as well with one of the coldest Easters in recent memory.

Hey, buddy, I must have missed the part where you’re a climatologist and not a meteorologist. We don’t have Dorothy Krysiuk report on the fuel efficiency of the Hummer vs. the Prius, she just tells us the traffic. We don’t have Jennaphr Frederick report on the history of the mascot, she just dances with ‘em. Do you see me reporting on the history of the migration of the Sherpa? No, I just make bad jokes instead.

Just read the weather, sheep. Baa! Milton Street sure is goofy!

Global Warming Skeptic [MyFoxPhilly]

HEFY? LOL! Brrrrr….

Remember just a little bit ago when I was making the annoying “boy it sure is unseasonably warm” post? Well, now it’s time for the “boy it sure is unseasonably cold” post!

My widget says it’s only 35 degrees out; it’s supposed to just be in the mid-40s today. Reports said there could be flurries north and west of the city today; yesterday it began snowing at the Phillies game. (It was the part of the game where the Phillies were getting killed. Oh wait!)

Uhh, so… that’s it for this annoying blog post about how cold it is. It’s good to know that, while bloggers do a nice job with the “boy it sure is cold” posts, the TV news stations really can’t be topped when it comes to weather coverage:

The cold, brisk weather continues today. Meanwhile, the next several mornings could be bad for your plants. There’s a HARD FREEZE WARNING in effect in New Jersey and Delaware early Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday. The most dangerous time period is between about midnight and 9am.

HARD FREEZE WARNING. Sounds like an action movie.

April 6th, 2007 Forecast [Phillyweather.net]
Kicked By Cold Again [6 ABC]
March 27: OMG It Might Be 80 Degrees Today!