Sometime last week, autumn snuck (yes, I will write snuck and not sneaked) into my den. Perhaps the better way to put it, however, is that summer, has left the building, just like Elvis used to do.
You may recall that I recently wrote about autumn here, reporting that one can define it either meteorologically or astronomically. I also wrote that my own perception was that autumn unequivocally arrived in my life when the sun no longer reached through the window to my computer monitor.
I noticed the absence of the morning sun hitting my computer screen on Friday, but I thought, in retrospect, that it had probably been a day or more since I had last seen that glare on the corner of my monitor. It was only on that day, however, that I realized that I did not have to adjust the monitor by tilting the screen or going to the window to pull the shades.
One doesn't necessarily notice the absence of something right away unless that particular something were quite important. We are more likely to notice when something happens for the first time than we are to notice that something banal didn't happen, and a wee bit of sunlight on the corner of my monitor really is quite banal.
I can tell you that, as I write this piece early in the morning, the weather agrees with me that fall has arrived, as it is barely above 10C/50F outside. I sit here in my hoodie but with the window, nevertheless, still open. Many months are coming when that option will not be afforded to me, so I am not rushing to shut the window. I will, however, shortly avail myself of a second mug of steaming coffee, which I may sip under the blanket on my chair as I play my morning games of Sudoku.
The 14-day forecast shows that daytime temperatures will continue to be pleasantly autumnal, hovering in the mid-20s, or 70s in Americanese. Nighttime will be quite cool but will remain above 10°C/50°F *. Trees have begun to change colour, a process that will soon seem to accelerate.
* I tend to make note of 10°C and 50°F because those temperatures match up perfectly on the two scales. It is also relevant to me because back in geography class we would use it as a reference point in classifying climate zones. If the warmest month on average doesn't reach 10°C/50°F, we would consider it to be an Arctic climate. To be defined as a Humid Continental climate, which is the zone in which I have always lived, 4 months would have to rise above 10°C/50°F. A zone with only 1-3 months greater than 10°C/50°F would be classified as subarctic. Territorially, a very large proportion of Canada lies within the arctic or subarctic climate zones, but most of us don't live up there.
Since I have already strayed off-topic, permit me to stray a little further.
In our local Humid Continental, technically the short summer variety, climate zone here near Ottawa, we have 5 months, May through September, that average over 10°C/50°F, with October coming close. July is the hottest month, with a monthly average of about 21°C/70°F. The average high for the month is 27°C/81°F. Of course, many days can exceed that average high temperature by quite a lot. It does get hot here, and humid hot to boot.
Meanwhile, average monthly temperatures fall below freezing for the 4 months from December through March, January being the coldest at -10°C/14°F. Let us not even talk about how dang cold some days can be.
Phew! I really didn't mean to go there.
15 comments:
The temperatures are noticeably different here these days too. And on occasion, that breeze is enough to carry us away.
And the leaves are turning, especially where there is low moisture in the soil. I love the September and October days though. The best part of the year. Even when the sun level is such that it is in my face in my favourite chair in late afternoon.
Yes, our hot an humid is horrible. I have adjusted by ot heading outdoors during the summer months.
The day autumn arrived: the day I didn't have to pull the curtains closed to avoid being blinded by the last sun. About a week ago now. I still get plenty of sun in the garden, just not in the living room. As for temperatures: still very summery at the moment, but with a lot of autumn thrown in for good measure.
I'd not learned those methods of division that you mentioned, for average temperatures over a 4 month period, either below such or above such. Thanks for letting me know. My sunshine has begun to invade the window sill...so I have to close the blinds or be really heated in my bedroom (the other living room windows are still under shade of the maples.) Daytime with windows open, nights have sometimes been cracked, sometimes not.
I too am noticing signs of fall, mostly the difference in the light. My bedroom is darker when I get up in the morning and the evening starts sooner. (which I like) Our temps mirror yours at the moment although they diverge in summer and winter because of our more temperate marine climate. I say that in spite of our 110 degree day and hotter than normal summer.
it's hot here, yet much to my surprise the leaves are turning golden.
I do love the change. Having done yard duty at -20 C., back when they let kids actually go out, you just have to dress for it.
I am enjoying the cooler nights.
I think 10°C/50°F is perfect! And yes, I am welcoming fall with open arms. :-)
I often learn so much from your posts. It's a long time since I took that Physical Geography course in second year!
Our days are still OK, but, boy, does it get cold at night.
there is some info that leads us on a tour. Yes it's interesting to think about the average monthly high and low temps and what they really mean. I have experienced the Arctic temperatures.
Yes, the sun is shifting! The nights are cooling--which means the crickets and spiders and flies are all trying to get inside--LOL!
Gee… That sounds great! Chicago had much more extreme temperatures. Hawaii seems to always be around 80 degrees 8 months of the year. I much prefer cooler weather.
Post a Comment