Not long ago,
several layers of clothing including thermal pants, a winter jacket, and a
stocking cap were necessary in order to navigate around campus. Fortunately, the weather patterns have
shifted for the time being, and Blacksburg, Virginia spent most of this week
basking in the sunshine. The Duckpond,
as its name suggests, is home to many species of ducks and fish, as well as a
variety of other wildlife. This
high-pressure weather system that recently moved through the area, composed of
relatively dry air along with clear skies, has allowed the many
animals and other creatures to venture out into the open and enjoy the habitat
that they call home. The increased
temperatures melted the once frozen pond and allowed the ducks to frolic in the
water and search for food to satisfy their hunger. Additionally, the recent warmth has resulted
in vegetation springing to life, eager to bloom and thrive. Unfortunately, it is common for vegetation to
die due to the vast fluctuations in temperature in this area. Temperatures seem to be relatively warm for
this time of the year, given that it is not out of the ordinary for the month
of February to deposit large amounts of snow here. Surprisingly, according to the Weather
Channel, every state excluding Texas, Louisiana, and Florida is expected to
undergo below average temperatures for the early portion of Spring. This prediction was made for the months of
March, April, and May, so it will be interesting to monitor the weather in the
upcoming months. Even though it is nice
to enjoy the warm weather, there is no doubt that it will likely have an
adverse effect on the vegetation and wildlife as temperature continues to
fluctuate until the summer months arrive.
Sources:
“Spring 2018 Temperature
Outlook: Cooler-Than-Average Temperatures Expected in North With Above-Average
Warmth Confined to South.” The Weather Channel, The Weather Channel, 16 Feb. 2018,
weather.com/forecast/national/news/2018-02-14-spring-2018-temperature-outlook-march-april-may-the-weather.
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