World Weather

[Jeunemaitre]

Weather in Washington DC, especially in the winter, is something that continues to amaze the residents. The threat of overnight snow (4-6 inches) is enough to close schools in the city and suburbs, regardless of the chance of precipitation (schools have been closed the night before, only to find the next morning that snow never comes). The winter highs average 20F-30F, with overnight lows generally in the single digits. Summers begin in early may when temperatures climb into the 70s and 80s. They continue to climb into the 90s with increasing relative humidity through the summer, peaking in August when 90+F/90%rH is not uncommon. Humidity then drops and temperatures linger in the 70s through September.

Weather in Syracuse NY is another issue. Through 4 years at university in CNY I learned to expect snow anytime from September through May (snowed on Mothers day more than once). The problem is that the snow period coincides with the "No sun at all, completely overcast, seasonal-affective-disorder inducing" period. This period leads the university students to welcome the "shorts weather" of mid April (read high of 55). "Lake-effect" snowstorms are commonly expected to dump up to a foot of snow overnight (note to remember: the university has closed for weather for a total of 4 days since 1870, 2 of which occurred following a storm around Labor Day (usually the first or second Monday in September) which tore the side off a few buildings in the student apartment area of campus, and knocked out power in the city for days). Summer in CNY will frequently have highs in the mid80s with high humidity in the long days in July and August. Winters made me glad to attend SU football games in the Carrier Dome.