Strange weather reminiscent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
While California is under a major winter storm threat that includes heavy snow, rainfall and flooding, Staunton saw a high of 75 degrees on Thursday, missing the record high in February by one degree.
Now we might see snow and sleet on Saturday, according to AccuWeather and the National Weather Service. The temperature will drop again that night and we will be back in the mid 50s come Sunday.
Much like the "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," which opens with two defined weather patterns — darkness and light — to represent the characters in the novel, we are as confused as the fog used in the story to blur the understanding of what's happening.
What is the good and bad when winter is too warm?
What does it mean and how are businesses impacted by the warm winter that will probably see some frosty days in March? Maybe some businesses love being able to open their doors and welcome more pedestrians out and about enjoying the warm weather while others are preparing for the economic impact of a change in the growing season? What will it do to all those early blooms?
People find themselves checking pollen apps in February while trying to decide whether to wear shorts or a winter coat. Some love the respite from the usual winter chill and glad to have the Januarys over. Insanely high heating bills, shoveling driveways and missing work due to snow days makes winter hard on your wallet and hard on your back. Others who love a good snowy winter and can't wait to get out their snow skis and put on their favorite wool sweaters think it's just wrong.
The News Leader is going to be looking into how the weather is impacting us more closely. We are a community newspaper and need our community's insight to do our best work. If you are feeling the impact of the warm winter, good or bad, please let us know. You can email us anytime at localnews@newsleader.com.
In the meantime, here's what we can expect over the next five days, according to the National Weather Service.
Weather forecast for Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro
Friday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
Friday night: Partly cloudy. A slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming east after midnight. Chance of snow 20%.
Saturday, Feb. 25: Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain. Snow, sleet likely with a chance of freezing rain in the morning, then a slight chance of freezing rain, snow and sleet in the afternoon. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation. Ice accumulation around a trace. Highs around 40. South winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 60%.
Saturday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday, Feb. 26: Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. West winds 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday night: Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of rain. Lows around 40.
Monday, Feb. 27: Rain likely. Highs in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 70%.
Monday night: Partly cloudy with a 40% chance of rain. Breezy with lows in the mid 40s.
Tuesday, Feb. 28: Sunny, windy with highs in the mid 50s.
Tuesday night: Mostly clear and breezy. Lows in the lower 30s.
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Reporter Monique Calello can be reached at mcalello@newsleader.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com and support community news.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Strange weather reminiscent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
