…is the appearance in my inbox of pollen level updates from Pollen.com.
Friday - 5.3/Medium
Today’s predominant pollen:
Cedar/Juniper, Poplar/Cottonwood and Maple.
Tomorrow’s allergy levels:
Saturday - 7/Medium
| — |
It’s Groundhog’s Month! Forecasters track weekend storm heading toward New England | Weather - WCVB Home |
It is about time.
Coverage of climate change from television news outlets has dropped precipitously since 2009. And during the lead-up and arrival of Superstorm Sandy, the climate connection to extreme weather was conspicuously absent.But as broadcast journalists transition from tracking Superstorm Sandy to covering its aftermath, some television outlets are starting to explore the role of climate change in more detail. Starting yesterday afternoon, there was an increase in climate-related stories, with extensive segments appearing on Al Jazeera, Current TV, MSNBC, and NBC. (via Watch: Television News Starts Covering The Link Between Climate Change And Superstorm Sandy | ThinkProgress)
Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said the recent rainfall has certainly made fire conditions safer but several more inches are needed before this rainfall dries up in order to avoid a possible rash of forest fires this summer.
“The significant rain that we had is very welcome. But we’re still below our averages,” said Mansfield.
The lack of a snow pack this year combined with dry weather has made the possibility for wildfires much greater in the coming months. The hurricane and October snowstorm also provided increased amounts of dead branches on the forest floor, making more fuel for wildfires.
Open burning ends on May 1 but residents may be able to burn at times this week with the help of the recent rain. Check with theFire Department before burning to ensure burning is allowed that day.
But unless several more inches of rainfall come before this rain dries up, it will do nothing to quell the larger issue of a dry summer, and a possible rash of brush and forest fires.
Mansfield said this rain can be dried up with several hot days in a row and bring back dry conditions. High air temperatures, low humidity and high wind are the three factors that will exacerbate the dry conditions caused by a lack of rainfall.
The chief said that if the region does not receive the rainfall it needs within the late spring and early summer, area residents can expect the danger of significant wildfires this summer.
“This [the recent rainfall] certainly helps but we’re not anywhere out of the woods so to speak,” said Mansfield.
The fire chief, among many others, has been been saying
we need more rain, and it looks like we’re getting just that.
The
Those of you who have been around long enough know that the areas most vulnerable to flooding include Route 28 and Route 133, Route 28 at Shawsheen Plaza, Central Street at Andover Street, South Main Street at the North Reading line, Balmoral Street, Riverina Road. Roads that sit in lower elevations near the Shawsheen River are susceptible to flooding as well.
Take extra caution while driving around the area, and don’t be a hero — avoid driving on flooded roads or extra deep puddles. And, while it seems obvious, safety officials are finding they still need to remind motorists that they should never attempt to drive past a road block at a flooded road or intersection.
