November reached record-breaking temperatures, sometimes reaching 10 degrees warmer than the month’s average, according to the Washington Post.
The month that normally acts as a transition period between fall and winter left us all shook, with warmer temperatures that we’ve seen before. This left many college students conflicted on what to wear, as the mornings were chilly and windy, but the afternoons reached high 70s at times.
The Washington Post reports that the warmer fall season was due to a collection of air masses blowing air to the Western United States, leaving the east coast with warmer temperatures. Similarly, USA Today reports of a similar air mass, saying that the jet stream is located further north than usual this season and is blowing hot air on the Eastern United States.
This led to the warmer temperatures we saw here at Roanoke at the end of October and through November.
However, these weather patterns are not the only culprit. Global climate change has caused our fall and winter months to break records every year, regardless of air masses. CBS News reports since 2010 that we have had 54 record-breaking warm months, while only a single record-breaking cold month.
We are suffering the effects locally too. Virginia has seen an increase of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, according to the Virginia Climate Center at George Mason University.
But while warmer temperatures have been prevalent this fall, students are now experiencing the brutal cold that December has brought. Flurries and chilling winds have made Maroons break out their winter gear to bundle up on the way to class.
This winter, a small La Niña effect brings the possibility for snow, according to WDBJ 7. If these weather predictions are correct, Rooney may get to experience a White Christmas.
Kara Hopkins
Staff Reporter
