The month of May is known for its beauty and the increasing warmth and light as we make our way towards summer. The expression “making its way” sums up our local weather’s sudden spring snowstorms, after we have celebrated the earliest sign of spring barely a month ago. Some meteorologists occasionally mention a special phrase or two from childhood. March’s motto, in like a lion, out like a lamb, is most likely the most common of these sayings. Along with the anticipatory thoughts toward warmer and wetter weather, “April showers bring May flowers “continues to be mentioned year after year by meteorologists and weather watchers everywhere. It doesn’t matter if their particular location is somewhere the four seasons don’t appear regularly or just briefly across the country. Unfortunately, the constant barrage of weather reports not applicable to everybody within listening distance only increases the longing to move somewhere warmer.
Northwest Colorado has predictable spring/summer weather, yet most everyone acts surprised by the heavy snow and extreme temperature shifts of our special version of spring.
This widely accepted seasonal picture of spring has been gracing cards and notes with pictures of sunshine, blue skies, and perfect weather for years and years. Occasionally one receives a card or note showing happy, wet, people splashing in puddles holding umbrellas. One of these is never enough to not long for warmer weather, no matter where one lives. The barrage of photos or illustrations of continuous days of precipitation, even if that includes snow, is not enough to pick up one’s spirits. Weather-watchers often grew up with those quick memory games, but their interest in extreme weather conditions kept them following the path of hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, drought, flash floods and thunder-snows. Everyone’s childhood schools are filled with celebrations that signify positive change, whether it be birthdays or graduation.
Advertisements heralding the news that “spring has sprung” really annoy us in these early months. Businesses encourage us all to get going now to replenish our patio furniture or plant in our gardens. Enough of us have tempted fate and Mother Nature and had to replace those spring purchases after the last ones got dumped on with picture-perfect piles of snow!
By DOLLY VISCARDI | Special to the HT