By MARK HANOK
When it’s warmer to the
north and cooler to the
south, it’s so easy to get into
an extremely dry weather
pattern in Otsego County.
The weather forecast in
last week’s weather column
was more optimistic than
other local weather forecasts,
but the weather was
actually much better than
even we predicted.
Once again, we got an
example of how a southerly
storm track can bring an
upside-down temperature
pattern that signals very
dry air and bright sunshine
in the Cooperstown area.
This kind of weather
pattern is actually more
common in March than
many local residents may
believe, and once we get
into a very dry weather pattern,
it’s difficult to get any
significant precipitation.
The last several days
has featured classic maple
sugaring weather in our
area, with cold nights and
very mild, sunny days.
This pattern will continue
all weekend and right
through at least the beginning
of next week.
No major storms are
anywhere in sight, and it
looks like March will turn
out to be the third straight
month with below normal
precipitation.
In fact, after a third of
normal precipitation in
February, we’ll be lucky to
get two-thirds of normal
precipitation in March.
Friday through Wednesday,
extremely dry conditions
will prevail, with
near-normal temperatures.
Cold nights and mild,
sunny days will continue to
favor maple sugaring in our
region.
On Friday as low pressure
moves northward to
eastern Canada, a colder
northerly flow will take
over, with unlimited sunshine,
azure-blue skies and
very dry air; highs in the
low 40s.
Crystal clear skies will
continue all weekend, with
brilliant sunshine Saturday,
Sunday and Monday,
as a large area of high pressure
builds eastward from
the Great Lakes to New
England; highs 42 to 47 degrees.
As a milder southwesterly
flow takes over, skies
will be partly sunny with
highs in the low 50s on
Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mark Hanok is an Otegobased
meteorologist.
