The November 9, 2023 Omena News column talked about the first snow of the year (it was only flurries) and the first dip of the temperatures below freezing, so I guess we should have known it was coming. It was still a shock to get that heavy snowfall last weekend after our long run of above normal temperatures. And it wasn’t just flurries. Some Northport residents reported over 6 inches. Five years ago, after huge winds for a whole weekend, the temperature neared 70 degrees.
If you wonder why I occasionally include the weather in this column, since it isn’t really news, and especially in a weekly column when it might be completely different by the time you read it, it’s because it’s interesting to look back and see what was happening in previous years weather-wise. Sometimes I think I should put a weather blurb in every week, but after almost 18 years of doing this, it’s a little late to start now. Debby’s late uncle and legendary Omena resident, Preston “Perc” Smith, faithfully kept a daily log of the temperature and precipitation for decades.
Although they are predicting that the snow will disappear for a while, it has definitely put us in the holiday spirit. Some great opportunities for shopping for locally made Christmas and Hanukkah gifts are just around the corner.
