In recent weeks, Oxford has witnessed a series of weather phenomena that have left many scratching their heads. Just when residents thought spring had arrived early with balmy temperatures reminiscent of May, a sharp cold snap descended upon the town, accompanied by snowfall Feb. 17.
In February, Oxford saw an average daily temperature of 47 degrees and an average nighttime temperature of 29 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Earlier in February temperatures climbed as high as 63 degrees and dropped as low as 19 degrees.
“Ohio weather is bipolar,” said Ava Courtney, a Miami junior from Columbus. “ It jumps around so much which makes it difficult to do anything or make any plans. It also tends to make me sick with rapidly changing temperatures like we have seen in the last few weeks.”
The abrupt weather changes lowers attendance at the Oxford Farmer’s Market.
“The sense of community just isn’t the same when the weather fluctuates like it has been,” said Larry Slocum, the market manager. “The people who do come just buy their goods and leave, but no one wants to chat in the cold or linger around generally.”
Local farmers, preparing for spring planting, find themselves grappling with uncertainty as they navigate the erratic conditions.
“My fruit trees are all blooming or set to bloom soon, which is a problem because our official last frost date is May 11-20th,” said Carla Blackmar, a gardening and farming hobbyist in Oxford. “It’s no big deal for me. I’m worried about how this plays out for commercial fruit growers in the midwest.”
Jessica Drew said she is worried about her crops bolting if the weather stays steady on this erratic pattern. Bolting is when a plant prematurely grows flower stalks and seeds preventing it from being able to harvest for crop.
“I went ahead and planted some cool weather seeds extra early. So I’ve got peas, radish, cilantro, chamomile, and chard already in the garden,” Jessica Drew said. “ If things keep going like they do, I’m wondering if this stuff [the plants] will end up bolting before I get to harvest.”
While some residents find the unpredictability of the weather disconcerting, others have embraced it with a sense of resilience.
“I think I’ve learned to love the unpredictability of Ohio weather. Some of my fond memories from my childhood are watching a summer thunderstorm roll in and out. It’s important that I have a variety of activities that I enjoy that can be done during both rainy and sunny days and both hot and cold,” Emma Grupe, a master’s degree student from Dayton.
