As temperatures begin to heat up, beautiful blooms are blossoming across the country.
If you’re someone who is affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and who looks out for any sign of spring during winter, you’d be excused for wondering why this is a big deal. While the warmer weather and early blooms might seem lovely, they actually signal something much more sinister.
What does ‘early Spring’ actually mean?
On February 21, 2018, temperatures across almost the entire US West Coast, Southwest and mid-South reached 80 Degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature sparked a report published by the USA National Phenology Network, a group that works with the federal government to study the season life cycles of plants and animals, that declared Spring had arrived twenty-two days earlier than the 50-year average.
This isn’t the case across the entire country, however, with cooler temperatures actually delaying Spring in the US Southeast.
Why the early Spring is a problem
One of the main reasons an Early Spring is concerning is that it can result in disease-carriers such as ticks and mosquitos emerging sooner. The greater number of these pests around means more chances of you or your loved ones contracting illnesses such as Zika and Lyme. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the United States every year.
Early Spring can also result in a longer and more intense pollen season. And we all know what that means for hayfever-sufferers.
Perhaps the biggest problem, however, is that Spring arriving early “can disrupt the critically important link between wildflowers and the arrival of birds, bees, and butterflies” (USA National Phenology Network).
If you mess with this connection, you’re also messing with the pollination of crops and other plants, in a domino-like effect.
The number of flowers in bloom isn’t the only clue demonstrating the results of a planet affected by global warming. Global sea ice is nearing record lows, the Arctic reached 43 degrees Fahrenheit in February and 2017 was one of the top three warmest years on record.
But while that all sounds pretty doom and gloom, the good news is that with the warmer weather comes more opportunities to spend time outdoors, and to change up your wardrobe!
If you’re ready to transition your fashion from Winter woollies to Spring style, this article has some tips straight from Fashion Week.
