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Phenology with local naturalist Larry Weber every Friday morning at 8:20 on Northland Morning.

Backyard Almanac: Rime Time

a tree with small snowy branches
Jäger Balint [via Flickr]

Traditional winter activities have been halted by an unprecedented winter of snow-less ground and February rain. Through these strange-weather days, Larry Weber is taking note of the rare sightings that only come from the unique blend of temps and precipitation.

On February 4th, while on a walk Larry saw the condensation of fog on the trees; a crystalline coating on the branches called rime. The next day, February 5th was a record setting day with a high of 50 degrees, 5 more degrees than the past record.

The warm weather also means that the animals and birds are making early appearances. The birds are becoming independent as the snow melts and the mammals are starting breeding season sooner than usual. According to Larry, "Some people said that's why Valetine's day is in February."

You can hear Backyard Almanac every Friday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.

Luke Moravec is the host for Northland Morning on The North 103.3. He’s also a local actor, musician and writer. He loves puzzles, riddles and fun mysteries.
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