Is it just March Madness? Or will there be another cold year in the Willamette Valley

Spring started yesterday, but with the rare snow we are getting today, one would think it is still winter here in the Willamette Valley. When you take in all the rain, snow, hail, and sun that we had so far this month, it makes me wonder if the phrase 'March Madness' has a new meaning.

For those that have lived in the Willamette Valley for the past 20 years, we are used to getting snow maybe once or twice every five years. But for the last 5 years, the new normal is to get at least one snow day every year. Does this mean that climate change is coming? While the Southwest is becoming drier, the Pacific Northwest seems to get cooler.

During the past two years, we have had rain later in the Spring season than what was previously considered normal, which has delayed a lot of crops such as corn and green beans. It also has made it hard for local strawberry growers, giving them a much shorter growing season, and even causing the berries to become over-ripe faster than normal. On top of that, cooler summers mean the later produce--that is, the corn, onions, winter squash, and bell peppers among other late-season crops are becoming delayed. If it happens again this year, you will want to make sure to go to local u-pick strawberry fields as soon as they open to avoid picking over-ripe and insect-bitten berries.