Warm weather keeps many playing outdoors
Unseasonably nice weather this week is prompting a flurry of last-minute outdoor activity as people rush to take advantage of the late season sunshine and warmth.
Golf courses and officials at Moraine State Park say they're seeing an unusual number of visitors for early November with a week of sunny skies and no morning frost to speak of.
“Not having the frost in the morning has definitely helped the early golfers,” said Heidi Aubrey, the course manager at Aubrey's Dubbs Dred Golf Course in Butler Township.
The course has seen a spike in attendance with the nice weather, Aubrey said. Normally she would see about 20 people this time of year. On Tuesday, Aubrey had about 60 tee off throughout the day.
The same can be said at Saxon Golf Course in Clinton Township, said Frank Ekas, course vice president. November is usually a “borderline intake versus expenses,” month for Saxon, Ekas said. But not so far this year, with turnout at about 40 percent of summer levels.
“They're bonus days,” he said. “The weather has made a big difference.”
Other outdoor activities, such as biking and hiking at Moraine State Park, also are getting people outside.
“We even have people out picnicking,” said park manager Dustin Drew. “Definitely the activity level has jumped a little bit.”
Drew said the park's marinas remain closed, but the park has decided to leave operational some of its removable docks to accommodate late-season boaters.
“That's about the only accommodation we're making for this nice weather,” Drew said. “We still need to be prepared for the winter season ahead.”
The cause of the high temperatures and sunny weather is no secret to John Darnley, a hydrometeorological technician with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.
The culprit is the jet stream, an atmospheric wind pattern that has been pushed farther north than usual and is allowing warmer air from the southeastern United States to build up in the Butler region.
Wednesday's 75-degree weather was unusual for November, but not record-breaking, Darnley said. The record high of 76 was set in 1987.
Normal highs for November are around 56 degrees, and lows are 34 degrees, Darnley said. The average daytime temperature for the month is about 45. A year ago Wednesday, the high was 54.
Temperatures will return to normal this weekend with highs in the mid-50s.
