The Weather Notebook: Fall Downers

Fall Downers
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Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton and this is the Weather Notebook.

The trees-at least in colder climes-are looking bare. Fall is almost, but not quite-over. For commentator Larry Wilkerson, winter can't come too soon.

Winter will be here before long and I welcome it. Down South it seldom becomes harsh and it doesn't last long when it does. Here in the northern suburbs of Atlanta I even wish it would snow a little more often, especially around Christmastime. I'm not complaining though, because the closer winter comes the farther away fall gets and long, gray, lonesome fall is the one time of year that I dread. Folks who love the fall love to talk about how glorious it is. They go on about gorgeous leaves and cool, crisp afternoons and silvery frost on golden pumpkins. Well, I leave it to them to rhapsodize about the beautiful blanket of color draped across the North Georgia mountains or wherever. Me, I only see trees growing bare and shivering and pale blue skies turning the color of tombstones. Folks who love the fall say they here music in the honking of geese flying south, but when a cold, dark wind blows outside the only music I hear is Johnny Cash singing, "I Still Miss Someone", even when the radio is not on. For me, Fall is a slow, sad time. When all I love seems distant and each day dies a little earlier than the one before it and night becomes something to be endured, not enjoyed, So, I welcome Winter and I'm glad that it will be here before long. Hurry up old man.

The Weather Notebook is a production of the Mount Washington Observatory and is supported generously by the National Science Foundation.