Here at Wilderness Road State Park, we were just getting used to the cool morning turns to warm sunshine weather pattern that is Springtime in Southwest Virginia…. until Mother Nature threw us the first of her annual curveballs with Redbud Winter. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we either tied or set new record highs with area temperatures in the high 80’s and a few spots even broke the 90 degree mark, and its just early April!
Yesterday, a cold front moved in, led by heavy, much-needed rain followed by evening temperatures that plummeted to the mid to high 30’s…. a stark change from our recent weather pattern which led to a major increase in park attendance. And of course, this bitter change coincides with the blooming of our redbuds. Weather enthusiasts have argued for years over Redbud Winter and its chilly sisters: Dogwood Winter and Blackberry Winter, but nonetheless it always seems that we go through a cold spell the same time these natural wonders bloom.
For nearly a week, I came to work without a jacket, strolled outdoors to enjoy the brisk mornings and fell in love all over again with Spring, and now I’ve had to break out my hoodie once again, but according to the weather experts, this trend will be short lived… I sure hope they are correct… this time.