IOWA’S DRY START TO THE NEW YEAR IS AFFECTING SOME WINTER ACTIVITIES AND RAISING SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECOSYSTEM.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REPORTS THAT SINCE METEOROLOGICAL WINTER BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1ST, MOST OF THE STATE HAS EXPERIENCED BELOW-NORMAL SNOWFALL.
THAT INCLUDES SIOUX CITY.
THERESA KRUID IS THE EDUCATION DIRECTOR AT THE DOROTHY PECAUT NATURE CENTER, AND SAYS THIS HAS BEEN AN UNUSUAL WINTER
NOSNOW3 OC………SINCE THEN. :08
THAT DECEMBER SNOW HAS LONG SINCE MELTED AWAY, FORCING THE CANCELLATION OF SNOWSHOEING ACTIVITIES:
NOSNOW4 OC…….THAT BASE. ;07
KRUID ALSO SAYS SHE WORRIES ABOUT THE IMPACT ON PLANTS AND HIBERNATING ANIMALS.
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PLANTS CAN SPROUT TOO EARLY, AND ANIMALS BURN THROUGH THEIR FAT RESERVES TOO QUICKLY IF THEY ARE FORCED TO WAKE UP MORE FREQUENTLY DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.
SIOUX CITY IS MORE THAN SEVEN INCHES BELOW NORMAL FOR SNOWFALL THIS WINTER.
Story by Sheila Brummer
