Typically the beginning of April brings Easter, rain, and warmer weather, followed by flowers blooming in May.

But this year, Mother Nature had different plans.

It began the week of February 18, when the weather went from 30 degrees up to 80, all in the span of a few days. Since then, there have been a majority of winter-esque days, with a few summer ones in the mix.

This also included the snowstorm in March that brought 13 inches of snow and closed school for a few days.

On the second day of April, the wavering temperatures still showed their true potential. The day after Easter, an inch of snow was present on the ground as people went off to work, but by the end of the day, there was not a trace of it in sight.

Last week, Monday called for anywhere from 32 to 36 degrees, but on Friday and Saturday, the weather had a high of 80 degrees.

Even though the weather may be confusing, have you ever wondered what has been causing it?

Let’s dive into the controversial topic of global warming, or should we say, “global freezing.”

It’s a common misconception that since we’re getting cold, brutal weather in Pennsylvania in the spring, that earth cannot be getting warmer. However, this could not be more inaccurate.

It turns out that the growing warmth in the Arctic is causing colder winters up in the northeastern United States. According to Climate Central, multiple studies have come up with the conclusion that “abnormally warm Arctic temperatures make severe winters in the Northeast two to four times more likely.”

The answer to this topic lies the in two important factors: jet stream and teleconnections.

Scientific American states that the jet stream “[transports] air masses” as well as “[creates] clashing zones for storm formation.” Thus, jet stream is what directs our weather patterns.

Teleconnections explains how the weather in a particular place can affect other continents. This is why harsh winters are being seen up here in the Tuscarora School District.

On the bright(er) side, April will bring more days of slight warmth and with summer around the corner, being cold will be a thing of the past.