Is it a heat wave or global warming?

NORWICH – A burst of phenomenal spring weather in late November hasn’t brought about many complaints, but should it be a cause for concern?

According to some local residents, they do attribute the unseasonably warm temperatures to monumental changes in the atmosphere and environment, as opposed to just a streak of good luck.

“I thinks it’s got more to do with global warming,” said Edith Giglio of Sherburne, who claims she has witnessed a significant warm-up over her lifetime. “It’s a lot warmer now.”

Sandra Shepler of Oxford also believes the recent warm spell is a result of global warming, which in her opinion – based on the unusually comfortable climate for this time of year – may not be a bad thing. “I like it like this,” she said.

Since last Wednesday, daytime temperatures have ranged from the upper 50s into the lower 60s, all well above the region’s all-time average of 37.6 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service in Binghamton.

“I’ll take every minute of it,” said South Plymouth resident Giff Foster, who explained that the warm weather has been unexpectedly beneficial for his alternative fuels operation, which helps to run his farm. However, Foster is sure that this benefit isn’t just a fluke, contending it’s a combination of natural transformations and man-made elements. “It’s the result of a flow from the Ice Age into a warming period, and an increase in particulate matter going into the atmosphere – having the effect of unusual weather patterns.”

Norwich resident Karen Hoag, unsure of the specific reason for the warmth, isn’t quick to blame global warming for the recent up-turn.

“I’m not sure about this global warming business, it sounds like bologna to me,” Hoag said. “We’ve had weather like this before.” But she doesn’t discount the possibility of human influence on the situation, either. “It’s like my grandfather used to say, ‘with all the stuff we are putting in the skies, some day we are going to have to live it,” she said, expressing concern over the possible environmental problems created by industrial emissions and byproducts that could affect future generations. “That’s what scares me.”