Community members enjoy unseasonable weather
By Riley Funk
St. Joseph residents were out in force at various local park trails on Wednesday to take advantage of the warm weather.
News-Press NOW’s Storm Tracker Chief Meteorologist Jared Shelton said the above-average temperatures and dry conditions will make for nice, spring-like weather over the next three to five days.
“Expect afternoon high temperatures to run in the upper 50s to low 60s Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with upper 60s and low 70s in the forecast for Sunday,” Shelton said. “Aside from a few passing clouds and a slight chance of sprinkles Thursday morning, expect a good deal of sunshine through the period as well,” Shelton said.
Kylea Shipers was walking around one of the many trails in Corby Park with her daughter who was in a stroller. The plan for the pair was to finish walking in the park and then grab lunch. Getting outside is something Shipers said needed to happen because February isn’t known for bringing warm temperatures.
“I like Corby Park because it is a better trail than other places. It’s really safe here,” Shipers said. “It’s not a very long route. I go here a lot during the springtime and I’ll be out here a lot during the summertime.”
Susan Cornelius and her dog, Elaine, were also out enjoying the nice weather. Cornelius said that Elaine is a border collie and lab mix who needs the exercise.
“We do this a couple of times a day, sometimes three, to get her to expend her energy and be a good girl,” Cornelius said. “It’s been a welcomed relief to be able to be out here in the sunshine. Sometimes we take different routes to make it more fun, but she’s got good endurance and we can sure enjoy the heat.”
Both Cornelius and Shipers said that people need to get out and enjoy the nice weather in some capacity.
“It’s never really this nice out, and it’s not even windy, so I would just do some yard work, go outside, get some air, sit on the porch, go for a walk,” Shipers said.
Cornelius agrees that people should take some time to enjoy the conditions.
“It certainly lifts one’s spirits to get out in the sunshine. Enjoy the breeze, enjoy the birds, it’s wonderful,” Cornelius said.
Northwest Missouri is still in the winter months, at least for now. Winter won’t officially end until Tuesday, March 19, on the date of the vernal equinox (the first day of spring).
While area residents wait for what weather will come next, Cornelius and Shipers have their own predictions on whether or not snow will return before spring.
“I would predict we’d get one more pretty good-sized snow,” Cornelius said.
“We’re going to get snow. It’s inevitable. It’s Missouri. It’s going to happen,” Shipers said.
