By PATRICK DONLIN
On a mid-October day, when local temperatures surpassed 70 degrees, an
environmental advocacy group released a report documenting temperature
increases, consistent with the theory of climate change.
What's more, they have been increasing locally at a rate higher than
other areas of the state, and Williamsport had the most 90-degree days
in the state last year, according to the report released Wednesday by
the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center.
Even small temperature changes could produce big results, according to
Nathan Willcox, a spokesman for the Philadelphia-based non-profit group
that encourages people to make environmentally conscious decisions. The
changes may contribute to more droughts, filthy air and allergens, he said.
Willcox said accurate Williamsport temperature readings were available
for the past 61 years - data used for the study.
The average temperature was above normal in all seven of the
Pennsylvania cities examined in the report.
Mean temperatures here were 1.8 degrees above normal in 2007, a higher
increase than any other Pennsylvania city studied. Last year was not an
anomaly, Willcox said, as the local temperature increase of 1.4 degrees
above normal for the period 2000-07 tied with Allentown for the most
drastic intrastate recording.
In 2007, the average maximum temperature - the highest temperature
recorded on a given day - was above normal in all seven of the
Pennsylvania cities in the report.
The average maximum temperature here was 61.6 degrees last year - 2
degrees above normal, the highest deviation shown on the state chart.
Comparing historical data from 1971 to 2000 with information from 2000
to 2007, maximum temperature increases have been escalating upward,
according to Willcox.
Maximum temperature averages in Allentown and Philadelphia were worse
than Williamsport for the past eight years. Averages in those cities
were 0.2 higher than the 1.2 degrees above normal here.
Williamsport's average maximum temperature for the past eight years was
60.8 degrees.
Describing the frequency of Keystone State heat, Willcox said,
"Williamsport, by far, had the most number of 90-degree days."
Last year, there were 26 days when the thermometer hit 90 degrees or
higher. Historically, the local 90 degree-plus daily average is 14,
making for an increase of 12 days. "That's the biggest jump in
Pennsylvania," Willcox said.
Comparing the state's average minimum temperatures from the past eight
years, Willcox said, "Williamsport had more (days) in the middle of the
pack, but you were still near the top in 2007."
The city saw a 41.1 degree average from 2000 to 2007 - one degree above
the historical benchmark - and also saw a temperature 0.9 degrees above
normal last year.
