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Our Opinion: Farming is dangerous work – a fact that shouldn’t be lost on visitors to The Lands at Hillside Farms

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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; It&#8217;s the middle of December, but it has felt more like March in the Wyoming Valley as of late.</p><p>Motorcycles cruised through the downtown area Monday afternoon while others walked through the area dressed more for spring as temperature hovered in the 60s.</p><p>Donovan White, 25, is a tattoo artist at 570 Tattoo Co. on North Main Street. As he stood outside puffing on a cigarette, he said the warm weather was something he could get used to.</p><p>&#8220;So far, I think it&#8217;s fantastic,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Janet Baker, of Dallas, said she, too, was enjoying the warm weather, but added she likes the changes of the season.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m looking forward to the coldness, too,&#8221; she said.</p><p>According to Ray Brady, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, the winter heat wave has broken some records.</p><p>On Sunday, the high at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport was 66 degrees, shattering the record of 60 set back in 1923.</p><p>The overnight low for Sunday was 52 degrees, breaking the old record of 45 set in 1991.</p><p>Sunday also set the new record for the average daily temperature, which was 59 degrees. That broke the record of 48.5 degrees set in 1991.</p><p>Brady added the record high for Monday could also be broken. </p><p>Brady explained the warm spell is due to a low pressure system in the west and a high pressure system in the east, which has kept polar air to the north in Canada.</p><p>He also said a strong El Ni&#241;o has helped keep temperatures well above normal in the area.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a large scale weather period that we&#8217;ve been in for most of the fall,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Brady added it&#8217;s not unusual for the region to have a day in the 60s in December &#8212; he called the current trend, however, &#8220;quite unusual&#8221; with no signs of letting up as the Wyoming Valley approaches the new year.</p><p>&#8220;This same general pattern doesn&#8217;t show any signs of giving up over the next two weeks,&#8221; Brady said, adding temperatures could drop to average ranges this weekend, but said the dip will be temporary.</p><p>&#8220;The pattern is definitely indicating abnormally high temperatures for the rest of the month,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The abnormally warm temperatures have also kept the Wyoming Valley from seeing any real snowfall. In a typical winter, the region would have seen a little over two inches of snow by now.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve measured nothing (so far),&#8221; Brady said. The chances of of white Christmas, he added, are bleak.</p><p>&#8220;The odds of a white Christmas are diminishing rapidly,&#8221; he said.</p><p>White said he is a fan of having snow on Christmas because &#8220;that&#8217;s how it&#8217;s supposed to be.&#8221;</p><p>Nevertheless, he said since the warm weather is expected to stick around, he &#8220;wouldn&#8217;t be upset at all.&#8221;</p><p>Baker, however, predicted the Wyoming Valley will have to pay for its warm respite.</p><p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s going to get real cold after this and stay cold,&#8221; she said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Mike Pasternick of &#8220;Mike Paints&#8217; in Ashley paints the third floor of a Horton Street residence Monday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121515weather1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mike Pasternick of &#8220;Mike Paints&#8217; in Ashley paints the third floor of a Horton Street residence Monday morning. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121515weather2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Fabian Fall drives the ball while playing a round of golf with friends at Hollenback Golf Course Monday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121515weather2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Fabian Fall drives the ball while playing a round of golf with friends at Hollenback Golf Course Monday morning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121515weather3web.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Fabian Fall walks to his ball while playing a round of golf with friends at Hollenback Golf Course Monday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121515weather3web.jpg</photo2><caption2>Fabian Fall walks to his ball while playing a round of golf with friends at Hollenback Golf Course Monday morning. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>This week&#8217;s forecast</strong></p><p>According to the National Weather Service:</p><p>Partly sunny skies are expected today, with a high near 54. Partly cloudy skies will follow into tonight, with a low around 37.</p><p>Mostly sunny skies are expected on Wednesday, with a high near 49. Partly cloudy skies will carry over into Wednesday night, along with a chance of isolated showers after 1 a.m. The low will be around 39.</p><p>Cloudy skies are predicted for Thursday, along with a 60 percent chance of showers. The high will be near 51.</p><p>Mostly cloudy skies will follow into Thursday night, along with a 30 percent chance of showers. The low will be around 37.</p><p>Mostly sunny skies will round out the week on Friday, with a high near 42. Partly cloudy skies will follow into Friday night, with a low around 29.</p><p>Be sure to check the Times Leader&#8217;s weather page at https://www.timesleader.com/weather for up-to-date forecast information and radar.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Oooh, baby, it’s anything but cold outside