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Blooming 'eck, what's happened to autumn?
SOUTH Yorkshire's natural world has been in a state of confusion due to prolonged dry and sunny weather, a wildlife expert has revealed.
The Indian summer, preceded by a damp July and August, has led to flowers blooming again and birds postponing their annual migration.
But trees have started losing their leaves earlier than normal, due to lack of moisture.
Dr Ian Rotherham, director of the Tourism and Environmental Change Research Unit at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "I think global warming is definitely changing the climate and the seasons are blurring into each other. Summers are continuing later and extending into autumn.
"However, the drought we experienced through September has been quite unusual.
"This year is special because of the wet summer followed by dry conditions."
Dr Rotherham revealed the warm weather has led to late blooms from hedgerow flower red campion and meadow cranesbill, a type of blue geranium common in the Peak District.
"Dropwort is also in full bloom again, as are ox eye daisies, which are providing swathes of white flowers at roadsides," he said.
Rhododendrons are also still flowering much later than normal.
The wildlife expert also revealed red admiral butterflies are still present, and birds are "staying later".
"Swallows and house martins, which would normally have left for warmer climes by now, are still here because there are plenty of insects for them to feed on," he added.
But Dr Rotherham explained the warmth and lack of moisture has had the
opposite effect on trees.
"They are shedding their leaves early because of drought," he said.
And the dry weather is also causing problems for badgers because earthworms – their main source of food – are burrowing deep into the soil and beginning their hibernation early.
"As a result, badgers are having to travel farther afield for food, so people are finding their lawns have been dug up overnight, and it had also led to badgers becoming casualties in road accidents," Dr Rotherham said.
John Hammond, forecaster with the Meteorological Office,
said: "September was pretty dry, with Yorkshire having 34.9 mm of rain, less than half the normal average for the month, of 74.7mm.
"The mean temperature of 13.4C was 0.9C higher than the average of 12.5C. The trend continued for the first few days of this month, although it is now more unsettled."
Mr Hammond said the fine, warm weather last month was caused by areas of high pressure being close to the UK.
He said: "You cannot take statistics from one year and say if they are the start of a trend but we have noticed a longer growing season over the last few decades."
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
