The Cumberland Times-News Monthly Column

October: Will The Fall Folliage Season Deliver?
Since rainfall each month of summer was slightly below-average up until September and warmth has dominated over the cooler days, the fall colors won’t live up to their full capacity. They will still be a treat to see, but the deeper reds and vibrant oranges won’t be evident. The exception is western Allegany into Garrett County where more rain this summer has kept the trees from suffering heat stress.
Nationally, the Southeast and Florida are in for a wet October. This is due in part to the expected persistence of an active hurricane season coupled with El Nino flexing its muscle. The subtropical jet stream will be enhanced in October and lead to periodic weather systems pushing across the Southeast.

Chad Merrill is a Cumberland native and meteorologist who not only serves as the Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack weather prognosticator but is also senior meteorologist at Earth Networks in Germantown. Merrill has previously been meteorologist with WDVM (formerly known as NBC25) in Hagerstown and at WJAC-TV in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Most recently, Merrill was named chief meteorologist at WOAY-TV in Oak Hill, West Virginia. After a rigourous evaluation, Merrill was awatrded the National Weather Association (NWA) Seal of Approval. According to the association, only 1,045 meteorologists currently hold the NWA Seal of Approval. Feel free to contact him at cmweather24@gmail.com or 240-285-8476.