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How Recent Weather Conditions Affect People’s Moods How Recent Weather Conditions Are Affecting People's Moods

Inconsistent temperatures in Syracuse play a role in people's well-being.

By Benjamin Deitrick

Ben Deitrick: It’s been an inconsistent winter in Syracuse. There have been sunshine-filled days with highs in the 60s, and classic Syracuse snowstorms in the low 20s. With the weather changing so much, it has a tendency to impact how people feel. Duluth, Minnesota native Tim Schnobrich says he prefers the warmer weather, not only because it’s a change of pace from his hometown, but because it encourages physical fitness.

Tim Schnobrich: When you look outside and you see that it’s gonna get 60 degrees in early March, it puts you in a good mood. If it doesn’t, I don’t think you’re living the right life. Makes you more motivated to get outside and do stuff.

Deitrick: In general, Schnobrich doesn’t hate the cold, but 60 degrees is his comfort zone.

Schnobrich: I don’t mind the cold weather, I just don’t like 6 months of it. I’m a nice medium guy, you give me a nice 60 degree day, 70 degrees in the Summer, I’m lovin’ life.

Deitrick: Seasonal Affective Disorder is a very real thing. It’s defined as a depression that occurs whenever the season change, and typically it happens at the same time every year.

Deitrick: Syracuse Native Jeanette Oleksak has dealt with seasonal depression before, but because of the generally warmer winter this year, it hasn’t hit as hard.

Jeanette Oleksak: It’s always really dreary here, and obviously having no sunlight makes you feel down. I feel like it wasn’t that bad this year, I haven’t really had it this year.

Deitrick: According to 1Weather, temperatures should finally reach some consistency over the next couple days heading into this weekend. Ben Deitrick, NCC News.

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (NCC News) – To say it’s been an inconsistent Central New York winter would be an understatement.

Since January, conditions have ranged from the upper teens and snowing to 70 degrees and sunny.  There’s also been a little bit of everything in between.

Such was the case Tuesday afternoon, a grim, overcast day with temperatures hovering around the upper 40s/lower 50s. The day truly was the epitome of a roller coaster season weather-wise for the area. The Onondaga Lake Park still had visitors however, and two people in particular gave their thoughts about the weather being a driving force behind how they feel.

 

View of the Onondaga Lake from Onondaga Lake Park
Yesterday’s weather told the story of Syracuse’s winter so far. It’s been a mix of hot and cold
© 2024 Ben Deitrick

“When you look outside and you see that it’s gonna get 60 degrees in early March, it puts you in a good mood,” Tim Schnobrich, a Duluth Minnesota native, said. “If it doesn’t, I don’t think you’re living the right life. Makes you more motivated to get outside and do stuff.”

Sometimes, a nice 60 degree day is all anyone needs.

“I don’t mind the cold weather, I just don’t like 6 months of it,” Schnobrich said. “I’m a nice medium guy, you give me a nice 60 degree day, 70 degrees in the Summer, I’m lovin’ life.”

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real thing. Mayo Clinic defines it as “a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons.” Typically, SAD occurs at the same time every year.

“It’s always really dreary here, and obviously having no sunlight makes you feel down,” Jeanette Oleksak, a Syracuse Native, said.

With the generally warmer temperatures, SAD may not have the impact it’s had in the past.

“I feel like it wasn’t that bad this year,” Oleksak said, “I haven’t really had it this year.”

According to 1Weather, temperatures are supposed to stabilize a little bit more heading into this weekend. Now would be a good time to admire the Onondaga Lake before snow potentially falls again.

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