Garrett County gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 164 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. For precipitation to be counted, you must get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure, according to Sperlings’s Best Places. The report has some other interesting stats:
Garrett County gets 48 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.
Garrett County averages 102 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.
On average, there are 152 sunny days per year in Garrett County. The US average is 205 sunny days.
We are a long way from our snowfall averages this season. I’m missing the amount of fresh snow we’re accustomed to getting, but right now, I miss the sunshine more!
Focusing on the “bright side” we get a break from the cold this week, but the forecast is gray. Lack of sunlight can cause our body chemistry to be out of sync, leading to physical and mental health risks. Without enough light, people often feel unmotivated, tired, and sometimes depressed. With less bright-white light reaching our eyes, less cortisol is produced, causing fewer stimulants in the body to promote feelings of energy and happiness. To read in-depth about this, there’s a link to research by NIH below.
What Can We Do To Boost Our Mood This Week?
- GO OUTSIDE: A daily walk does wonders for boosting your mood. The exercise releases endorphins, chemicals that spark an upbeat or euphoric feeling. Get outside within a few hours of waking up for a better start to the day. The morning sunlight exposure keeps that body clock on track.
- BE SOCIAL: Sign up for a class, recruit an exercise buddy, or schedule regular outings with friends. The more you interact with others, the better off everybody will be. Social interaction stimulates a feeling of cohesiveness, and you’ll find out you’re not the only one needing a break!
- EAT LIKE SUMMER IS HERE: our local grocery store has berries buy one get one free, and oranges are on sale too! They are loaded with powerful antioxidants that our body needs to keep our immune system strong. Grab a pineapple while you’re there. Just because it’s February in Garrett County doesn’t mean you can’t pretend you’re on a tropical beach! Eating and drinking something that reminds you of bright, warm weather can be a quick pick-me-up when you’re desperate for the sun, so get creative!
Free GC IN MOTION Activity
JOIN US THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8th, FOR A SOCIAL HIKE! We were going to cross-country ski, but since there’s no snow, we’ll meet at the lakehouse around four and take a group hike. It’s warm enough, and maybe we’ll catch a beautiful sunset. It’s a great way to meet some new fitness pals. Dogs are welcome on a leash. Hope to see you at Herrington Manor State Park.
Quick links and sources:
https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/county/maryland/garrett
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897598/.
- Pickleball!Update From Chris - April 23, 2024
- Applications For Summer Programming Are Posted - April 10, 2024
- Make Nutrition A Focus Every Day - March 29, 2024
Hike sounds great on Wednesday.
I wish it would snow so we could get outdoors for winter fun in the snow! The rain needs to stop-it is depressing. We get too much of it in Garrett County! I did sign up for 2 exercise classes for this week that will be new experiences for me.
Its been a wet season thats for sure. Exercise of all forms helps my mind and body!
To prevent the winter blues, I choose to focus on the positive. Of course, exercise and proper nutrition are important.
I enjoy all the seasons here.
Just wait weather will change.
Grateful to be healthy & able to exercise.
Sounds like fun!
The weather here is a bit of a hindrance for outdoor exercise. Looking forward to spring.
Believe it out not, most years we get a good bit of sunshine. Even in days when it rains, the skies will clear and the sun will come out. It’s just been a rough winter, with very little sun to offset the lack of snow.
Just for perspective, I’m from Pittsburgh, and they only average 80 days of full or partial sun a year … Second only to Seattle for least amount of sun.
When I was young and we visited here, my Mom would always say, “is your don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes. It will change!”
I love the sun!
We are definitely a little short of snow this winter 🙁
I switch to walking videos on bad weather days.
Trying to walk around my office more and when I teach