Herkimer County, New York, has experienced increases in the length of its growing season, particularly over recent decades. Source: Cornell University

Global climate change trends are reflected at the county level for the northeastern U.S. in a new online tool developed by the Cornell Institute for Climate Smart Solutions at Cornell University.

Using data supplied by the university’s Northeast Regional Climate Center, the Climate Change in Your County application tracks average annual temperatures as well as high and low temperature trends. The tool is based on data for the 1950 to 2013 period as well as climate models showing future trends. Farmers and other users are expected to benefit from data on growing season length statistics and annual growing degree days along with precipitation trends and climate projections.

Some climate trend examples:

In Delaware County, an agricultural part of New York State, the new application shows that the growing season length has extended 11 days since 1980.

For Bucks County, Pennsylvania, there were 10.6 days above 90° F in 1970. The tool shows there were 30.1 days above 90° F observed in 2010, and the climate models project that there will be almost 78 days in 2073 and nearly 96 days by 2099.

In Queens County, New York, the average annual temperature in 1950 was 53.9° F. By the end of this century, the projected average annual temperature in Queens will be 64° F. The current climate model shows a rise from 19.7 days above 90° F in 2018 and to about 81 days by the end of the century.