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Pardon me if this was posted earlier: Summer is getting longer, and it's happening faster than we thought
https://news.ubc.ca/2026/04/summer-is-getting-longer-and-its-happening-faster-than-we-thought/Summer is getting longer, and it’s happening faster than we thought
New research finds summers are expanding 50 per cent faster in many areas than previously reported, with quicker transitions between seasons.
Erik Rolfsen
Apr 8, 2026
Summer weather is arriving earlier, lasting longer and packing more heat than it used to—and it’s happening faster than scientists had previously measured.
A new study by UBC researchers has found that between 1990 and 2023, the average summer between the tropics and the polar circles grew about six days longer per decade. That’s up from roughly four days per decade found in past research investigating up until the early 2010s.
For many cities, the numbers are even more striking. In Sydney, Australia, summer temperatures now last about 130 days, up from 80 days in 1990, adding 15 days per decade. Toronto summers are expanding by eight days per decade.
…
Seasons are changing gears more quickly
The study also found that seasonal transitions—the shift from spring to summer and from summer to autumn—are becoming more abrupt. Instead of a gradual warm-up, summer-like temperatures arrive more suddenly. This could disrupt systems that depend on seasonal cues; for example, flowers may bloom before pollinators are active, crops may need to be planted earlier, and rapid spring warming may lead to faster snowmelt and greater spring flood risk.
…
Ted J Scott et al 2026 Environ. Res. Lett. 21 074009
New research finds summers are expanding 50 per cent faster in many areas than previously reported, with quicker transitions between seasons.
Erik Rolfsen
Apr 8, 2026
Summer weather is arriving earlier, lasting longer and packing more heat than it used to—and it’s happening faster than scientists had previously measured.
A new study by UBC researchers has found that between 1990 and 2023, the average summer between the tropics and the polar circles grew about six days longer per decade. That’s up from roughly four days per decade found in past research investigating up until the early 2010s.
For many cities, the numbers are even more striking. In Sydney, Australia, summer temperatures now last about 130 days, up from 80 days in 1990, adding 15 days per decade. Toronto summers are expanding by eight days per decade.
…
Seasons are changing gears more quickly
The study also found that seasonal transitions—the shift from spring to summer and from summer to autumn—are becoming more abrupt. Instead of a gradual warm-up, summer-like temperatures arrive more suddenly. This could disrupt systems that depend on seasonal cues; for example, flowers may bloom before pollinators are active, crops may need to be planted earlier, and rapid spring warming may lead to faster snowmelt and greater spring flood risk.
…
DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ae5724
This all matches my perception…
4 replies
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