June Gloom got you down?

What’s up with this June Gloom? Is everyone experiencing it or is it just us Californians? It seems like it’s never going to go away and I’m trying not to let it get me down. It comes at the strangest time of year for me, just when you are really enjoying the amazing spring sun and getting ready for those hot summer days. It’s crazy! It’s like you’re suddenly pulling pieces out of your winter wardrobe that you just packed up once spring rolled around. It definitely doesn’t make sense to keep wearing the fabulous sandals and flip flops you just bought when you’re on the go. I just don’t get it, so I decided to do some research on this June Gloom and find out the facts.

According to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) June Gloom (also May Gray) is a California term for a weather pattern that results in cloudy skies with mild temperatures during late spring and early summer. The condition is prevalent in many parts of the world where marine strata or stratocumulus clouds are common, particularly on the western coasts of the continents, especially Peru, Namibia, Western Australia, and California. These cloud systems are persistent throughout the year off the coast, however, in certain seasons, they blow towards the coast and create the bleak “May Gray” effect on land. The June Gloom phenomenon has also been known to occur in early fall in California.

Early mornings during this period are typically misty, with an occasional drizzle. The fog turns into low-lying clouds in the late morning and early afternoon. Finally, in the late afternoon, solar heating is enough to evaporate the clouds. Often times, cloudy skies will evaporate (“burn”) quickly inland, but will remain along the immediate shoreline.

In California, the number of shady days from May to June varies from year to year. Cooler ocean temperatures, associated with La Niña, generally predict a grayer period.

Some Californians have reported that June Gloom causes symptoms consistent with seasonal affective disorder. It is often cited as a time of depression. Did you know that seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter blues or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health for most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less often, in the summer, repeatedly, year after year? The US National Library of Medicine notes that “some people experience a severe change in mood when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed. Although symptoms may be serious, they usually clear up. ” The condition in the summer is often referred to as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder and can also include increased anxiety. There are many different treatments for the classic (winter(based on seasonal affective disorder), which includes bright light therapy, anti-depression medication, administration of ionized air, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin.

So if this June Gloom has got you down, you’re not alone. This weather seems to make me feel like I’m hibernating. Thank goodness it will only be here for a short time and then in our sunny summer we are off.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top