HOW COLD?: More today on Bradford’s reputation as the cold spot
in the country from time to time:[neWLine]

Skip Riekofsky writes, “”I have the understanding that they now
take the temperature at the high school not the airport?
Bradfordians can take a slight bit of comfort in knowing that there
are colder spots in the county, one being Kushequa. More often than
not my thermometer is usually a couple degrees colder than
Bradford’s announced temperature probably because we’re in a
valley.””[neWLine]

But, Skip – Bradford is also in a valley![neWLine]

In fact, Bradford’s valley is so deep that National Public Radio
when it first brought its signal to McKean about 10 years ago was
force to provide a separate transmitter for what was termed “”the
Bradford bowl.””[neWLine]

We probably need to hear from a meteorologist on this but we do
realize that topography plays a role in temperature. Or is that
maybe a reflection of altitude?[neWLine]

A couple observations: Hilltoppers can verify seeing sunny
mornings in such areas as Marshburg in the summer while Bradford is
still enveloped in heavy morning “”fog”” hanging in its valleys.
And, at least at those times, the weather is warmer on the hilltops
than in the valleys.[neWLine]

During the winter, however, temperatures atop the hills are
colder by 5 or more degrees than in Bradford’s valley.[neWLine]

In any case, perhaps our question needs to be
broadened.[neWLine]

We suspect Bradford’s notoriety for low temperatures has more to
do with the location of the National Weather Service’s measuring
station -in Mount Alton, but reported as from the nearest city of
Bradford – than with its coldness relative to its neighbors in
McKean County.[neWLine]

In fact, we’re quite sure that other towns in McKean County are
colder than Bradford on a regular basis – even though Bradford gets
the “”credit.””[neWLine]

So we need to perhaps return to a comment raised in yesterday’s
column by Mark Zampogna who said as much and further suggested that
the cold temperatures are part of “”the region”” more than just
Bradford.[neWLine]

However, we must point out that “”the region”” is likely limited
to northern McKean County. Personal experience has demonstrated a
significant temperature and snowfall drop heading south and as
close as Lantz Corners. Another drop takes hold just south of St.
Marys, and then one at Interstate 80 near Penfield.[neWLine]

Can any meteorologists out there explain this riddle?