Now that we’re getting our first taste of cooler weather, I’ve been looking at the extended forecast on the weather app on my phone.

I keep several of weather apps — including one for hurricanes — on my phone to keep track with what’s going on across the country and check on the potential effect here in our area. It’s something I’ve been doing for a while. I’ve always tracked and read about hurricanes since I was young, because I’m fascinated by these powerful storms, and my book shelves contain books about Camille, Katrina, the 1900 Galveston hurricane, the 1935 Memorial Day hurricane that decimated the Florida Keys, and the 1938 “Long Island Express,” that devastated a portion of the East Coast.

And now back to the weather.

The present cold snap caught us a bit by surprise with its relatively quick drop in temperature, rain and cool breeze. I’m sure the cooler, wet weather was a surprise to our visitors from the north (we called them “snowbirds” when I was on the Coast) traveling on the boats that visit our city, expected to be in the “balmy south” and found themselves trapped in weather closer to what they were having at home.

And the news is this cooler weather’s going to be with us for a while. My glance into my crystal ball, also called “1Weather” on my phone’s screen, indicates that with the exception on one day this month when it hits 80, we’ll see highs in the 50s, 60s and 70s into December. And it will be wet.

Does this mean we’ll get frigid temperatures and snow somewhere in the future? Maybe.

Will it get hot again? Maybe.

I’m obviously no meteorologist, but just relying on my amateur status and my many years on this earth, I believe we’re in for some strange weather. It will be wet and it will be cool; the arthritis in the ball of my right foot is throbbing, so that’s the key. The way it’s hurting, we’re in for some tough weather ahead.

But more to the point, the climate is changing. I know there are many who will dispute that claim, and many who will say, “he’s right,” but all we have to do is look at the extreme weather we’ve had over the past few years, and it’s evident — extreme droughts in this country, warmer than normal temperatures in the east and in Europe. Call it global warming, call it what you will, our climate is changing. Maybe it’s from pollution, maybe it’s just nature, but things are changing.

We can see it in our weather here. Being one who prefers warmer weather, I know I’ll suffer and start praying for summer. I’ll get upset with the mix of cold and rain and having to drive in the mess. I’ll complain and gripe.

Or, I’ll follow the advice of many about weather in the south.

“If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute; it’ll change.”

John Surratt is a staff writer at The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at john.surratt@vicksburgpost.com.