(ND Ag Connection) – North Dakota’s weather expert, Daryl Ritchison, reports that the thermometer has been hesitant to drop for six consecutive months, causing the fall to feel more like summer.

This “extra summer” is great news for crops, explains Ashley Wolff, who helps farmers in Stutsman County. Plants that got off to a late start are now racing to the finish line, just in time before winter knocks on the door.

Hillcrest Municipal Golf Course is experiencing a surge in golfers booking their spots and hitting the greens more this year, according to John Ruff, the course’s manager, who attributes this to the sunny weather.

Karl Bergh, park manager in Stutsman County, states that lakes remain popular for fishing enthusiasts, even though most people have stopped riding Jet Skis or water skis for the year. The docks and fishing spots remain until the lakes freeze over.

Ritchison warns against getting too comfortable in shorts and flip-flops as the warm weather is leaving. Halloween may bring a chill, and winter is not expected to be snow-free. Even with El Niño, even a “nice” winter in North Dakota would cause most people in other states to shiver.

Whether you’re cheering for crops, enjoying an extra round of golf, or casting one more line in the lake, soak up the sun. Old Man Winter isn’t far behind, but for now, North Dakota is the place to be!