Say goodbye to the weather you grew up with

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Happy Monday! Today, we’ve got a real horror story for you. Climate change is reshaping the Capital Region, bringing hotter summers, disappearing winters & intense, sudden downpours. It’s a local shift with big consequences—and it’s already underway.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

🗳️ The people have spoken: In our most voted-on poll ever, a majority of readers (71%) said they would be OK with us taking The 518 down to once per week (from the current 2x weekly). Another 22% said either once or twice a week is fine. Only 7% really wanted to keep the twice-weekly schedule.

You also sent in so much great feedback—thank you! Here’s just a taste:

• “This is a great source for local happenings. We have gone to places we didn’t even know existed because it was mentioned in this newsletter.”

• “I love the 2x/week frequency but I do know that I can't always read both editions. When I can, I love it.”

• “I've really enjoyed getting your emails, and I read all of everything and find it useful.”

• “Love you guys!”

Drumroll please… We’ll now publish once a week, on TUESDAY, starting next week. A Tuesday newsletter should give you enough time to plan for the weekend, and we won’t be spending Sunday nights on our laptops 🙃 

Of course, we’ll still have Home of the Week, Top 5 Weekend Picks, and all of the excellent local journalism you’ve come to expect from us!

Climate change is coming for the Capital Region 🥵 

Beware, today we’re really going to scare you!

Have you noticed that the fall colors seem a bit dull this year? It’s not a supernatural hallucination—drought stress has definitely muted the leaf-peeping season. Scientists blame climate change.

Over the past five decades, the Capital Region has quietly undergone one of the Northeast’s most dramatic climate transformations, and the data is more alarming than most people realize.

To get a picture of how climate change is affecting our region, we scoured the data on the interactive Climate Central website. It’s produced by a policy-neutral nonprofit, run by an independent group of scientists and communicators.

Climate Central says it “uses science, big data, and technology to generate thousands of local storylines and compelling visuals that make climate change personal and show what can be done about it.”

According to their data, here’s how Albany’s climate is changing:

🌞 Summers are getting hotter—and longer

Albany’s summers are no longer the mild stretches they used to be.

• Since 1970, average summer temps have risen by 3.8°F.

• We now see 9 more days above 90°F each year compared to the past.

• Heatwaves are longer, more intense, and pose greater health risks—especially for seniors and people without air conditioning.

❄️ Winters are vanishing

Perhaps the most dramatic change: Albany’s winters are fading.

• Winter temperatures have warmed by 5.6°F—one of the fastest rates in the Northeast.

• We now experience 23 fewer freezing days each year.

• Snow is arriving later and disappearing earlier, often replaced by cold rain.

What was once a season of consistent snow and ice is turning slushy, unstable, and unpredictable.

🌧️ Rainfall: More is falling, all at once

It’s not just about heat—it’s also about how water moves.

• Albany is seeing more heavy downpours, often overwhelming storm drains.

• Flash flooding is becoming a real concern in low-lying and urban areas.

• Rain is falling in erratic bursts, damaging infrastructure not built for today’s weather extremes.

• Find out if your home is in a known flood area, and prepare accordingly—see this week’s Home of the Week for an example👇️😬 

🌿 The growing season is getting longer

At first blush, our local gardeners might love this trend, but there’s a darker side to it.

• Albany’s growing season has lengthened by 22 days.

• Earlier springs and later frosts bring more pollen, more pests, and changes to agriculture.

• Plants bloom out of sync, and wildlife struggles to keep up.

These changes aren’t subtle, and they aren’t predictions. They’re happening now. The weather you grew up with in the Capital Region may be gone for good.

The big question is how we will adapt, individually and collectively, to these profound changes?

By embracing uncertainty, staying engaged, and leading by example, we believe it’s still possible to mitigate some of the damage being done.

The deets: You can find compelling data like this for 145 major cities across the U.S. on Climate Central. You can even download the charts and graphics for each city. We highly recommend you give it a look, but it’s like watching a car wreck in slo-mo 🫣 

More to explore: See the stories produced by our grant-funded Youth Climate Reporting Project.

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🚧 The TU’s Steve Barnes looks at the history of revitalization efforts in downtown Albany, and comes away with reason for hope. “I’ve been covering restaurants and nightlife for what now seems an eternity... I believe the big developments being promised will revitalize the capital city’s core in a long and sustainable way.” [Times Union]

✊ See photos from the No Kings rally in Albany. Also these pics from Nightmare Market in Schenectady are incredible.

☕️ The ABR rounds up 12 of the most exciting restaurant developments happening in the Capital Region, including the opening of Amped Coffee in Colonie, Yemeni coffee spot Qahwah House in Latham, and Slidin’ Dirty in Troy. [Albany Business Review]

Just a short stroll from the beloved Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, this turn-of-the-century home is downright dreamy. With three full apartments, this spot is ideal for the owner-occupant looking for a walkable lifestyle while earning income in an elegant, history-filled space. Inside, you’ll find soaring ceilings, original Southern Pine floors, curved pocket doors, ceiling medallions, and beautiful crown molding. Sunlight pours through bay windows, highlighting arched doorways, exposed brick, and inviting living spaces. Each of the three units features a full kitchen, thoughtful layout, as well as its own entry, utilities, A/C, and in-unit washer/dryer.

The fully fenced and landscaped backyard is a four-season gem with a Trex deck, bluestone walkway, and mature, lush perennial flowers and hostas. It gets even better when you add in the 2-car parking garage and additional off-street parking spot.

The deets: 4 bd, 3 ba, 2986 sf. Asking: $359,900. Days on market: 2. See the full listing here.

🚨 Seems like a great deal, right? Well, there’s a caveat — for our climate change issue, we picked a stunning example of what “high risk” really looks like: This beauty sits in FEMA Zone AE, a Special Flood Hazard Area, with a flood risk of 9 out of 10. And it’s not alone, much of downtown Troy faces the risk of severe flooding in the not-so-distant future.

You can look up this flood information for any address using data from First Street, a nonprofit that helps homeowners avoid climate risk. Just click here and enter your location in the top-left corner.

✏️ Archtober is a month-long celebration of architecture and design in Troy, led locally by TAP Inc. and inspired by NYC’s own architecture festival.

🪴 Tonight, do the Time Warp as The Rocky Horror Picture Show (with The Kids of Albany) hits the Palace Theatre.

🎬️ Also tonight, get spooked, in a beautiful way, with Sapphic and Proud’s Halloween-themed Sapphic Movie Night. 

🫠 Today and tomorrow, put some tools in your energetic toolbox with The Stressed Out Moms Workshop.

🏮 On Tuesday, prepare for the Lantern Parade, one of Albany’s most magical nights of the year, with a lantern-making workshop at the Albany Public Library.  

🌿 Wednesday, legendary environmentalist Bill McKibben brings his latest book to Palamountain Hall in Saratoga Springs.

🦉 Thursday or Friday, go on an Owl Prowl at the Wilton Reserve. Suitable for ages 5+ (with a caregiver).

👻 On Friday and Saturday, get spooked and have some cider at Radix Urban Ecological Center’s Haunted Farm.

🎷 On Friday, explore anger (un)management with We Will Not Be Composed at EMPAC. This multimedia performance, created in collaboration with saxophonist and composer Stevie Manning, author and activist Soraya Chemaly, and projection artist Xuan, challenges gendered perceptions of anger in America. Our friend & violoncellist Ha-Yang Kim plays in this ensemble!

📚️ Also Friday, pop into the The Book Hive Grown Up Book Sale at Wolf Hollow Brewing Co.

🌽 Get lost in Samascott Orchards while sipping cider at the Nine Pin Cider Maze event on Friday.

🎃 Dress to spook at Albany’s Trick or Trot Pumpkin Run on Saturday, open for all ages!

🍁 Also Saturday, the Saratoga Fall Festival is an afternoon of fall family fun.

☠️ On Friday and Saturday, swoop into The Dark Expo at Empire Live for vendors, food, horror and sci-fi.

🖼️ This Saturday and Sunday, the Print Makers Guild of New York brings their PGNY 2025 Print Fair to Troy, featuring prints from over 50 artists.

🛻 Get lit with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire at the MVP Arena

🦇 On Saturday, join Ranger Rachel for Creepy" Critters of the Preserve Hyuck for a close encounter with bats, snakes, and spiders.

🎸 Also Saturday, Troy Listening Room hosts the 3rd annual Ooky Spooky Musical Showcase with Zan and the Winterfolk. Sadly, it’s sold out!

👻 Watch out for the ghosts of history at the Family Scavenger Hunt at the Ten Broeck Mansion on Saturday.

👻 Knickerbocker Mansion's Knick at Night Souper Supper Ghostly Mansion Tours take place on Friday & Saturday.

🎃 Prepare for trick-or-treating guests with a Pumpkin Painting at the Delmar Farmer’s Market on Saturday.

🍸️ On Saturday, vamp it up at the All Access Albany Halloween Bar Crawl.

🍺 Blow along with the The Trojan Horns at Wolf Hollow Brewing Co., or join their Halloween Brunch & Scavenger Hunt on Sunday.

👗 Sunday, browse vintage finds with the Last Lap Market at Putnum Place in Saratoga.

📚️ Also Sunday, keep believing and come meet the author of “The Muppet Movie: The Official Picture Book” at Open Door Bookstore in Schenectady.

Art on View

• Chris Duncan: Beats and Riffs, Union College Feigenbaum Center for Visual Arts, Mon-Sat, 9a–5p.

• Art at APL: Sight Specific, at the Pine Hills Branch of Albany Public Library. Curated by Opalka Gallery. Closes Nov. 8.

• Liberation and For Life celebrates 50 years of Black Dimensions in Art, showcasing 90+ artists and 100+ works that will blow your mind | Albany Institute of History & Art.

• Up to Us highlights BDA’s powerful legacy with archival materials spanning 1975 to the future | The Tang Museum

• Noel W Anderson: Black Excellence and Romare Bearden & Ralph Ellison: From the Archive | UAlbany Art Museum

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

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Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: [email protected]