5 Things I Hate About Summer In Minnesota

I LOVE summer in Minnesota, so maybe HATE is kind of a strong word. It's always so short lived, so us northern folk need to make the best of it while it's here. With that being said, there are a few things that I really don't like about Minnesota summers and most of them include insects.

1. Ticks--Yes, they're about to become a thing once again. If you're planning on being in the woods, or near a wooded area make sure to be careful. Wear bug spray like DEET and always make sure to check yourself and your pets for the pests. They can be hard to spot, so it's always a good idea to have someone help check you for ticks.

2. Spiders--I saw a baby wolf spider in my mailbox yesterday. I don't know if you've ever witnessed one in person, but they are horrifying--it wasn't any less scary just because it was small. I was a little freaked out because I wasn't used to seeing them out for the season. But, rest assured that they're back and at full strength. If you're not a fan, remember to spray your house to help repel them! You don't want them running wild in your home.

3. Mosquitoes--I've already started noticing mosquitoes and gnats everywhere. I had a bonfire last weekend in my backyard and I got attacked! Mosquito populations will start to gain strength as the April rain sets in, they thrive in shallow puddles. It's best to get your backyard sprayed if you have a serious mosquito problem. You'll thank yourself later.

4.  Sunburn--Believe it or not, even though it's not quite summer yet, you can still catch yourself a pretty nasty sunburn. Make sure that you're wearing sunblock if you plan to be outside for a lengthy period of time, especially if the sun is shinning. It's best to wear SPF 40. Stores sell higher SPF lotion but most doctors will tell you that the higher numbers don't protect you anymore than the SPF 40 does.

5. Severe weather--While I love thunderstorms, I dislike the severe kind that produce tornadoes and knock down power lines. It's still a little early for severe weather season to start, but stranger things have happened. It's best to check your weather forecast on a daily basis from this point moving forward. If severe weather is in the forecast you can tune in to AM 1240 WJON for your latest local weather updates for central Minnesota.