So here we are, approaching the close of another summer, with a run of weather so spectacular that it seems like it will never end.

But of course it will.

If you subscribe to the wisdom of the Old Farmer's Almanac, we are in for another winter as bad or worse than the last.

If you prefer the scientific forecasts, a strong El Nino promises a milder winter than usual here in southern New England, and less snow.

We don't know yet exactly what weather to expect, as summer continues to slide away.

But there are some things that we can look forward to, things that will almost certainly blow in with the first cold winds of fall.

First, there will be some change in government rosters with the fall municipal elections, which around here promise some interesting news fodder.

New London, as a practical matter, could have a new mayor in waiting as early as Sept. 16, the Democratic primary. That's a race that eventually will take the training wheels off the city's new charter rules that four years ago brought the first full-time elected official in charge.

But new faces in town and city halls actually should be fairly low on the list of interesting new developments in the works around here, some in place, some under construction, many due by the end of the next cold, or not-so-cold, winter.

One barometer of the livability of a place is good restaurants. I know it's a good sign that there are so many new ones, from East Lyme to Westerly, that my to-try list keeps getting longer. And more are expected on line soon.

The most exciting construction going on around here is Route 27 in Mystic, what promises to be a new gateway into the state's principal tourism town.

Mystic Seaport is busy putting up a signature building that will not only change the experience of museumgoers, but will open up views of the river across museum grounds and vastly improve the streetscape there.

Across the street, work is underway on a wonderful new project that also will enhance the Mystic experience for visitors. The new Denison Pequotsepos Coogan Farm, with its exhibits, trails and park space, will be a nod to the changes across the road at the Seaport.

And exciting new plans are forming to create a new town park directly on the river alongside the Seaport, providing new space for the Stonington crew team and opening up even more river vistas.

Who wasn't encouraged to read that a developer that just bought some town land in Groton has a track record of working with Whole Foods? (I know. I know. It's still not Trader Joe's.)

Some pending lawsuits will begin to unfold this winter, grist for the news mill on cold days.

How will Attorney General George Jepsen respond to MGM, which claims that Connecticut discriminated against white guys from Vegas in agreeing to let its own Native Americans expand gambling here?

And who would miss the fireworks in what is sure to be a lawsuit over whether Ledyard can collect property tax on the new Tanger Outlets complex and store inventories, which are on land leased from the sovereign and non-taxed Mashantucket Pequot tribe?

I was thinking we could settle in for a long winter of reading new Hillary Clinton emails, since they are on schedule to continue to be released periodically in batches.

But am I the only one who finds the emails of the former secretary of state remarkably dull and uninteresting? I was curious that she admitted in one to not knowing how to charge her iPad.

Something tells me Joe Biden's and Donald Trump's emails are a lot more entertaining.

As for state politics, you have to wonder if anyone might surface this winter as a credible challenger to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

I think we can rule out Linda McMahon spending another $50 million on a third run for Senate. Joe Scarborough of MSNBC keeps flirting with voters here in his new home state, but it probably would be hard for a network anchor to give up the perks of salary and influence to go slog away in the U.S. Senate.

Perhaps the record strong El Nino predicted for this winter will help Connecticut Republicans do more than a checkbook perusal in finding a candidate for the next big statewide races.

This is the opinion of David Collins.

d.collins@theday.com

Twitter: @DavidCollinsct