Winter 2016 in New England

[crfriend]

Did I mention I hate being cold?

Isn't that like blaspheme is New England?

No, it's just a statement of fact around here. A hundred miles or so north it is considered blasphemous, but that's The Great White North (aka "Canada") anyway -- a land where hockey seems to be the local religion (which may explain a lot).

Today was an interesting crap-shoot on the drive in to work. When I left home, my instruments indicated that it was 18 degrees F (the aerodrome, about 5 miles distant, was claiming 46). It had warmed to about 29 by the time I'd gone about ten miles, then within the space of about a mile it warmed to 39, stayed that way for about a half mile, and then dropped back to 28. It's about 47 at the office at the moment. Those are some of the wildest swings I've seen for some time so close together in terms of distance. Something's going on aloft.

[moonshadow]

Today was an interesting crap-shoot on the drive in to work. When I left home, my instruments indicated that it was 18 degrees F (the aerodrome, about 5 miles distant, was claiming 46). It had warmed to about 29 by the time I'd gone about ten miles, then within the space of about a mile it warmed to 39, stayed that way for about a half mile, and then dropped back to 28. It's about 47 at the office at the moment. Those are some of the wildest swings I've seen for some time so close together in terms of distance. Something's going on aloft.

There's some weird weather going on here too. Last night before I went to bed at about 2AM, the thermometer on the porch was reading about 43 F and windy. Stepping outside it felt like a "warm" 43 (almost tropical). I actually debated on a night walk. Wake up this morning, and it's 36 F and COLD (definitely a northern air). Going to rain / sloppy snow through Wednesday. This weekend it's supposed to warm up a tad, but they're calling for rain (naturally). Then it's rain rain rain rain rain all through next week, with another chance of snow towards the mid part of the week.

Noticed up towards Roanoke VA the icon was more on the "sunny side" and getting pretty close to 60F on Saturday. May take a little road trip north (where it's.... WARMER?!? )

I hear ya on the cold. I hate winter. Everything about it. With each passing year I hate winter more and more. A slight depression comes over me when I see the leaves change in the fall, because I know warm weather is almost over. Winter used to be fun. Now it's just a drag. SO COLD. So miserable. It cost a kings ransom to heat the house, hours at work get hard to come by as they tell us to "stay home" when it snows. You're stuck in the house constantly, everything is closed, and it's too damn cold to take a walk anywhere. I can't wear my favorite skirts (they're too thin and summer like), when I do wear skirts I always have to wear something other them (leggings or tights) which defeats the purpose! Vehicles keep getting stuck. Having to carry a shovel and cat litter everywhere I go. Scraping windshields every morning. Cold chills. Power outages!

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crfriend]

I hear ya on the cold. I hate winter. Everything about it. With each passing year I hate winter more and more. A slight depression comes over me when I see the leaves change in the fall, because I know warm weather is almost over. Winter used to be fun. Now it's just a drag.

I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and always have, although it's been a bit of a roller-coaster.

When I was a kid, I enjoyed being out and playing in the snow -- and didn't have any responsibilities. On my way to becoming an adult, I got to really hate winter, and for many years came close to going non-functional because of how depressed I became. During my 20s and 30s all I wanted to do was hibernate from about early November until mid-April. Fortunately, in recent years, perhaps because I'm very aware of the condition, it's gradually gotten better -- so if what seems to hold for me, perhaps it will for you as well.

It may seem counter-intuitive since you (like I) hate being cold, but try to get outside when it's bright. I've found that helps some. Get a couple of warmer winter skirts as well; properly "accessorised" skirts can be quite a bit warmer than trousers. Just be aware that you may be carrying around several extra pounds of clothing, though.

[Kirbstone]

Don't moan, Moon, Just move South.

This side of the Pond Mr. Michael O'Leary (CEO. Ryanair) makes a lot of money moving people South. He's now got the largest fleet of winged cigar tubes in Europe entirely (or mostly) because our Winters are on-going and grim, so the Sun beckons......

Ah, but ze TGermans say: 'es gibt nie schlechtes Wetter, sondern unvergnuenftige Bekleidung'....There's never bad weather, just unsuitable clothing!

Tom

[dillon]

I have a bit of that condition as well. Luckily, I have a job that gets me out in the sunshine, albeit only for short periods, but the sun exposure definitely improves my mood.

[r.m.anderson]

Did I mention I hate being cold?

Isn't that like blaspheme is New England?
Or maybe that's just in Minnesnowta.

Minnesota still maybe the ice-box of the nation with record temperatures in the northern
part of the state near the Canadian border but with global warming the winters in Minnesota
are no longer looking at the eye of the tiger.

Temps at -30 F and the wind out of the NW creating windchills of -60 F is what happened in
a bygone era.

Still yet exposing skin to the elements for only a few minutes is fool hardy - frost nip/bite
can be very painful. Imagine if you could put your hand inside a microwave oven and burn
the living dickens out of skin tissue. That is what I am told happens with frozen skin tissue
dunked into hot water - the blood vessels scream bloody murder in thawing out. Like being
in a decompression chamber the gradual warming of the flesh to room temperature is not
a pleasant experience if the skin tissue can be salvaged at all.

Skirt/Kilt wearing is definitely curtailed unless wearing thermo-tights or heavy leggings
don't get me started on the warmth of them damn bifurcated pants !

Heck as for the snowfall even that has diminished from the blizzard windrows of snow that
topped 6 feet or more but we never encountered the lake effect snow like the states around
New York swallowing whole buildings in one storm.

Reported that global warming is affecting Lake Superior. This year over 90% of the surface
remains ice free extremely unusual.

But never turn your back on Mother Nature !
The Armistice Day Blizzard in 1940 - in fours hours time the weather went from 70 F to -20
bright and sunny to wind blown snow in drifts 7-10 feet high - autumn hunters wearing light
clothing were caught unawares and some died almost like flash freezing in the field.
Cars could not escape the drifts and plows could not get to people to rescue them. It took
weeks to thaw out - the loss of farm livestock was also devastating.

LINK:
https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_yl ... pe=sbc_dsl

"It is not nice to fool with Mother Nature" !
"Ripley's Believe it or Not" !

You east coasters have had some bad batches of weather recently and that RCCL cruise ship Anthem of Sea WOW !

Even if you are miles from the ocean - the interior of the land is faulted with earthquakes (USA)

Somehow I don't think we have actually left Jurassic Park sans the animals or Jules Verne's book "The Lost World" !

AND what's to make about that Garden of Eden thing and it's clothing optional fig leafs ?

Yeah - I am going - the door slamming shut behind me as I exit (Enter to Submit posting) !

{Even a Forum can be a dangerous place} !

[moonshadow]

Traveling home tonight from Vinton VA, all the way down I81 I ran into some pretty heavy snow just a bit south of Wytheville. Still had about 50 miles to go. Got a little freaked out by the time I hit Marion and could no longer see the road. Still 30 miles to go. Just me, and a pack of maybe seven or eight semi's. Was debating on calling it quits and checking into a room somewhere, but pushed on anyway. Always a little timid when driving the van. I'm not sure what happens when we wreck company property... I don't want to know.

Never felt the van slide, but it was definitely a white knuckle trip.

Glad to be home. Pulled a 12 today, so maybe I can relax a little tomorrow.

Did I mention I'll be glad when spring gets here?

That's the trouble with my job, my route alone spans about 250 miles from one side to the other. (a little less the way the crow flies, but my van doesn't have wings) Lots of localized "climates". May be raining in one corner, and a blizzard in the other. Steep windy mountain roads and gentle rolling hills. On call, we've been known to log 500 miles in a days time.

"Winter 2016 in Appalachia"

[moonshadow]

It may seem counter-intuitive since you (like I) hate being cold, but try to get outside when it's bright. I've found that helps some.

Luckily, I have a job that gets me out in the sunshine, albeit only for short periods, but the sun exposure definitely improves my mood.

That's another issue, it seems this year (thanks to El Niño they say) the sun only seems to shine about 1/2 a day per week. Even when it's not snowing, it's rainy of overcast almost constantly. The forecast called for some sun this weekend, but now that the day is drawing closer, it has changed over to rain.

*sighs* rather silly to complain about it I guess, weather and all. That's like complaining about death and taxes. What are you gonna do? Still will be glad to see a nice weather day, preferably one where I don't have to work.

[Kilted_John]

Was supposed to be drier and milder here, too, due to El Niño. Nope. For the most part, yes, it's been milder, but, we've had the precip part of La Niña. LOTS of rain.

-J

[moonshadow]

Was supposed to be drier and milder here, too, due to El Niño. Nope. For the most part, yes, it's been milder, but, we've had the precip part of La Niña. LOTS of rain.

-J

As wet and snowy as it has been, it has been "warmer" (technically). This time last year, about a week into January, it temp fell well below freezing (around zero to minus five), and the daytime high seldom got out of the teens, maybe the twenties on a few days. This pattern lasted well into February. My February electric bill was $80 less this year than it was this time last year, proving that snow aside, it has been at least *somewhat* warmer. Still winter though. Still will be glad when I can open the windows, and swim in the creek.

[Kilted_John]

As wet and snowy as it has been, it has been "warmer" (technically). This time last year, about a week into January, it temp fell well below freezing (around zero to minus five), and the daytime high seldom got out of the teens, maybe the twenties on a few days. This pattern lasted well into February. My February electric bill was $80 less this year than it was this time last year, proving that snow aside, it has been at least *somewhat* warmer. Still winter though. Still will be glad when I can open the windows, and swim in the creek.

Yeah, no Polar Vortex. More "normal" temperatures.

-J