It's that time of year...again!

[Uncle Al]

Last Thursday our high temperature was 82*F.
Today, Saturday, the high was 52*F.
A 30 degree drop in temperature in two days,
is not condusive to kilt/skirt wearing

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Uncle Al

[r.m.anderson]

Forget kilts in the artic they just ain't very fashionable !

How about you live on the other end of the spectrum - - -
A couple days ago - - -
Northern Minnesota along the Canadian border.
Temperature change minus 40 degrees - 70 to freezing 30
Add wind chill component 20 degrees - winds at 25 mph
Then a bit of precipitation 3 to 6 inches of the damn white stuff -
Hell we haven't even raked the leaves up yet and some trees still have leaves to fall.

Brings back memories of the Halloween blizzard of '91 -
A foot and half of wet snow that froze on contact with whatever it fell on -
Then it did not thaw out till after Memorial day of '92 -
So how do you like your trick or treat at the end of spring/start of summer ?

Then there is the infamous Armistice day blizzard of the '40's -
Hunters went out in a sunny 70 degree fall day in short sleeve shirts -
And in less than 4 hours time it was winter with 6 to 10 foot drifts closing roads
for days and weeks in some places. Many lost their lives.

Beware and have the utmost respect for 'Mother Nature' !

Fortunately this latest episode missed me by a mere 100 or so miles.

Something is messing with the weather big time this year - this is not business as usual !

rma

[Sarongman]

The Southern Oscillation Index says we are just in the positive territory, and so not in an El Nino, but we are still in a serious drought here with the grass drying to a powder underfoot and everybody is looking skywards in hope or despair. The temperature has been in the low 90s fahrenheit and, though a cool change has come an hour ago, there is scant chance of rain. I suppose we should count our blessings, as it is nearly two years now since the devastating floods with consequent loss of life.

[the_scott_meister]

It's definitely been crazy here too. Last year we were nearly at 120 deg. F at the end of September, this year we're barely in the 100's. In fact, on July 4th it was overcast, extremely humid, and only 95 deg. Normally it's about 115 and very dry. Although with the humidity that day I think I'd take the heat (dry) instead. But this summer has been a very active monsoon season which is quite appreciated considering our drought situation.

The low 100's heat has been lingering here for the past couple of weeks but it's finally starting to clear on out and we're forecast for the low 80's by the end of next week (if only temporarily).

[crfriend]

How much like a meatspace cafe can we get with a bunch of old men sitting around grousing about the weather!

Here, it's been wandering around between the low 70s for highs and upper 40s (F, both) for lows for about a month with a general slow steady decline as the days get shorter. The full-length legwear is starting to come out, but I'm not about to give up my skirts.

Generally speaking by the time it gets reliably into the lower 60s I'll haul out the sheers and once into the 30s it'll be the opaques. For stupidly cold days, it'll be full-length opaques, a heavy petticoat, and my heavier long skirts; topped off with a long-sleeved shirt, waistcoat, and jacket atop that I can put up with temperatures that'll have the trousered guys running for shelter. (Thanks go to a young woman from South Africa whom I used to commute with for suggesting tights for the winter after watching me shiver and be generally miserable on a train-platform one morning! This was before I started wearing skirts. Few things are colder than standing in the dark in 20 degree temperatures and 90% humidity with a whipping wind.)

I'm thinking that the air-conditioners are going to get cleaned and put away next weekend (if I don't get 'em today) and the storm windows put in place. It's about 70 in my study with an open window and mid 50s outside (computer heat), but it's 62 in the dining-room and that's a bit chilly for indoors.

[Jack Williams]

Still quite cool here, under 60f today. I just have layers of dresses and undergarments, wool, bamboo and silk etc. I'm pretty comfortable and impervious to the weather. A Macabi skirt to pull on over it all, a biggish t-shirt, and I weather the weather on the street. I'm not out on the harbour though!

[couyalair]

You all make me thankful that I have a place to live in southern Spain. Once the clouds had dropped all their substance on various parts of the country (floods, broken bridges, drowned livestock, missing persons last weekend), we have blue skies again, and pullovers and blankets have been put back in the cupboards. Outside varies between 18°c and 24°c (Americans, make your own calculations), while inside, thanks to the sun, stays above 25°. That's my comfort zone.
Had a swim yesterday, but what a mess the beach had become with all the rubbish and dead vegetation brought down the rivers and thrown back on the shore by the waves. The main beaches, where the economy depends on keeping visitors happy, were cleared quite quickly, but in less important places, the stuff will probably stay a very long time. They are the places I prefer.
If I had stayed in France, I'd still be using my umbrella -- and shivering!

It seems that meteorological surprises, such as we had a week ago, are likely to become more and more common, since so many people either do not believe in a changing global climate, or refuse to believe that we can live without burning fossil fuels.

Martin

[skirtyscot]

Centigrade! Asserting that global warming is a problem and we should change our behaviour to minimise it!

Martin, are you trying to wind our American friends up, or does it just come naturally?

Either way, well done!

[Sarongman]

Last week was nearly the hottest on record for October here, at just nudging 36 celsius (not far from 100 on the Fahrenheit scale) but now we have broken records for the coldest October. It is not going to get much above 7 or8 celsius today, (current wind chill factor of minus 1c.) and it has snowed just 300 kilometres away causing chaos on the roads. Thankfully though, we have had good rain with just over 2 inches in the gauge.

[crfriend]

I awoke this morning to a chilly house and an even chillier bathroom where I took my morning shower. The thought that passed through my mind, in printable form, was, "This is not good, and it's only going to get worse" -- and I wasn't even commenting on the upcoming "election".

Today was the first time this season that I had to haul out the ice-scraper to clear my car-windows -- and we weren't even under a frost advisory last night. That was in opposition to what we're in for tonight which is a "hard freeze" -- 28F (-2C) for a low and the admonition is in place until 10:00 EDT ("Daylight" Time? Who are you kidding?!) tomorrow.

Sapphire's off to pick up a couple of the cats that needed veterinary and grooming (read, "lion cuts") attention, so it looks like I'm about to head out to try and figure out how to harvest cabbage so that doesn't get ruined by the cold tonight.

The air-conditioners are out of the windows, and most of the storm-windows are now in place. The boiler has been tested and seems to work, although I somewhat distrust the low-water cutoff. I'll deal with the cold, grudgingly, until ethanol freezes and then I'll be up in arms.

I hate winter.

[Kirbstone]

Move South, Carl. I'm sure Skip Fraser would have a few ideas on that subject.

Twice now already I have had to pour hot water over my car windows so I can get quickly mobile for the trip to Dublin to row in the 'Boston' eight. Tomorrow we're on parade at 08.00 hours, but there's no frost forecast. That doesn't mean a thing here, of course. I think that 'll be my last outing with them as they fly to Logan next Thursday....without me, Pity.

T.

[r.m.anderson]

Kirbstone:

Take care that you don't crack your windscreen by pouring hot water onto a frozen icy surface.
In my land of the windchill factor and cold extremes that idea works great UNTIL the temperature
of the water and the icy surface have a contrasty meeting of sorts.
Better to warm the car up and use the defroster or spray the windshield with a mixture of alcohol
and water.
Then of course you may not have temperature extemes to precipitate the fracturing of glass.
Then there is the other method just as effective - using a blow torch to rapidly thaw the frost.
Gee I didn't think that it would do that to glass

If skip sees snow or icing conditions he will be witnessing a new kind of hell brought on by EL - something or other.
It has been one hellish of year in the USA for weather - hot & cold - drought & floods - fires.

rma

[Kirbstone]

My old Girl is 17 years old now and is on her second windscreen. No we don't get those extremes of temps. here and the water used isn't all that hot. On discovering that the windows need clearing so I can get away quickly I DO run the engine so the aircon starts on the w/screen and the heater begins to clear the tailgate glass, but a saucepan of water over the driver's and the opposite side windows, rear view mirrors and a swipe across the windscreen has me mobile in seconds, usually.

I have to go back into the kitchen and hang the saucepan up in its place again before driving off however, otherwise I get an earful from my MM!.

T.

[couyalair]

Better buy your self another saucepan, Tom; otherwise, when the real winter arrives, you'll find your hot water has frozen over before you get back from the kitchen.
None of those problems here -- I have no car!

Martin

[crfriend]

Move South, Carl. I'm sure Skip Fraser would have a few ideas on that subject.

Once in a while I contemplate that notion, but the feeling usually passes quickly.

I gripe and moan about the weather, the cold, and the dark (as Sapphire will vouch for) but really can't think of heading "down South". For all its detriments, New England is a wonderful place to live; within an hour's drive we have beaches, mountains, and everything in between. Most of the populace is intelligent and forward-looking, and I have a job that pays well and is reasonably secure -- something that would be very difficult for me to find elsewhere. It's also fun to recall that New England is also very rich in history -- at least US History -- and that can be a delight when one contemplates where one is, and who may have stood there in the previous centruries; but for the most part that never enters the locals' minds as they're just trying to get on with their current lives.

For a while, I actively pondered the area near Melbourne, Florida, but given the wind-down of the space programme my getting a job there would be virtually impossible. Yes, real estate is cheap there at the moment, but the reason for that is there aren't any jobs. I'm surprised that anybody still lives there save for the retirees!