The temperature has dropped FIFTY degrees since two this afternoon. Which makes it now 23, with a wind chill of 10 degrees. Forecast low tonight is 19, and tomorrow night 14. This is really COLD for us, and our houses--or at least our old house--are not built for this kind of weather. We have drained hoses and are leaving cabinet doors open and I managed to cover some of the deck and porch plants, although with such a hard freeze I don't much expect it to help.
But, unlike other parts of the country, we have no precipitation expected. I know many of you are mired in snow and ice, Interstates are closed, people are stranded. So, please, check in and let us know where you are and how you're doing!
And stay warm, everyone! Cozy up with a mug of hot chocolate and a good book!!!
I have my book, a cup of hot coffee, and a blanket. We have snow today that is supposed to melt tomorrow; then we get the arctic cold blast and all the winter stuff that comes with it. But we are all okay.
ReplyDeleteI am already ready to be done with winter! Meanwhile, everyone keep warm and stay safe in all this dangerous weather . . . .
North of Boston we had a lovely white fluffy six inches yesterday - and now it's 36 and raining. UGH. Super ugh, but at least it will get to 50 and not be icy and dangerous. Then back to seasonal cold the rest of the week. Wish I didn't have to go out today, but big Quaker gathering this morning (and only ten minutes away in my town).
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about your deck plants! That's incredibly cold for your area. You must have a lot more people who normally live outside there. I hope somebody is looking out for them. Brr.
Here in Ottawa, we had about 6" (15 cm) of snow yesterday with another 1-2" today mixed with ice pellets. Temperatures dropping throughout the day to -14C (7F) with wind chills of -25C (-13F) which is still warmer than a few days ago. We are supposed to warm up before Christmas to @0C (32F) but it will be nice to have a White Christmas with plenty of opportunities for outdoor winter sports (skating, snowshoeing, x-country skiing and our regular group walks.
ReplyDeleteCrazy weather Debs! don't you all throw ice pellets at me, but it's going to be 84 degrees today. We could use just a pinch of your arctic weather!
ReplyDeleteGrace, a quick thank you for "translating" Centigrade and Fahrenheit and inches and centimeters. My 7th grade science teacher tried, but I never quite "got"the conversion formulae. May you be warm and snug when you want to be and enjoying the snow sports when you want them!
ReplyDeleteInBoston we woke up to 4 degrees Friday morning (wind gusts to 60 mph overnight as the temperature dropped) to waking up to 50 degrees this morning. I'm sure I don't need to tell you: the wind is blowing. Debs, I have trouble sleeping when it gets SO COLD that we have to open the cabinet doors leave faucets dripping. Mary Sutton, followed your husband's heroic journey home in the ice an snow... and was very glad to be tucked in with nowhere to go.
ReplyDeleteHallie, that was Kathy Reel. =) But thank you.
ReplyDeleteHere in Pittsburgh, it was icy yesterday. But like Edith it's "warmed up" and the snow/ice is gone. Right now it's 34F, expected to get to 55, before dropping back below freezing for the rest of the week.
Still a perfect day to curl up in front of a fire.
Roberta and I are in the the same state of warmth. It is 9 AM and 76 degrees in Tampa. Skies are cloudy. Why do people open cabinets when it is cold?
ReplyDeleteI love hearing the regional terms for weather. Where I grew up a 'chinook' wind is a warm dry wind that blows down the mountains and melts snow. Chinook is a Native American term for snow eater.
I echo others Grace with thanks for converting metric to old fashioned measurements. I wish the US would get with the rest of the world. And so grumbling off I go into the warm.
Elisabeth: You're most welcome! Canada officially switched from the imperial to metric system while I was in grade school (1970s) so I had to learn both. And I worked on several Canada-USA collaborative projects throughout my career with the federal government, so I was used to switching from degrees F/C (or in/cm or miles/km) on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteBig snow yesterday! Very soft and pretty… And then it all talked and everything was slushy. We are hoping it does not freeze and coat everything with ice. Friday it was so cold it was almost hilarious, and Thursday night Jonathan and I were out to dinner and on the way back to the car almost got blown off our feet by the wind. It was really crazy!
ReplyDeleteBut last night was beautiful, all gray and misty, The sky kind of glowing, the trees covered with snow.
Today it is supposed to be 50! Can that be?
Brrr, Debs! I think "blue norther" is a Texas colloquialism. The first place I saw it referenced was in a book in the 70's or so.
ReplyDeleteAs far as temperature swings, ours here in Cincinnati were even wilder. Yesterday our high was about 63, and it poured rain all day. But less than 48 hours before it was a whopping 7 degrees. And it's going down to 11 tonight. Truly loopy weather, although I'm eternally grateful that the rain wasn't a corresponding amount of snow. We haven't gotten the snowblower out yet.
We're having the snowiest December since I moved up here on the tundra. Heavy snow Thursday but warmed up Friday, just enough to melt a layer that will turn to ice tonight. It's snowing again now with a winter storm advisory. Grace, you do know that every time you create weather in Canada, it turns into lake effect and buries us on this side of the border. Deb, I've never heard blue norther anywhere except in Texas, but I know exactly what you mean. Here we call the phenomenon a nor'easter. But we do have insulation, even in our house that is as old as yours, more or less.
ReplyDeleteThose of you in warmer climes, enjoy.
The difficulty is getting the dogs out for MY morning walk. I am challenged in my mobility, and I don't go out without a walker, fear of falling as opposed to fear of flying. (That's another, more interesting, story)
However, I'm fairly certain we'll have a white Christmas, which is necessary for me.
So today I am skipping Mass, hunkering down with either a book, rereading Tana French, or continuing my binge watching of Upstairs Downstairs, almost done with S4. An this afternoon I might also make ginger snaps, so if anyone is in the neighborhood, please stop by.
Warmed up enough to rain yesterday, freezing rain last night and ice-rimed trees today--no fire here, but the Christmas tree is lit and I get all the exercise I need chasing the kittens away from the tree. Praying they'll wind down soon, so I can bake cookies and do some serious napping, uh, I mean, reading! ;-)
ReplyDeleteBrrrr. 18 F here, with the wind still blowing. INSIDE my house it is 59 with the furnace running full blast. And tonight it is supposed to get down to 13!!! Now I'm worrying about my landscape plants. We are Zone 7 here and while most things are freeze hardy, they may not be this hardy.
ReplyDeleteI've got my down coat out for the first time this year and am planning on bundling up and making that trip to the grocery store that I didn't get in yesterday. Then maybe Christmas cookies (!!!) Chili tonight, with a good fire going.
Flora, kittens and Christmas trees. Ack. We've been there. We have been known to tie ours to the ceiling so the kittens couldn't pull the whole tree over. Last spring we brought our adopted outside cat inside, so this is her first Christmas in the house with a tree. She is fascinated by it but thank goodness hasn't tackled the ornaments!
Friday night, my elder son successfully landed in blowing snow at Denver airport for the holidays. As we were crawling back to the house in heavy traffic, my younger son called to say that he'd fishtailed on ice and hurtled down an off-ramp embankment, coming to a stop within inches of crossing the lanes of a major interstate. He and my husband spent two hours standing out in the snow while a tow truck pulled the car back up the embankment; the tow's winch was frozen, and wouldn't work. Both car and boy are ungrazed. I'm thankful this holiday.
ReplyDeleteStay warm!
The expression Blue Norther also was used in western Louisiana when I was growing up, and we certainly had one come through last evening. Our high yesterday was 79 degrees and at 9:30 p.m. it was still 73. Then in about 30 minutes the temp dropped from 73 to 48. The overnight low was 30 - so 79 down to 30. We should see the 50s by Tuesday and then several days of highs in the 50s or 60s.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we don't get rain and cold at the same time, it'll be a pleasant few days.
Baking cookies sounds great ... white chips and macadamia nuts, maybe.
I'm in North Texas also but further south than Deborah (in Arlington). Right now it's 22 degrees. It's been a long time since we've had temps this cold. Ni'm just glad there is no ice or snow.
ReplyDelete20F and cloudy here in Portland, Oregon. It's snowed three times this last week! Very out of the norm for us. It's supposed to get up to above-freezing today, so hopefully a lot of it will melt off. Pretty to look at, but sidewalks and streets are not so safe. Our city simply isn't prepared or able to deal with any significant snow or ice. But! We are snug and making potato soup.
ReplyDeleteKKB has said it all for me. Except that, caught out in Wednesday's snow and creeping along at 5 mph, I turned into a side road, hit an icy patch, and skidded gently into another car. We'll both need new bumpers.
ReplyDeleteHere in Boone, in the NW corner of North Carolina where it is usually snowing this time of year, it is in the 40s, dreary and rainy. very weird weather. And our ski resorts are not happy. Stay warm and safe, everyone!!
ReplyDeleteMessy day in central Maine. We got about 6" of snow yesterday (after below zero temps on Friday.). This morning it was freezing rain before it changed to all rain. We waited until this morning to snowblow the driveway and it was heavy, wet, and slushy. After doing that we thought we deserved breakfast out. Backed the car out of the garage and the windshield immediately froze up. We had to scrape (thought the garage would save us from that) before heading out. Now it's just rain. Perfect day for starting the first Jussi Adler-Olsen book.
ReplyDeleteCoralee, I don't see that anyone has answered you yet. Cabinets under sinks are open in cold weather to keep pipes from freezing. The open doors let the heat from the rooms in. Especially when the pipes are on an outside wall.
ReplyDeleteIt's 33F here in Seattle (and sunny, a little sunny!) which isn't that cold, but it's cold for Seattle. Last night, when we were walking to our car after dinner, discussing the temperature, my husband commented "we're getting soft." I think he's right! We used to tolerate much colder temperatures in Boston. So is it age? Exposure? A trick of the imagination? Whenever I'm in Florida and people complain that 60F is cold, I scoff, but maybe we're heading down that road.
ReplyDeleteI, too, live in North Texas, but at least my house isn't historic, and it does have insulation. I managed to finish my shopping and errands before the temps started to drop, so I'm in and cozy for the duration. Lots of good books on hand, and there will soon be a pot of chili on the stove.
ReplyDeleteGigi, a chili competition!!
ReplyDeleteYes, Coralee, opening cabinet doors under sinks is to prevent the pipes from freezing. And often here the kitchen sink seems to be on the north side of the house, which makes it worse. Also, if you leave a faucet dripping, the moving water helps prevent a freeze.
Francine! I am grateful with you! So glad your son is safe, and that both boys are home for the holiday.
On the fun side, this morning's weather forecast says we might have a little snow on Christmas morning. But I'll believe it when I see it.
First, let me thank all of you concerned about my husband. He did arrive home finally, about 7 or 8 hours late, but home safe and sound. I didn't have Internet at one point last night until again this morning, so my thanks is a bit late, too.
ReplyDeleteThe weather is certainly being fickle, isn't it. Debs, I'm envisioning you, Wren, and the dogs all cuddling up together and keeping warm. And, thank you, Debs, for your sweet concern for my husband. Francine, I'm so glad that you all are safe now and that your sons were able to avoid the worst of their traveling woes. Grace, I'm always so impressed that you get out no matter what the weather and do your group walks. Ann, I can sympathize with your dog problem. Back several years ago when we had a big snow, I had to get out and shovel paths in the yard in three or four places for my dog to use the bathroom. If I were there, I'd do that for you, Ann. Hallie, thanks for your good thoughts about my husband, too. Lucy, I spent one Christmas in Key West, and it was lovely, so enjoy your great weather.
And talk about fickle weather. Yesterday, we started out, like Karen up the Ohio River a bit, with balmy 50s, then major thunder storms and tornado warnings all afternoon. It was some rough weather. Then, temps dropped and it is 19 at this moment. We're supposed to warm up above freezing again on Tuesday and stay in the upper 30s and middle 40s through Christmas. I love a white Christmas, but this year, I'll be happy to have safe travel conditions.
We're getting our usual one December heat wave: it's downright tropical here in Durham, just under 70 degrees, with rain predicted for later today. We generally get a day or two like this, then return to preparing to panic when it gets chilly.
ReplyDeleteKKB and PLUMGAGA both have described things here in Portland, OR, but in addition I'll add we live on a very steep hill in the area called Far SW, and once we came up it midday Wednesday, that was it. No going up or down Thursday or Friday until afternoon. It was fine Saturday, and we got out for errands. We haven't had mail, UPS or FedEx delivery since Tuesday., which is irksome with gifts and cards expected.
ReplyDeleteIt is 39 here in Houston right now. Sunny and windy. Yesterday it was warm; I was mulching a bed of African irises by the street. Our blue norther blew in last night and dropped the temperature significantly. A blue norther is always quite a sight. You see a solid line of blue gray clouds in the distance, rushing in on the wind. The temperature drops drastically and quickly. When we lived in Ohio we had lake effect snows and Alberta clippers. I don't know what we had in Minnesota, but it was cold!
ReplyDeleteYesterday here in coastal (southwestern) CT, we had about five inches of snow in the morning. It warmed up in the afternoon, and the precipitation changed to rain, which melted a lot of the snow. Right now it's fifty but it's supposed to go down to the low twenties overnight, which means black ice! I am NOT a fan of winter weather! Pretty soon I'll start counting the days until spring.
ReplyDeleteDeb Romano
Francine, what a scare. So glad your son and car are unscathed
ReplyDeleteHere in the Bay Area we awoke to a white frost this morning. That's about as wintery as it will get here! Stay warm and safe all of you in the path of Arctic blasts!
ReplyDeleteKATHY, so glad your husband got home safely!
New Haven, CT. Yesterday it snowed (overnight and through late morning), cancelling some fun plans I had. Today 50 degrees. Mush outdoors.
ReplyDeleteYesterday was challenging for me -- two of our daughters were traveling -- one east from DC to Johannesburg and the other west from NYC to Denver. I worry. But they arrived fine (after a three hour delay for the travelers west, with the 3 month old baby).
Even with the warmer weather, I took the cane this morning for church. These winter months and their falling hazards!!
Ann: Yes, you are perfectly located in Rochester to get the north winds off Lake Ontario (from Canada) and thus are getting plenty of lake effect snow. On behalf of Canada, I apologize!
ReplyDeleteBut I lay blame on a nasty Colorado low for providing the 6-8" (15 cm) of snow we got on Thursday in Ottawa!!
But isn't the cold the best weather for baking? I almost feel required to put some brownies in the oven to offset the temps outside!
ReplyDeleteI'd be baking non-stop if I lived near you, Grace!
I am about 10 miles from where Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear live and it is very cold! I am drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows.
ReplyDeleteDiana
Yesterday morning at 6 when I walk the dogs, it was -33 in Billings MT. Warmed up to 2. Today it's 14 but windy which adds windchill to the mix. We received 20+ inches of snow last week. Winter is here.
ReplyDeleteYikes, I'll stay quiet about where I'm currently living (south/central Florida), but I received a notification from my town in Northern Maine - 1/4 inch ice expected. I love cold and snow, but ice, you need to be present and vigilant!
ReplyDeleteThoughts are with you and the family Deb. Nothing worse that cold in a house not built for it (see above about living in Florida - that house is built for it - two fireplaces, but I lived in Miami for 30 years. Those houses are built to cool, not heat! Lots of blankets and someone once told me to leave an outside water pipe on a fast drip so the water kept flowing. I don't know if it's true, but I never had a pipe freeze.
Good luck!