More talk of the weather
04/10/13 05:39
It looks like our west coast relatives will see a bit of sunshine today after having quite a bit of rain earlier in the week. There have been plenty of puddles for our grandson to splash in wearing his new Thomas the Tank Engine boots. The report we got is that the boots do a good job of keeping his feet dry while pretty much the rest of him gets wet. The storms that they saw have headed east and we are getting the precipitation now. There are a couple of inches of wet snow on the ground and the snow should continue throughout the morning. It is just barely cold enough to be snowing, so I’m sure that it will all melt off in a couple of days, but we’ll need to be careful on the drive into work as people forget how to drive on slippery roads. I’m sure that the fender-bender accident patrol will be busy today. Area body shops still haven’t caught up with the backlog from the summer’s hail storms, so it looks like they’ll have plenty of work for the rest of the year.
The web site for Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort in Oregon reads: “It’s a sight not seen since last May: snow covered slopes from Buttercup to Cascade. Beautiful. Exciting. Exhilarating.” Mt. Hood rises beautifully and dramatically over the Columbia Gorge on the northern edge of Oregon and provides gorgeous vistas year round. I’m sure that it is very dramatic and beautiful with a fresh layer of snow. We pay attention to the weather in that part of the country because we have family living in the area.
Our family members in southern Montana are getting the snow as well. 8 to 16 inchers of the wet stuff has fallen along a line from McLeod to Roscoe to Red Lodge. I’m sure that there are some slippery roads in that area as well. Since we plan a trip through Montana to the Portland Oregon for a niece’s wedding in a couple of weeks, the early snow has caught my attention. I’m sure that the weather will warm and won’t be a factor in our trip, but there are plenty of mountain passes between here and there and It is good to have a dependable all wheel drive car for the trip.
I like the snow and it is such a good way for the moisture to get into the ground. Even when it melts quickly as this snow will, it really perks up the trees and meadows. No paddling today. I can get my exercise clearing snow from the driveway. I’d like to paddle tomorrow if things don’t get too bad around here. The lake will be beautiful with snow all around. We’ll see.
Although we get a bit of snow around here, we don’t really live in the cold country. Most of the time that is just fine with me. I don’t need -30 temperatures with howling winds and snow that stays on the ground for months. I like the shorter winters of the hills and the fact that most of our storms are followed by melting before the next one rolls in.
But we seem to live a bit too far south for the Northern Lights. I’ve looked for them many times when they are reported to be putting on a show. Our house faces north and we live on a hill with a good view in that direction, but so far I have failed to see the displays from here. When we lived in North Dakota the lights were a regular treat and those displays were muted compared to what can be seen in northern Montana. I’m sure the folks in Alaska wouldn’t be impressed by the show, but the lights put on a grand show in Northern Montana last week. Folks at Havre reported a gorgeous show. This Tumblr photo was taken the night before last. No wonder the MSU north campus’s sports teams are called the Northern Lights.
The weather will be a topic of conversation wherever we go today. According to one of the web sites where I go for weather news we are likely to set a record for the amount of snowfall this early in the season today. That’s OK by me. I know that one storm doesn’t define the entire winter. And if we do have a more severe winter with more snow than usual, I probably won’t complain much. We’ve lived through enough drought in the hills to be grateful for all of the moisture we get. Perhaps this will be a winter for cross-country skiing. I could use the exercise and there are some great trails that aren’t far from home. Like me, my equipment is a bit old, but sometimes it is fun to be of the “old school.” Younger skiers don’t know much about three-pin bindings and the application of ski wax. Sometimes they find my gear to be fascinating. I’m entertained by the fact that something that I’ve bought new can be considered to be antique. I’m not sure what that says about me. I’m 25 years older than that pair of skis.
We don’t suffer from the weather as did those who came generations before us. We have quite a bit of relatively accurate prediction of storms. We usually have plenty of warning. Our homes are well insulated and we sleep in comfort. Our vehicles are reliable and except on the wildest of blizzard days we are free to go where we want when we want. We have plenty of food in the pantry and warm clothing to wear.
And there is one unique feature to the weather we are experiencing. This is the only place I have ever lived that gets thunderblizzards. That’s right we’ve got lightning and thunder and snow all together. I don’t think it is possible to become bored with the weather in the hills.
So if you’re heading out today, drive carefully. There are plenty of folks who don’t have much experience with slippery streets. And who knows? I may be heading to the lake 24 hours from now.
Our family members in southern Montana are getting the snow as well. 8 to 16 inchers of the wet stuff has fallen along a line from McLeod to Roscoe to Red Lodge. I’m sure that there are some slippery roads in that area as well. Since we plan a trip through Montana to the Portland Oregon for a niece’s wedding in a couple of weeks, the early snow has caught my attention. I’m sure that the weather will warm and won’t be a factor in our trip, but there are plenty of mountain passes between here and there and It is good to have a dependable all wheel drive car for the trip.
I like the snow and it is such a good way for the moisture to get into the ground. Even when it melts quickly as this snow will, it really perks up the trees and meadows. No paddling today. I can get my exercise clearing snow from the driveway. I’d like to paddle tomorrow if things don’t get too bad around here. The lake will be beautiful with snow all around. We’ll see.
Although we get a bit of snow around here, we don’t really live in the cold country. Most of the time that is just fine with me. I don’t need -30 temperatures with howling winds and snow that stays on the ground for months. I like the shorter winters of the hills and the fact that most of our storms are followed by melting before the next one rolls in.
The weather will be a topic of conversation wherever we go today. According to one of the web sites where I go for weather news we are likely to set a record for the amount of snowfall this early in the season today. That’s OK by me. I know that one storm doesn’t define the entire winter. And if we do have a more severe winter with more snow than usual, I probably won’t complain much. We’ve lived through enough drought in the hills to be grateful for all of the moisture we get. Perhaps this will be a winter for cross-country skiing. I could use the exercise and there are some great trails that aren’t far from home. Like me, my equipment is a bit old, but sometimes it is fun to be of the “old school.” Younger skiers don’t know much about three-pin bindings and the application of ski wax. Sometimes they find my gear to be fascinating. I’m entertained by the fact that something that I’ve bought new can be considered to be antique. I’m not sure what that says about me. I’m 25 years older than that pair of skis.
We don’t suffer from the weather as did those who came generations before us. We have quite a bit of relatively accurate prediction of storms. We usually have plenty of warning. Our homes are well insulated and we sleep in comfort. Our vehicles are reliable and except on the wildest of blizzard days we are free to go where we want when we want. We have plenty of food in the pantry and warm clothing to wear.
So if you’re heading out today, drive carefully. There are plenty of folks who don’t have much experience with slippery streets. And who knows? I may be heading to the lake 24 hours from now.