Weather

[cx]

32 degrees and raining. Just gotta love it.

[jerrymlr1]

Nice n cool eh CX? We're roughin it at 85 and sunny. Might hafta take a dip in the pool to cool off.

[Davy]

24 with sleet and snow along with lightning and thunder.

[John Bridge]

I think my thermometer is broken. It's been stuck on 30 for the past two days.

[jadnashua]

Should be better by Thursday there in Texas.

Ten below here this weekend.

[cx]

Trees covered in ice, but none on the ground here, Jim. Not likely to get much above freezing today, and high twenties and more precip overnight. Schools closed today and tomorrow.

I got my fill of them "below zeros" growing up in Pennsylvania. We saw -30 in one of my late high school years. I'm glad for the experience, but I can live a full and happy life never seeing any of that again.

[jadnashua]

The crappy weather is looking to last through Thursday for those of you down in the Texas area. Here, a nice day today, but Friday into Saturday will be a major icebox with windchills way below zero.

News says 300K+ people in Texas are without power, and that's likely to increase as it gets a bit colder and the rain keeps freezing. The views on the news imply a big problem for the insurance industry, and there have been a big handful of deaths due to the ice.

[jerrymlr1]

You poor Texans. I really feel for ya. Ems some cold temps. On a positive note tho, my golden brown tan is perfect for a Coppertone photo shoot.

[cx]

Not really been all that cold, Jerry. Mostly high twenties. It's the rain that's the problem at those temps. I've got at least a quarter-inch on some above ground structures here. But thus far I've fallen on the ice only once. Perhaps because I've only gone outside once?

Big ol' branches breaking off the trees due to the ice buildup. And the ice is what's likely causing a lot of the power outages. None of that in my area so far.

You couldn't likely work on your tan here. No sunshine.

[jerrymlr1]

I guess. 20s is wearin shorts n a wife beater compared to Jim.

[jadnashua]

So far this winter, we've set WAY more high temperatures than low, but this weekend may break a low record in Boston from the 1880's. The killer is the 'real feel' temps that may reach -40 or so with the winds.

Not that I'd go up Mt Washington, they're expecting 'real feel' temps there of -100F or greater! Because of the surrounding mountains that act like a funnel, that place sees some of the highest winds in the world.

[cx]

This Mt. Washington is a place I think I'll make a note to avoid, Jim. Thanks for the warning.

[jadnashua]

It's neat to visit in the summer!

It was the location of the first cogwheel railroad in the world. The state legislature gave the guy a perpetual lease for $1 since they didn't believe he could do it. 3-years later, it was built, and worked. There are only two left in the USA (Mt Washington and Pikes Peak), but there were lots of them years ago. It had a hotel on the summit. It also has a summit road you can drive to the summit, a weather station, and hostel. On a good day, views to Maine and the coast...lots of miles away, and the Presidential range of mountains...it's the highest peak on the east coast and part of the Appalachian trail.

At one point, the grade is 38%, and averages 25% over the whole ride...it's a trip. On the way down, the steam engine is shut down, and the piston acts as the brake to keep it from running away. Worth a ride.

Tuckerman Ravine has skiing often until June, but it's also a trip since you have to climb up there and watch out for an avalanche or ice falling on your head, but doesn't seem to deter some.

Anyway, extreme weather swings are more common as climate change progresses.

[Davy]

We made it up to 32 this morning but I decided to stay home anyway. People can't drive well on dry roads, don't feel like trading paint on slick roads. As I get older, it's just not as fun getting out there.

[cx]

I'll drink to that, Davy! Well, I usta would, anyway.

Right at 32 here at 09:00 this morning and the ice - lots and lots of ice - is just starting to drip some water off the trees. Schools closed for another day, which I think was a good call. Hell, probably save some folks from getting hurt trying to get to their cars!