I know-I know. I’ve lived in Chicago all my life and suffered through my share of April snowstorms. But with the sun shining today, temps in the 20s and forecast to go as high as 50 over the next couple of days, I’m here to announce that the worst of winter is over!
No, I’m not recommending that anyone put away theur shovels or winter coats. But every day we get that doesn’t absolutely suck brings us one day closer to spring (or what passes for spring in these parts!) The days are getting longer, and each day of not absolutely horrible weather makes horrible winter weather less likely. Remember that no matter how much February sucks, it is only 28 days long. And when it does snow and freeze it won’t hang around so long, turning into the lovely piles of grey ice and slush we currently enjoy. Yes, we’ll still have a few days in the teens and twenties - if not single digits. But we will also have more and more days in the 30s, 40s, and 50s!
The cardinals are already singing. And when this snow melts start looking around south-facing walls for the first snowdrops. All you skaters, x-country skiiers and snowshoers had better take advantage of every opportunity you can, because I’m dusting off my golf clubs!
True. Though I don’t know about your area, but here on the East Coast, late February and March is when we get our real sincere foot-and-a-half-of-snow nor’easters. All that remaining cold air hits all that Gulf Coast moisture and it’s party time. Although now that I think of it, it’s been a couple of years since we’ve had a really good Blizzard of the Century.
Seems like March is always the worst month around here. Everyone’s sick to death of winter and just ready for summer to start, and then a blizzard hits just as you’re trying to fly to Acapulco for Spring Break.
February used to be the worst month around here. If we were going to get snow, it would assuredly be in February sometime. For some reason- over the past few years that has changed and December seems to be the snowy month.
(Of course- I think they’re expecting a bit of snow this weekend)
Lately February has been a fairly temperate and gentle transition into Spring.
Now that I mention it though- we’ll probably get a blizzard this weekend
(BTW- Funny OP title/username combo. I half expected this to be about Spiny Norman. )
That’s how I get through Jan and Feb too, the whole lengthening of each day aspect. Plus I have crocuses that start to show green around the end of Feb so I know spring is on its way regardless of the temp.
50’s by the weekend will find my happy ass strapped into some neoprene waders going after smallies and wallies in the Fox River. I don’t need singing birds and blooming flowers to make it spring for me, just open water baby! Woo!
The sun is shining, and the paper predicts highs above freezing for the next 7 days - by which time this miserable runt of a month will be 1/2 over. Gonna see some major melting around here! (Man, I wonder hw much dog crap is under all that snow and ice - not to mention last fall’s leaves which never got raked!)
I think I’ll put away my heaviest down coat. Not gonna need that puppy again until next fall. Maybe should have my spring jacket dry cleaned - gonna need it pretty soon!
Around here (MN) I always kind of hope that the groundhog predicts 6 more weeks of winter. I mean really. That means winter would end the middle of March. Damn, I’ll take that. That would be a short winter.
It’s 40° F here today. See the absence of the - before that number? We’re all celebrating that. On average, January is our coldest month. March is when the snow starts kicking in. But that’s ok. By then you know it’s not going to stick around that long. You can ignore it if you have to.
Must be about time for the seed catalogs to come out.
Ya know, this is the first time in a LONG time I’ve been able to go out for a smoke break WITHOUT wearing my jacket (I’m not out there long - maybe five minutes - so taking a winter coat always was a pain) - it’s downright BALMY!!!
I am so happy to say “I told you so!”
After Saturday most of the snow is gone (except for the gray mountains in parking lots that should be gone by Memorial Day.)
Today I actually wore regular shoes to work instead of gore-tex boots for the first time in weeks/months.
Saturday I took the dogs out to a forest preserve where they ran around like nuts getting completely filthy. It was amazing to see the snowmelt turn every crack in the surface into a rushing torrent.
Currently predicting above freezing temps through next Sunday, at which point Feb will be more than 1/2 way done. I’d better start loosening up my golf muscles.
And we had the most beautiful weekend so far this year! Simply gorgeous! I got my car washed on Saturday for the first time this winter. I knew there was lots of salt on it, but was unprepared for the difference in the paint color.
The only bad thing, if you can call it that, is they are laying telephone line under the sidewalk in front of my office. The melted snow is making muck out of the sand and dirt. But I’ll take it over the alternative.
I expect flooding in Wisconsin as the rains hit. The snow has been melting fast and the rivers are full. Luckily I’ve almost gotten the basement sealed back up. The mud has been terrific for the last couple days, if your into mud slurry.
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