# Snow, cold, winter. What took you so long? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597 "2012-02-02T23:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/1 "2012-02-02T23:44:48Z")
> [@](#): > > …WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS > AFTERNOON TO 11 PM MST FRIDAY… > > - TIMING…SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE > THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL TONIGHT AND > CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING…THEN GRADUALLY DECREASE BY > SATURDAY MORNING. > > - SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 22 INCHES CAN > BE EXPECTED ALONG THE FRONT RANGE URBAN CORRIDOR. > > - IMPACTS…SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL DIFFICULT IF > NOT IMPOSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. > > - OTHER IMPACTS…PETS AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE HARSH WINTER > CONDITIONS SHOULD BE MOVED TO A PROTECTIVE LOCATION BEFORE THE > ONSET OF THIS STORM. > > PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… > > TRAVEL WILL BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LATER TONIGHT THROUGH > FRIDAY EVENING AND IS DISCOURAGED DUE TO SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW > WHICH WILL PRODUCE VERY POOR VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. CONSIDER > DELAYING TRAVEL UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE LATER THIS WEEKEND. > > IF YOU MUST TRAVEL DURING THIS STORM…KEEP EXTRA FOOD…WATER… > A FLASHLIGHT…AND DRY CLOTHING IN YOUR VEHICLE. IF YOU GET > STRANDED…STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE AND WAIT FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. About freaking time. We haven’t had any snow over an inch since the first days of December. The monthly reports from January aren’t out yet, but I’ll bet it falls in the top five for highest average temp and lowest precip. The roads and sidewalks are all warm so the early snow will melt and then freeze, to be covered with a thick layer of snow, producing the worst travel conditions of all. It will also start during rush hour, so the first couple of inches of snow will get packed down hard, followed by the heavy snow on top. Tomorrow’s commute will be a disaster. If you’re a kid hoping for a snow day tomorrow, this is the timing of a storm that makes your dreams come true. Me, I’m just ready to see snow again. Of course, this probably means we will have a steady diet of this for the next eight weeks. Thank you, Puxsutawney Phil! - Denver, CO area ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/2 "2012-02-03T00:38:30Z")
I’m in Grand Junction, and my gas bill that came today is $37.00. For end of December and most of January. I think it’s only about $10.00 higher than a summer month bill (gas water heater and dual fuel stove). I worry about drought more than anything else, but I sure do like this mild winter compared to the frigid last two we have had! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/3 "2012-02-03T01:11:58Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > The monthly reports from January aren’t out yet, but I’ll bet it falls in the top five for highest average temp and lowest precip. I agree. It’s the warmest January I’ve ever experienced in Denver. Maybe it’s the warmth that set us up for a storm we’d normally get in November or March. I’m stocked up on supplies, and as long as the power doesn’t go out, I’m actually looking forward to looking out the window tomorrow, and going for a walk if the wind isn’t too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/4 "2012-02-03T01:20:37Z")
Chiming in here from Athens, Georgia. I went out for a walk today and ended up in a total sweat after just a couple of miles. It was 70 degrees F. Bright sunlight, almost no cloud cover. The groundhog saw his shadow, so maybe we will get something approaching a winter before spring starts. But, I don’t know. Yes, Georgia is the south but we do get cold weather here in the lower Appalachian/upper Piedmont area. It has been below freezing a few days but not many. Very strange. Maybe I am misremembering things, but it has been a long time since we have had such a mild winter. I wonder what cyclic phenomenon is causing this. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/5 "2012-02-03T01:21:08Z")
It was 72 today. Now, I know it’s called _South_ Carolina, but this is not normal. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/6 "2012-02-03T01:47:20Z")
I am in St. Louis, Missouri and it has been a very mild winter so far, just set another record high (65) today, not much snow to speak of yet other than a couple 1 inch or so accumulations, one which melted the same day. Not that dry though, near average with more rain over the next few days (although, with an average high around 40 right now, it would have to be colder than average for snow, at least for the high). Of course, last winter was basically the opposite (cold and snow). ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/7 "2012-02-03T01:57:28Z")
Far be it for me to start running about and screaming “GLOBAL WARMING” but this is what we can expect in the next few decades. The extremes will become more so, and the wheat belt will move north. Manitoba looks like a good place to buy land. Before anyone scolds me, I know that regional weather changes are not climate changes. But, this was what was predicted. Whether it is ‘our fault’ or not there are changes coming and we need to brace ourselves for them. I hope I am wrong, but I fear I am not. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/8 "2012-02-03T01:59:44Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > I wonder what cyclic phenomenon is causing this. It seems to me that weather patterns are currently similar to what we saw in [early 2006](http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2006/1), when it was very warm over North America and cold over Europe/Asia. Also of interest as a possible reason for the weather pattern described above: [A link between reduced Barents-Kara sea ice and cold winter extremes over northern continents](http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2010/2009JD013568.shtml) The Barents Sea is currently at [less than half](http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/recent365.anom.region.6.html) of the average ice coverage for this time of year. Now, they don’t mention North America, but a pattern that brings cold over Asia usually means warmth in NA. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/9 "2012-02-03T02:22:24Z")
**Lamar** , it still hasn’t started here near Hampden and Tamarac, where we were supposed to see it two or three hours ago. I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad one. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/10 "2012-02-03T02:27:24Z")
A little warmer here in Ottawa, but still definitely winter. Half the snow fall, but twice the freezing rain. Not really an aberration of a season though. Europe’s getting clobbered apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/11 "2012-02-03T02:34:16Z")
Calgary has had a scary warm winter. It’s been so warm that our trees and shrubs were in danger of starting to bud before the last freeze. I think March is usually our wettest month, so we’ll see what the end of winter brings us. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/12 "2012-02-03T02:44:33Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > **Lamar** , it still hasn’t started here near Hampden and Tamarac, where we were supposed to see it two or three hours ago. > > I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad one. Really? It’s been snowing for about an hour in Boulder, and the way this was moving in, I thought we’d be the last to get any. It’s moderate snow, but taking a while to accumulate due to the warm ground. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/13 "2012-02-03T02:59:25Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Really? I had to walk out on my balcony to ensure that I wasn’t lying to you before, and I did again a minute ago. It’s just started, lightly. Cars have a dusting and the streets are damp. I was hoping that the good sign would be that it got cold before it started snowing, and we’d miss the ice. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/14 "2012-02-03T15:14:33Z")
Looks like it snowed all night. Maybe eight inches so far, with another six or so called for by sundown. The Zoo is closed! What am I going to do? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/15 "2012-02-03T15:37:35Z")
I took the motorcycle out for a spin two days ago. For just north of Baltimore, this is ridiculous. I can’t handle summer if I don’t get a good winter. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/16 "2012-02-03T15:46:26Z")
As a previous resident of Alaska and Colorado, I do miss getting socked in for awhile with a good book and a warm fire, not to mention all the recreational activities. The Texas Gulf Coast hasn’t seen near the extremes we did last year, in fact my grass has started growing again and tree buds are now visibly plump. How can you enjoy a steamy outdoor spa when the weather stays between 40 and 75 degrees? So far we’ve had freezing temps for about 4 hours all winter. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/17 "2012-02-03T16:44:12Z")
Send some of that snow up to mountains. I’ve only had to plow 5 times the entire winter. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/18 "2012-02-03T17:14:18Z")
I’m a bit south of Athens, GA, and no, we don’t expect arctic weather, but this morning I noticed my first azalea in bloom, and puddles have that telltale ring of yellow pollen that heralds spring. (Little gadget on my phone says it’s 65 degrees at noon.) This is just silly! Of course, I fully expect that we’ll have a freeze or two, which means that my pretty azaleas will lose their blooms and buds… sigh. I love it when the weather works out right for all of the spring blooms to come out at once, but that won’t be this year. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/19 "2012-02-03T17:16:25Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Send some of that snow up to mountains. I’ve only had to plow 5 times the entire winter. The foothills are getting two to four feet. > [@](#): > > WINTER STORM TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 > FEET WILL FALL OVER THE DENVER METRO AREA. FOR THE FOOTHILLS…WEST > OF DENVER 2 TO 4 FEET WILL FALL. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597/20 "2012-02-03T17:54:05Z")
Isn’t this a La Nina weather pattern? - **purplehorseshoe** , who’s a little :dubious: that she’s been in a T-shirt all week and is running low on thin socks [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-cold-winter-what-took-you-so-long/611597.md?page=2)