Is it really still winter?

[tri again]

Weather channel snippits.
Great lakes frozen over 90%, close to the record.
5 foot frost level has frozen underground pipes for 3 weeks.
Thousands without water.
I'd rather be without power.

Hope everyone is ok and safe.

[fabiodriven]

I said something snide the last time you brought this up. "That's why we call it winter" or something along those lines. Welp, this is getting ridiculous. Single digit temps are the norm these days. I took the opportunity to work out in the yard the other day because it got up to the mid 20's. That's just silly.

[Dirtweed]

The norm for us here in Rochester is suppose to be highs in the low 40s. Barely in the teens so far this week with a windchill of -12 this am. Upcoming pattern is not looking
warmer. Definitely not the norm for Western NY.

[Scootertrash]

Yep it's still winter. First day of spring is 3/21

I will admit that the negative temps are getting old, but we've always had weather extremes and we always will.

Here's some Minnesota winter weather tidbits:
The record for below zero temps is 60 days below zero in the winter of 1874-75

The winter of 1936 set the record for consecutive subzero days at 36.

As of February 9, the metro area had registered the most days below zero in 32 years; and the 13th longest stretch of consecutive subzero low temperatures

Since the first measurable snowfall on Nov. 5, the metro area has collected 39.7 inches, compared to an average of 36.2 inches at this time of year, Hiltbrand said. There doesn’t appear to be much hope — or fear — of beating the record 98.6 inches of snow that fell in the winter of 1983-84.

From Rick Hiltbrand, a meteorologist for the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service:“It’s just a typical, hardy winter”. He noted fellow forecasters who grew up here say it’s the kind of winter they remember: snowpack on the ground, no wimpy January rainfall or a measly 2 feet of snow as dropped a few winters ago. And there have been some respectable blizzards, like the one two weeks ago with 40-plus mile-an hour-winds that closed roads in much of the state.

We are “definitely experiencing some real winter weather this year,” he said.

So from a meteorologist: "Meh" http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused005.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

But from the media? OMGWTFBBQ!! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared002.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php) http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared003.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared008.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php) http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared010.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

I'm gonna make a prediction. Once things start to warm up we will have news reports of flooding, a late planting start because of wet fields, and plenty of nail biting and hand wringing from the media about whether the crops will get in the ground in time.

[stillhunter]

Ya I'm done with winter. Here in southern Ontario its been -20°c it seems like forever never mind the wind chill. Went north to shovel off the roof of the trailer on the weekend and when I was finally done chipping and shoveling we could step off the roof. Had to use the sleds to break trail to get in about 5ft of snow. Lucky it was hardened up or there was no way we would have gotten in.188276

[JasonB]

Can't stand the media hysteria behind pointless things like the weather. It's winter, it's going to be cold. That said, I freaking hate winter! Rather sweat than freeze

[fabiodriven]

But there is a point to the media coverage of this weather Jason, to keep people worried. A nervous public spends money. Literally every week for a month now they've predicted major snowstorms for us, but their projections have been a week or more ahead of when the storm is supposed to arrive. They can't tell us how the weather will be tomorrow, how in the hell are we supposed to believe they can predict it 8 days out? Very few of these storms have materialized into what they claim is coming, but all week everyone is nervous and preparing for the storm. This has gone on for weeks now. I wish more people would open their eyes. I check the weather by going outside in the morning and forming my own forecast for the day. The news is flat out propaganda, weather included.

[stillhunter]

You dont believe its a conspiracy really do you? They have a tough job predicting the weather , its not like its a static system where you just punch in numbers. The variables are constantly changing. If they didn't warn us we would complain that there wasn't a warning. I would rather be prepared for something that doesn't happen than be unprepared for something that does. That's why I carry a compass on all my toys. I've been caught out on the lake ice fishing in a blizzard that wasn't supposed to be. No visual and no signal for the GPS but the old school compass gets me back every time.

[Outlaw #24]

But there is a point to the media coverage of this weather Jason, to keep people worried. A nervous public spends money. Literally every week for a month now they've predicted major snowstorms for us, but their projections have been a week or more ahead of when the storm is supposed to arrive. They can't tell us how the weather will be tomorrow, how in the hell are we supposed to believe they can predict it 8 days out? Very few of these storms have materialized into what they claim is coming, but all week everyone is nervous and preparing for the storm. This has gone on for weeks now. I wish more people would open their eyes. I check the weather by going outside in the morning and forming my own forecast for the day. The news is flat out propaganda, weather included.
I agree they predict way to far in advance ( Weather Media), I believe it is good to prepare. But with the SUPER DUPER DOPPLER RADAR, they are able to see when somebody spits on the sidewalk. I think that the News meteorologists are trying to learn what they're radars are saying I myself use it for a reference and If I want to see what's up I look at the National Weather Service Radar and loop it . I am tired of this typical winter we've been experiencing but it is a typical winter here also. The thing that gets me is all of the municipalities hurry to treat everything with a coat of salt at the first report of bad weather and it doesn't do anything so they wasted your money. Now all of the municipalities are crying because they are out of Salt and out of money. Another good one is when they treat everything and it RAINS and washes all of the treatment into our waterways. But like somebody else said on here, if they hadn't done anything there is Hell to pay!

[stillhunter]

Unfortunately the municipalities have their hands tied. They must treat the roads or risk lawsuits by people that cant or wont drive according to the conditions. Many times I have been called out to lay material down because the police request it due to an accident or one slippery spot caused by a hot area where run off enters the road. Its the old "better safe than sorry"

[fabiodriven]

You dont believe its a conspiracy really do you?

The term "conspiracy theory" is a term invented by those who have something to hide. Labeling something a conspiracy or someone a conspiracy theorist is intended to automatically discount the supposed "conspiracy theorist's" point of view. It's a way of discrediting those who question the canned answers we're fed. There are many, many aspects of life that I personally sit back and view the big picture, very often against the grain of what is popularly accepted. Not many people view things the way I do. I could go on all day about "conspiracies", so don't get me started!:lol:

stillhunter, take a peek at this real quick if you don't mind. I prefer the terms "alternate theory" or "the truth".

http://beforeitsnews.com/conspiracy-theories/2013/07/cia-invention-of-the-phrase-conspiracy-theory-to-block-questions-on-jfks-assassination-is-one-of-the-most-successful-propaganda-initiatives-of-all-time-2453052.html

[El Camexican]

It was 98F here on Sunday then Monday temps plummeted to 36F and we had a thunderstorm. I don’t ever recall thunder and lightning at temperatures that low before. It was 40F this morning and it will be in the 90’s again tomorrow. To boot we had a 4.3 earthquake (first for me and this city) Sunday morning. It's all jacked up!

[dickieg89]

It's so cold here I had to bring my chickens into the garage. in kennels.

[briano]

We broke a record here too. 74 days in a row below the freezing point, and most of them were below zero. Yesterday morning it was -36F when I left for work, last Thursday was -41. I know this crap is getting old. I'd love to be outside doing things but not when it's below zero every day.

[stillhunter]

Hey there fabiodriven, didn't mean to offend. I read your article and found it informative. However I dont believe that governments are out to get us at every turn besides we all know its the" illuminati" in control. I was basing my opinion on the difficulty in predicting weather on what I learned during my time in college in the environmental technician coarse. We had to try and predict it and well I'm no weatherman.

[fabiodriven]

Who's offended?

[stillhunter]

Glad to hear, no one

[danbur55]

i'd be happy if you northern guys would put up a picket fence to slow down those frigid temps we're finally getting back into the 50's and 60's for highs but we're just not used to teens for a high temp for about 5 days especially with the winds we are known for down here

[hublake]

We had minus 18 this morning in NE Michigan. This has been the second coldest winter on record. Coldest was in 1917-1918. Our February average was just a tad over 10 degrees.

[atc007]

Agreed. I am the 1st one in line for a great white,blowing 30 feet of snow winter.. But this WAY below zero stuff,,in March, is gettin old. 18 below here this AM. Warmed up to a nice sunny 26 this afternoon. No complaints there. As for the media,,well,,we all know I'm not watching :) I heard ALL about this huge 25 year storm we were getting Sunday/Monday. All the chatter last week. I would say. They can't tell you your weather 2 days from now... but THIS storm,,they can predict 6 days out?? Yep, sure.

[fabiodriven]

I'll tell ya, it was in the high 30's and low 40's today and I was able to stay outside for spurts with a wife beater and a T shirt on. That should tell you how cold it's been here lately. Tomorrow's supposed to hit 50, I'm wearing shorts.

[Thorpe]

Since the first measurable snowfall on Nov. 5, the metro area has collected 39.7 inches, compared to an average of 36.2 inches at this time of year...



Haven't the totals been 59.7" for this year??

[Scootertrash]

Haven't the totals been 59.7" for this year??

That quote was from an article in Jan I believe. I'm not sure what the year to date is this year so far.

[tri again]

another 2 feet predicted.
Thin band across the bottom of the great lakes.
Just interested in the Real story.

[Caminofeld]

Hey, at least the long cold Winter should knock the tick population down quite a bit...I hate those little bastards!

[tri again]

Hey, at least the long cold Winter should knock the tick population down quite a bit...I hate those little bastards!

I don't remember ticks north of Virginia.
But I guess Lyme is in Connecticut. ( as in disease)

I'd pinch 'em with a hot alligator clip and turn them counterclockwise
SLOWly 1/4 turn at a time. as they supposedly screw in clockwise.
Guess it depends on the species. May be time for google confirmation.

Mid west coast, fleas everywhere in low elevations.
Over 800ft, no fleas but 1 or 2 ticks a day.

[Scootertrash]

50 or so here yesterday, 40 today. Snow is meltin like ice cream on a fry pan. Time to break out the speedo and drive the neighbor wimmenz wild!. :naughty:

[trike savior]

been B-E-A-UTIFUL here the past few days here. 40's and 50's are good enough for me to be comfortable in short sleeves outside and I love it.

unfortunately next round of 4-8 inch snow is on its way tonight. winter storm advisory till noon tomorrow with a high of 8. yee-haw. fook me and fook mother nature. im sick of the snowmobile and want my motorcycle.

[Caminofeld]

I don't remember ticks north of Virginia.
But I guess Lyme is in Connecticut. ( as in disease)

.

Yeah, they're everywhere in the NE and becoming more prevalent every year. My area of PA and into MD is part of a HUGE lyme cluster and the area hospitals now have Lyme Literate MD's for the thousands of new cases every year. My property is literally infested. Last year i remember walking from my house to the upper garage (about 100 ft) through cut grass and had 6 of them crawling up my leg. I've also had Lyme disease 4 times. Makes me miss my apartment in the city...although i'll take ticks over crackheads any day:)

[tri again]

Yeah, they're everywhere in the NE and becoming more prevalent every year. My area of PA and into MD is part of a HUGE lyme cluster and the area hospitals now have Lyme Literate MD's for the thousands of new cases every year. My property is literally infested. Last year i remember walking from my house to the upper garage (about 100 ft) through cut grass and had 6 of them crawling up my leg. I've also had Lyme disease 4 times. Makes me miss my apartment in the city...although i'll take ticks over crackheads any day:)

Geeeze, I had NO idea.

as a kid we LIVED outside. outside of nyc, nj and connecticut.
Never saw any.
Went camping and just 20 feet into the woods in N carolina, got jumped by
20 or 30 ticks.

Can you trap them> bait with cheap meat or hotdogs?
Bloodmeal from the garden section? like a fly trap?
how smart can they be?

so sorry tohear about your infections.
What is the fix and how did it affect you?
Can you get lyme disease and not know it?
just tired? sleepy?

[Caminofeld]

I think they're too widespread to bait...although they've been having success with putting tubes of permethrin soaked cotton balls in fields so the mice that the nymphs colonize make nests with them, effectively killing the young ticks. They're also experimenting with immunizing the mice against Lyme by spreading vaccine in oats over fields.

As far as the infection, it initially started as cold/flu symptoms with a red bullseye rash. I was lucky because only 40-60% of people get the rash. I was treated with doxycycline for 3 weeks, and that has been my treatment for the other 3 times I've gotten it as well. I've developed chronic symptoms such as severe fatique, headaches, joint pain, dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, severe sweats/hot flashes, memory loss, etc. and my Lyme MD is closely monitoring my case. He also wants me evaluated for other causes (MS, tumor, etc), so I'm scheduled for an MRI soon. Sidenote I've also been concussed many times skateboarding, snowboarding, biking, and fighting...so that could also be a factor. All in all though, I'm functional...I show up for work every day, hit the gym 4-5 days a week, and stay active. I just learn to live with my symptoms. Some people aren't so lucky though, and Lyme has left them crippled or dying with no real hope for a cure and a diverse group of "medical professionals" with different ideas of causes/cures that may or may not help with symptoms. There was a lyme vaccine, but it was pulled off the market due to possible bad side effects. They're taking another run at the human vaccine in Europe right now, but who knows when/if the all-knowing FDA will ever approve it? Just saw Dallas Buyers Club, and I'll never look at the FDA the same again. I could go on for days about this, but I'll stop here. If you want to read something interesting, look up the Lyme Disease Conspiracy.