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"

But from the media? OMGWTFBBQ!!

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.

[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!

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-...e-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.