U.S. Polar Vortex

[iamtheblues]

It surprises me that nothing has been mentioned about the coldest weather in the U.S. for twenty or more years.
I fervently hope that all TG members are OK and coping with the conditions.
Bob.

[Rik]

Even Niagara Falls was pretty much frozen.

But, I think that sort of thing may be usual for them? I'm only guessing though.

From what I hear, the vortex came down a lot further than it normally does.
Maybe, we'll get some members giving us some real information?!

[gwpriester]

Ironically, or perhaps frighteningly, New Mexico is having a very warm winter. Last night it did not even get down to freezing, and the high temperature in Placitas is going to get up to 50f.

[wizard509]

Yes it's cold and showy here, but doesn't seem any worse than usual.

[Rik]

Yes it's cold and showy here, but doesn't seem any worse than usual.

What sort of weather condition is that?!

[Gamerprinter]

I don't know about you guys, but December for the last 15 years has been mostly tolerable (in Illinois, USA) with hardly any snow and fairly mild temperatures, with January always being the super sub zero and snowy month. This year, snowstorms and sub zero January weather has been the situation for the entire month of December - with January following tradition as cold and snowy. Just a couple Decembers ago, I can remember seeing a kid in shorts on a bicycle in early December. When I was a kid here, December was always cold and snowy, however, sub zero temperatures was still a January/February thing. So with a life experience of winter seasons encountered in the same part of Illinois over the last 40+ years of memory, this is the coldest winter so far (not the snowiest, but the coldest). Just last week the actual temperature (not wind chill) was 20 below zero F. I don't think I've ever experienced temperatures in Illinois colder than 10 below in 40 years. I've also lived in Alaska and have witnessed actual 75 below zero temperatures, but the local 20 below was damned cold enough...

I know a guy who lives in a mobile home with propane for heat. Last five years, a single tank supply of propane lasted the entire winter. This year, more than half of the tank supply was used in December alone, because the heater was working hard everyday of the month.

At least in Illinois, the cold weather is definitely noticeably worse than it has been in decades.

[wizard509]

What sort of weather condition is that?!

Oops, sorry showy should be snowy. Not that was necessarily wrong because snow can be very pretty and showy can't it.

[wizard509]

I agree gameprinter. This winter has been worse in lots of ways from the past few years which were very mild, although I don't think it's been too bad in the grand scheme of things. So I stick to my previous statements.

[Gamerprinter]

I seen it snow 4 feet, followed by weeks of high winds and more snow, so that 2 story snow drifts blocked roads or covered buildings, yeah it could be a lot worse. I'm not a fan of the cold (especially as I get older - 51 years in 2 days...) Winter ain't over though, so it could get worse.

[angelize]

A lot of places in Canada have been affected by this too, luckily for us here on the west coast we have had very mild weather for January. It did come with a cost though, torrential rains and flooding. Our back yard was under about 10cm of water for 2 days. There is also a lower than normal snowpack in the mountains which could mean water shortages if we get a really dry hot summer. But compared to what they have been enduring on the other side of the Rockies, I'm not complaining!