[Contest] The Worst Weather
- Thread starter evilmike
- Start date
We went from a total white out this morning to sunshine and blue skies. Go figure. It's still cold as balls, though.
B
BErt
I bought four new tires for my car in August, but opted out of the "cover everything" insurance because surely we won't have the most awful winter ever that turns every road into Swiss cheese.
So, I spend 40 minutes changing a flat this morning...
So, I spend 40 minutes changing a flat this morning...
Still recovering from what appears to have been my first ever migraine, I still managed about 10 minutes outdoors, appreciating the rose blooms starting to bud and narcissus and tulips opening up in the nice spring sunshine. Now I have to go lie back down again for a few hours...This weather is the worst 
That would be why my Mamaw has two Franklin stoves in her house...
@PatrThom might have a different situation, but I think in MN it's mainly propane. http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/243027921.html
I only use propane for my stove, so I don't have to worry too much. I filled up my 100lb tanks last fall and they should last at least a year or two. People who use it for heating are having a tough time though.
It's just a normal bill, for normal (piped in) natural gas. Previous month was about $450, and we were thinking, "That's unexpectedly unfortunate, but now we know and can take steps and so next month will be better." And then we get that monstrosity. I get the feeling that by the time the previous bill came we were already deep enough into the next billing period that we'd already accrued plenty of usage.
Oy.
--Patrick
Oy.
--Patrick
figmentPez
Staff member
You used to kill and eat it. You're hypocrites!
-40 windchill today... the wind has been nuts lately.
I'm thinking the freezing slush we got last week was a good thing. It froze a good chunk of the snow so the drifts aren't as bad as they could be. I found out how much ice is on the snow the hard way. I got up on top of my snow pile, and tried to jump into the field. I figured I'd drop into a couple feet of snow. Instead I hit the ice, my feet flew out underneath me, and I fell on my back nice and hard. Too bad someone wasn't recording it.
I'm thinking the freezing slush we got last week was a good thing. It froze a good chunk of the snow so the drifts aren't as bad as they could be. I found out how much ice is on the snow the hard way. I got up on top of my snow pile, and tried to jump into the field. I figured I'd drop into a couple feet of snow. Instead I hit the ice, my feet flew out underneath me, and I fell on my back nice and hard. Too bad someone wasn't recording it.
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Not all robins are migratory birds; you can see them in most latitudes year round.
Well, a meteorologist with the national weather service called it for the AP, and Time picked it up, so I guess that's about as official as it can get:
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This winter has been among the worst in years for many parts of the U.S., but a new weather index finds that it’s been especially bad for one city in particular.
On a relative basis, Detroit is experiencing the most extreme weather of any city in the country, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. That report was based on an index created by National Weather Service meteorologist Barbara Mayes Boustead.
Boustead’s analysis, based on cold temperatures and snowfall, found that Detroit is in the middle of its harshest winter since 1950. Detroit has had 6.5 feet of snow so far this winter and 100 days of below-freezing temperatures.
New York, Milwaukee and Duluth, Minn. also topped Boustead’s extreme weather index—those cities are experience their fourth worst winters—while Minneapolis-St. Paul, Louisville and Cheyenne, Wyo. are experiencing winters that rank in their respective top 10 worst.
Much of Detroit’s extreme weather this winter can be attributed to geography and bad luck, the index’s co-creater Steve Hilberg explained, as a change in the jet stream has directed arctic winter air towards the city.
Read more: Detroit Is Having Its Worst Winter in Years | TIME.com http://nation.time.com/2014/02/25/detroit-winter/#ixzz2uYfPFg00
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This winter has been among the worst in years for many parts of the U.S., but a new weather index finds that it’s been especially bad for one city in particular.
On a relative basis, Detroit is experiencing the most extreme weather of any city in the country, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. That report was based on an index created by National Weather Service meteorologist Barbara Mayes Boustead.
Boustead’s analysis, based on cold temperatures and snowfall, found that Detroit is in the middle of its harshest winter since 1950. Detroit has had 6.5 feet of snow so far this winter and 100 days of below-freezing temperatures.
New York, Milwaukee and Duluth, Minn. also topped Boustead’s extreme weather index—those cities are experience their fourth worst winters—while Minneapolis-St. Paul, Louisville and Cheyenne, Wyo. are experiencing winters that rank in their respective top 10 worst.
Much of Detroit’s extreme weather this winter can be attributed to geography and bad luck, the index’s co-creater Steve Hilberg explained, as a change in the jet stream has directed arctic winter air towards the city.
Read more: Detroit Is Having Its Worst Winter in Years | TIME.com http://nation.time.com/2014/02/25/detroit-winter/#ixzz2uYfPFg00
Tonight is the worst of the week though. -10F and that's before wind chill. My cars might not start tomorrow. Our furnace is well over 20 years old, so I've got a few backup plans should anything fail.
I almost worry about the chickens enough to consider putting them in the garage. It should be around 15F to 20F in there overnight. After tonight, though, temperatures should rise to 0F, so it shouldn't be too bad. Don't have anything to contain them, though, and that's where my electronics workshop is. Poop is not good for oscilloscopes. Actually I have a heat lamp we used when they were chicks, I'll just set that up outside. Their coop is already mostly sealed, and that extra 300W would probably be enough for them. Given that they're no longer laying, though, unless they start again in the spring this might be their last winter anyway. The Plymouth Rock chickens have definitely stopped laying, and they stopped prior to winter. The New Hampshire chickens are still laying, but only one every other day. They'll probably pick up the pace again, but the Plymouth Rock, I think, were bred more for meat production than laying. Finding a butcher that will handle them for us is probably going to cost more than buying chicken from the store, and three year old chickens aren't as good, by some measures, as the months old chickens you get from the store. Less hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides though. Anyone want some pet chickens that provide no value other than manure, and cost $3/month to feed?
I almost worry about the chickens enough to consider putting them in the garage. It should be around 15F to 20F in there overnight. After tonight, though, temperatures should rise to 0F, so it shouldn't be too bad. Don't have anything to contain them, though, and that's where my electronics workshop is. Poop is not good for oscilloscopes. Actually I have a heat lamp we used when they were chicks, I'll just set that up outside. Their coop is already mostly sealed, and that extra 300W would probably be enough for them. Given that they're no longer laying, though, unless they start again in the spring this might be their last winter anyway. The Plymouth Rock chickens have definitely stopped laying, and they stopped prior to winter. The New Hampshire chickens are still laying, but only one every other day. They'll probably pick up the pace again, but the Plymouth Rock, I think, were bred more for meat production than laying. Finding a butcher that will handle them for us is probably going to cost more than buying chicken from the store, and three year old chickens aren't as good, by some measures, as the months old chickens you get from the store. Less hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides though. Anyone want some pet chickens that provide no value other than manure, and cost $3/month to feed?
I'm sure they'll be fine. I don't have chickens this winter, but I have in the past and they do ok with just a heat lamp. That's all I ever used and we had nights much lower. They also should start laying again when the temps rise. I didn't get eggs in the winter either.
You might find someone who wants an older hen for stewing. I hear the older ones are the best for that.
--Patrick
Look, I could go on about the temperatures, the snow, the "run your water to prevent freezing" order we're under, the plowing, the people who've lost their ice fishing shanties on the rivers and lakes, the driving challenges (who knew making a left turn at an intersection could be such an adventure?) and all, but I'm telling you this - this is the WORST WINTER EVER that I have personally experienced, living in the state of Wisconsin for all of my life.
<drops mike>
<walks off stage>
<drops mike>
<walks off stage>
Holy shit this rainstorm. Wind has already busted up two parts of our fence and another bit is buckling a little.
