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It's a cold December day....

17 years ago

Just returned from lunch where I found out that there is a biting wind and freezing temperatures outside. Definitely gloves and hat weather. Grey skies but no chance of rain or snow. The temperature is 27.4 degrees F, according to my trusty weather website.

Still, supposed to be 61 tomorrow and 63 on Christmas Day. So warmer temps are on the way.

What's happening in your world today, weather-wise?

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Comments (24)

J C
17 years ago
As I look up from my computer, I am struck by the ephemeral beauty of tree branches encased in ice and snow, the result of 52 hours of snowfall. I'm not sure what time the storm ended, only that I awoke sometime during the night and saw a star and the moon through my bedroom window. Today is cold, windy and clear, with a temp of 24F or 4 C. Warmer temperatures are predicted for later this week, with a promise of rain on Christmas Eve.
smallcoffee
17 years ago
It's been subzero past couple of days following snow and ice storms. It's very good to be inside and look out the white glistening world being very thankful that we did not lose power! It's going up to 15 F. today so I may venture to the library to return my overdue books.
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Nancy, Y'all have had quite a bit of cool weather already, and I think that helps the rosemary because the cooler weather has hardened off the rosemary to gradually cooler weather (or, at least, this is how it is supposed to work). The years in which I've lost rosemary were ones where the autumn stayed flat out hot forever, and then the first cold spell hit hard in December like a tornado flying across the plains, and the rosemary could not take the sudden change from very warm weather to intensely cold weather....like, 70 degrees one day and then 18 degrees the next night, with worse temperatures following after the 18 degree night. The only other time I've lost rosemary was in a winter that was very cold/very wet and the soil just stayed too wet for the rosemary for months. 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It was a good 50% bigger than any leaf-footed bug I've ever seen here, and maybe even more than 50% bigger. It possibly wasn't a leaf-footed bug (I didn't go over and observe it that closely) and might have been a kissing bug, which I don't think normally could take our cold weather up here. Regardless, except for that hideous thing, I haven't seen many insects lately and take that as a good sign. Possibly they all are just hibernating, as they tend to do, in mulch, beneath leaves, etc. We need a really cold, prolonged spell that lasts weeks to knock back the insect population significantly and I doubt we'll get that, but constant recurring cold spells, with warm days in between, could help kill insects. One thing to do is to rototill the garden soil in cold weather, so you stir up bugs underground and expose them to colder air surfaces at the ground level. That exposure helps them freeze to death. Rebecca, While they may prefer well-drained soil, I grew calendula in the ground in beds with barely amended clay for several years after we moved here and they did fine. Granted, it was one drought year after another, except for 2004, so they might have done better in the clay in dry weather than they would have in wet weather, but they also did well in 2004 when it was pretty wet in the spring. You can find southern peas dried, canned, frozen or (at some stores) freshly shelled and sold in plastic containers or bags in the fresh produce section, ready for cooking, usually with an expiration date of about 7 days. I don't know if you'll find any specifically labeled PEPH--but you might if your local stores carry one of the brands of vegetables produced in the south. Margaret Holmes' veggies include canned White Acre peas, but I'm pretty sure all their other southern peas are listed on the label as Field Peas or Blackeye Peas (either of which might/might not include PEPH types) and I think Glory Foods' peas also are only listed as Blackeyed Peas on the label. I'm pretty sure I've seen PEPH sold canned before, but don't remember where or which brand it was. Keep in mind that the average consumer calls all southern peas (whether they are PEPH, black eyed, green eyed, crowder, zipper, lady or cream peas) black-eyed peas and it generally is only gardeners or southern chefs who would refer to different kinds of southern peas, like PEPHs, with their proper name. If you want southern peas in what might be a more palatable dish, you can buy (or make) a traditional southern dish called Hoppin' John. Some Hoppin' John recipes are basically just peas, onions and peppers along with a few spices and others also include tomatoes or other ingredients. Here's one example: Margaret Holmes' Canned Hoppin' John When I make Hoppin' John, I usually use a lot of jalpenos so ours is pretty hot. Our PEPHs are shelled, frozen, and ready to cook along with our New Year's weekend ham, but when I want them fresh and have run out of frozen ones, Central Market has them freshly shelled, sold in plastic containers, for a very reasonable price almost year-round. I believe theirs generally are raised in far south Texas. Nancy, Canned southern peas are nowhere near as good as fresh or frozen, but they'll serve the purpose for observing the southern tradition of eating southern peas, preferably on New Year's Eve at midnight as the new year begins, for good luck. We just wait and have ours at noon and at dinner on New Year's Day since we aren't going to be awake and eating peas at midnight. Keep in mind I am anti-canned veggies because my taste buds prefer the flavor and texture of either fresh veggies or frozen veggies. That doesn't mean all canned veggies are bad, but just that I find the other forms preferable. They are people, I am sure, who hate the frozen version and prefer the canned one too. Kim, I'm sorry you're ill for the holiday weekend. Please stay put and take care of yourself and get well. Flu is running rampant right now. The linked map shows how widespread the flu is, as of last week: Weekly Flu Map for W/E 12/23/2017 It probably is wise to stay there in Denton until the weather settles down since all sorts of light winter precip are possible over the next few days. We're under a Winter Weather Advisory here through 6 a.m. tomorrow (and y'all are under one in Denton until midnight) but nothing really is happening here yet. I'm hoping nothing falls from the sky. We had drizzle before we reached freezing temperatures, but by the time the temperature dropped to freezing this afternoon, the drizzle had ended, so I think we're lucky so far. Jennifer, All southern peas count towards fulfilling the Good Luck requirement. I've lived in the south all my life, and it never has matter which southern peas you ate for good luck, as long as you ate southern peas. When we lived in Fort Worth, our next-door neighbor, a lovely woman in her 70s/80s got together with a bunch of people from her church every New Year's Eve and they ate southern peas right at midnight for good luck. They said if you weren't eating them at midnight to welcome the new year, you wouldn't have good luck. We've always just waited and had ours at noon on the 1st. It probably is a silly custom, but it doesn't hurt to eat the peas, so why not do it? Amy, Uggh. I wouldn't have been able to eat oyster stew again either after finding that big wad of hair...and I don't want to think about where the hair might have come from. Tim is outside making a shelter for a feral kitty who's been hanging around, and we've been feeding it this week and trying to tame it. Feral cats here usually will not survive all the predators wondering around in the winter, so I'd like to bring him or her indoors to stay safe from the predators and the cold weather, but most feral kitties won't let you pick them up and bring them in, so a big box with a fluffy old comforter on the covered patio will have to suffice. I might take a heated throw blanket out there, plug it into an outlet in the garage, and try to keep the kitty warmer on Sun and Mon nights if I cannot get it to come in tomorrow. (Most cats like me better, by far, but this one prefers Tim, so he might have better luck trying to pick it up and bring it in. We do always wear thick leather gloves when attempting a feral cat rescue.) It is cold and cloudy here, but otherwise quiet. Our VFD/PD/EMS GroupMe mermbers are giving us constant updates from all over the county and beyond (if they are traveling), and even though there's been drizzle and there's been freezing temperatures, there hasn't been freezing drizzle yet. We're keeping our fingers crossed. Dawn
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ccrdmrbks
17 years ago
DD and I ventured out early this morning to meet with a florist for her May wedding. The wind blew us back into the house, but we fought our way to the car-and all but froze to the seats! It was surreal discussing roses and lilies (and strapless dresses) while the wind rattled windows in the florist's 100 year old house. It's COLD. Sunny, but COLD.
christinmk z5b eastern WA
17 years ago
It is around twenty degrees F. here (Eastern WA). We set the record for most snow accumulated in a 24hr. period last week. Yay. So far we have a little over 18in. of snow, whith more expected later on.
It is difficult driving weather. Even the semi-trucks are getting stuck. I just hope people's roofs don't collapse.

I have been wanting to get to the library, but decided it just wasn't worth it. Now I am rather glad I DO have such a large TBR pile!
CMK
veer
17 years ago
liz, lemonhead, as you will remember we almost never have white Christmases in southern England. It was very cold (below freezing for several days) earlier in the month, but is now back to rather cloudy, grey days . . . but at least it is dry!
Can a temperature fluctuation of nearly 30 degrees be good for the system?
May I also ask what time does it get dark and at what time does the sun rise in your various neck of the woods?
Here towards SW England we have sunrise at about 8am and sunset at 4pm, although on rare sunny days it seems to stay bright for longer.
frances_md
17 years ago
It was 14 degrees here when I first checked this morning and 27 degrees now. We luckily missed out on the snow storms that have stayed to the north. I will be traveling tomorrow and the weather forecast is good, for which I am very grateful.
bookmom41
17 years ago
14 deg F this morning in northern Maryland when I drove my children to school. My house is chilly, thanks to the (lackof)heat pump. Our sunrise is around 7am, sunset around 5pm or so, but I am certain someone else can be more exact. Last forecast I saw called for a a gradual warm up over the next few days, so we won't be having a white Christmas.
sherwood38
17 years ago
Here in N. California it is 49F with temps predicted of 35F overnight with showers tomorrow. To us it is cold, but the sun is shining brightly right now.

Our DD living in Seattle was supposed to fly here today but all flights were cancelled due to heavy snow up there & apparently no hope of her arriving for Christmas.

Pat
twobigdogs
17 years ago
The sun is just going beneath the horizon as I type this post. It is a not-so-balmy 14 degrees. Yes, Fahrenheit. There is no snow on the ground, but a stiff breeze is blowing and that wind chill probably brings the outside temps closer to zero. And yet, and yet, my black lab wants to go out and play fetch. Personally, I think I'll put the kettle back on the woodstove for tea.

PAM
carolyn_ky
17 years ago
It was 9 degrees at 9:00 am here today and is up to about 20 now at 4:45 pm. It is clear and sunny, though, and we, too, missed the snowstorm. It went to the north of us.

We are just on the western edge of the Eastern Time Zone. Sunrise here is about 8:00 am and sunset about 5:30 pm. I have timed electric candles in my windows for Christmas set to come on at 5:15 pm. Then I run around plugging in lights for two Christmas trees (large one in the living room and small one upstairs in our sitting room), two small trees on the front porch, a wreath between the front windows upstairs, and a small paned-window decoration that lights up. My husband has started calling me the old lamplighter from long, long ago. When Christmas is over, I won't know what to do with myself at sunset.
frances_md
17 years ago
PAM, I just came in from going for a walk with my standard schnauzer who never gets cold. The wind is howling and the temperature has gone down to 24 so I don't even want to think about the wind chill temperature. His ears aren't even cold and we were out for 45 minutes. He knows he is a lucky (rescue) dog but I doubt that he comprehends how privileged he is that I would go out and walk under these conditions just because I don't want to disappoint him. I get cold when the temperature goes below 70.
veronicae
17 years ago
veer - sunrise around 7:15 am and sunset around 4:30 p.m.
The current temperature here, just north of NYC in Westchester NY is - 17.3 degrees F and the lowest in the last 24 hours was 8.3 F. We had about 7 inches of snow on Friday, and then another 2 or 3 yesterday. Except for church on Sunday morning, we haven't left the house (unless you count shoveling the driveway on Fri) since Thurs. afternoon. Nice to be retired, on hiatus from the agency work I do...and to be minimal needs people. Sure glad for that pot pie I froze in Sept - it was very yummy last night. I have baked cookies, made Christmas things, read my books and decorated the house. And, oh yes, babysat this morning for my grand baby. His Dad brought him to our house and picked him up.
jlsch
17 years ago
We are at minus 2 degrees F, but with wind chill minus 13! It has been very COLD the past couple days. We had a major dump of snow a couple of days ago, around 10", and in the next 24 hours we're expecting another 7". No question that we'll be having a 'white Christmas', and hoping we can make it to an extended family gathering on Christmas Eve that is 45 minutes away. I have all my gifts purchased except for one...and just went out and put some groceries in the house...so I guess I'm ready for whatever the weather wants to put at us! wig
rouan
17 years ago
It's cold here in the Mohawk Valley (central NY) too. After several days of snowfall, we finally saw a little sun this afternoon. And...it's supposed to warm up into the 40's -F- Christmas eve and we'll have rain instead of snow. It won't be enough to get rid of all the snow, but at least a few inches of it will disappear. Sunrise here is about 7:30 am and sunset is 4:30 pm. Thank goodness we're past the shortest day of the year and can look forward to the days starting to get longer. Only 3 1/2 more months of snow and cold to go! (But who's counting...LOL)
thyrkas
17 years ago
We registered -19 F today, which is -28.3 C. I didn't check the windchill because I didn't want to know! The sun was shining, but that doesn't raise the air temp at all - still, I'd rather have the sunshine than a dark, stormy day. We expect more snow tomorrow, though. This has been the coldest winter in recent memory here in Minnesota. BUT, now that we have reached the winter solstice, the daylight hours will increase by a couple of minutes a day. HOORAY!
Kath
17 years ago
Here in beautiful Adelaide, South Australia, it was 30Â°C today and the same tomorrow. Fine, sunny and very little wind, just perfect for Christmas :-)

Sunrise at 6am (daylight saving time) and sunset at 8:32pm. We don't have much twilight here so pretty dark by 9:15.
woodnymph2_gw
17 years ago
Here in Tidewater, VA, we seldom get a White Christmas. But it has been beastly cold here for the last 2 days, with wind chill factors that make all the difference. Yesterday morning when I got up it was 11 degrees, During the day, it barely made it up to 26 degrees, There was ice on our roads, but at least it was sunny. This morning in my house it was down to 45 degrees when I got up. (I shut off the furnace in the night). I wear about 4 layers of clothes in my home and use 3 space heaters.

We have sunrise about 7:15 a.m. and sunset at 4:35 p.m.
georgia_peach
17 years ago
Yesterday it was very cold for us -- 20 degrees in the early AM and quite windy. This morning, slightly warmer at 30 degrees, and hopefully with temperatures inching upwards by end of week. Sun rises at 7:39 AM; Sun sets at 5:35 PM.
ccrdmrbks
17 years ago
sunrise 7:26 a.m., sunset 4:45 p.m. , high to be 29 F. Tomorrow up to a toasty 44, but with rain. We'll get very wet on the way to church.
martin_z
17 years ago
Dry, cloudy, and not desperately cold. Not sure what the temperature is, but it's probably around 10 C. Say 45 F.

It isn't going to be a White Christmas here in London. But then, it never is.
robert-e
17 years ago
Damp, and windy, but mostly sunny in South-East California. Temperature is about 63 F. The forecast is for 60% chance of rain for Wednesday night, and more promised for Christmas day. It (almost) never snows here, but if we look west towards the mountains, we will surely see snow on the peaks. I understand we will be treated to some freezing temperatures in the early morning on Boxing day.
Best wishes of the season,
Bob
phaedosia
17 years ago
Here in sunny SoCal, it's in the low 60s. Beautiful blue sky with some wispy clouds. However, it is supposed to rain on Christmas.
lemonhead101
Original Author
17 years ago
Vee - you asked about sunrise/sunset. As I am never up at sunrise, I went to my trusty weather site and it said that the sun rises at 7:45am and sets at 5:54pm for today.

It's pretty accurate as it's now 5:59pm and it's pretty dark outside.

And yes, I remember how we hardly ever got a white Christmas in England. We got snow at other times, but not at Christmas. I always used to imagine I was in Narnia as I walked to swim training in the evening in the snow. Uphill both ways. :-)
annpan
17 years ago
I am staying at my daughter's home in a fishing village by the Indian Ocean where a pleasant breeze is keeping the temperature at 24c or 75f. Santa has been driving around on the back of a firetruck and throwing lollies/sweets/candy to the local children. A happy holiday to you all whatever the weather.

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