Weather Where You Are

[valley ranch]

It's pretty warm here right now ~ maybe 40 ~ but there's a storm a coming ```

 

[baymule]

We got 4 peaches last year, the first ones. I hope we get some this year!

 

[bobm]

This morning , about an hour ago, it started to snow pretty hard the tinniest of snowflakes that stuck to the ground from the first snowflake. It now barley covers the ground.

 

[digitS']

For the first time since the 2nd of February, yesterday's afternoon high was above 40° f. Weeks ago, 12 of the 31 January afternoons were that warm. Then, winter descended onto the Pacific Northwest, including the interior fly-over zone.

I don't know about flying, I was driving - roadways were wet. There was some rain ... it was falling on our 18" of snow. The moisture in the air was incredible. The snowy landscape disappeared in fog!

disappeared in fog!

I'm lately made to be aware of needed driving skills after having spent over a half century behind the wheel. I guess that it's because I so seldom had to do any regular winter driving for my job and because this really has been a most unusual winter!

The necessary skill yesterday afternoon was to watch both the roadway through the fog AND the speedometer. An easy-to-drive, newer sedan ~ plus a white, unchanging landscape obscured by fog ~ I really had a ZERO idea as to whether I was driving 40 or 65 !!! To know, the speedometer was my ally.

A constant thought was the possibility of hitting a deer. Another notion that intruded itself on my mental comfort was that I wasn't able to judge the speed of another car ahead. If someone pulled onto the shoulder and stopped, would I even be able to realize that in time or just imagine that I was following the taillights of a vehicle traveling about my speed?? It would have been very questionable and was reassuring to see that not one driver was driving at the posted 65 and fortunately, none pulled over ahead and stopped!

Sometimes, maybe because I've been at it for over 50 years, I imagine anyone with less driving history has a high possibility of being a complete idiot out there. Let's imagine something: Humanity may have better survival chances in the hands of younger generations than with an aging Boomer behind the wheel.

Steve

 

[flowerbug]

For the first time since the 2nd of February, yesterday's afternoon high was above 40° f. Weeks ago, 12 of the 31 January afternoons were that warm. Then, winter descended onto the Pacific Northwest, including the interior fly-over zone.

I don't know about flying, I was driving - roadways were wet. There was some rain ... it was falling on our 18" of snow. The moisture in the air was incredible. The snowy landscape disappeared in fog!

disappeared in fog!

I'm lately made to be aware of needed driving skills after having spent over a half century behind the wheel. I guess that it's because I so seldom had to do any regular winter driving for my job and because this really has been a most unusual winter!

The necessary skill yesterday afternoon was to watch both the roadway through the fog AND the speedometer. An easy-to-drive, newer sedan ~ plus a white, unchanging landscape obscured by fog ~ I really had a ZERO idea as to whether I was driving 40 or 65 !!! To know, the speedometer was my ally.

A constant thought was the possibility of hitting a deer. Another notion that intruded itself on my mental comfort was that I wasn't able to judge the speed of another car ahead. If someone pulled onto the shoulder and stopped, would I even be able to realize that in time or just imagine that I was following the taillights of a vehicle traveling about my speed?? It would have been very questionable and was reassuring to see that not one driver was driving at the posted 65 and fortunately, none pulled over ahead and stopped!

Sometimes, maybe because I've been at it for over 50 years, I imagine anyone with less driving history has a high possibility of being a complete idiot out there. Let's imagine something: Humanity may have better survival chances in the hands of younger generations than with an aging Boomer behind the wheel.

Steve

no cruise control?

i didn't have it on my older car, but i thought it was pretty standard now on all the newer vehicles...

the problem of driving in fog on a highway is that way too many people are outdriving their visibility and they shouldn't be, but it all goes ok for them because breakdowns and accidents are rare - until it doesn't - then you get the big pileups you hear about in the news.

the only way i've been able to feel safe driving the right speed in fog is to take side-roads and doing the proper speed (that which allows you to stop if there is an obstruction in the road). to say the least, i don't have to drive much at all now if i don't absolutely need to drive so i won't risk it at all.

deer, well, can't always avoid them, sometimes they run right into the side of the car no matter how fast you're going...

https://media.giphy.com/media/YorJZEBIrRiwM/giphy.gif

 

[digitS']

Oh sure.

There is cruise control.

However, I get out of the habit of using it because of the bad, winter driving conditions. I want the quick slowing that I have simply by moving my right foot.

A little off this topic but I passed 4 side roads along a 65 mile route yesterday that were only indicated by street signs. There was no hint of a road there - nothing! Those roads were completely covered by snow at the same level as the surrounding areas. Level! Well ... as level as 6' drifts here ... field stubble exposed there ... might allow.

Steve

 

[bobm]

Yup, we have cruise control ... and ... I do NOT use it !!! Too many close calls under some rather un-savory, unpleasant weather conditions.

Oh sure.

There is cruise control.

However, I get out of the habit of using it because of the bad, winter driving conditions. I want the quick slowing that I have simply by moving my right foot.

A little off this topic but I passed 4 side roads along a 65 mile route yesterday that were only indicated by street signs. There was no hint of a road there - nothing! Those roads were completely covered by snow at the same level as the surrounding areas. Level! Well ... as level as 6' drifts here ... field stubble exposed there ... might allow.

Steve

I agree with Steve . Try driving in early morning before daybreak right after Christmas from Salt Lake City salt desert with your head out of the open window at 5 mph ( tops) in heavy freezing fog that is falling as tiny snowflakes to Sacramento Cal. trying to beat a predicted heavy blizzard snowstorm that was predicted to close I 80 for 2-3 days. I was one of the very last ones to go over the Pass before the highway was closed. The cruise control was TOTALLY USELESS.

 

[ninnymary]

Finally no rain today. It's sunny and brisk, brrr.. Trimed my maple a little bit. There is a branch I need to remove but their is a hummingbird's nest on it so I'll have to wait for a while.

Back to rain for this weekend. I need to harden my tomatoes!

Mary

 

[Zeedman]

Life's little ironies often extend into weather. I've always thought of such incidental ironies as "cosmic humor"... it makes those little curve balls a little more bearable when you can laugh at them.

There has been a lot of ice this year. Last Monday, on my way to the car, I slipped & fell on the ice. Went down hard, and twisted my left shoulder. It will probably be sore for awhile. But the funny part of that is, my lower back had been bothering me for a month - and apparently, the same fall fixed my back. Sure couldn't have seen that coming. So I guess it was a trade off. The irony is two fold, since my right shoulder had just gotten better from a fall in January.

In a normal year, I would go through about half a bag of salt for the sidewalk. This year I went through a whole bag, and had to get more. Salt isn't easy to find now either, a lot of places are out... and that includes govt. The local news has had road supervisors stating that the salt supply nation-wide was depleted, and as a result, they would only be able to salt corners, hills, and bridges for the remainder of the winter. Scary, especially given the major 131-car pile-up we just had; that occurred on straight, flat road. Warm(er) weather can't arrive too soon for me.

 

[flowerbug]

@Zeedman falling is at times just what you described... never quite know what i'll end up with. recent fall for me didn't make anything worse, but didn't fix my gradually tightening hip/lower back. went to the chiropractor last week and i'm good for ? not sure how long, but for $20 it may get me through the summer... we'll see.

no blood, no bones sticking out, that's about as good as it gets... i'm trying really hard to avoid all ice i can until we get a good melt off.