I've shovelled 4 feet+ of snow off these very sidewalks. I'll do it again but it will take me longer now.
Snow and ice aren't unusual at this time of year. It's the extended streak of warm weather that's so unusual. A couple days I wore shorts and a t-shirt in the yard. The garden is up early; there will soon be daffodils and hyacinths blooming if we don't get a bitter cold streak. I started the spring cleanup and prep of the gardens a couple days ago.
And it's going to be 60 tomorrow and for much of the week. I'm not complaining, but I'm not convinced spring is here. Winter can really hang on in these parts; typically it goes from nasty cold to almost too warm rather suddenly around June 1. Spring flowers usually come around April 1, so they're very early.
Snow and ice aren't unusual at this time of year. It's the extended streak of warm weather that's so unusual. A couple days I wore shorts and a t-shirt in the yard. The garden is up early; there will soon be daffodils and hyacinths blooming if we don't get a bitter cold streak. I started the spring cleanup and prep of the gardens a couple days ago.
And it's going to be 60 tomorrow and for much of the week. I'm not complaining, but I'm not convinced spring is here. Winter can really hang on in these parts; typically it goes from nasty cold to almost too warm rather suddenly around June 1. Spring flowers usually come around April 1, so they're very early.
Today is going to be the warmest day in February on record for Chicago, with a predicted high of 76 degrees F. A cold front with severe storms (they keep mentioning possibly of tornadoes in the forecast) is going to blow through this afternoon with an ice storm, then a snow storm, behind it. High right around freezing tomorrow.
How do you dress for that? I'm wearing shorts and a T-shirt for my morning walk. I guess later on today I'll have to break out the parka.
How do you dress for that? I'm wearing shorts and a T-shirt for my morning walk. I guess later on today I'll have to break out the parka.
There's two more 70 degree+ days forecast for this week. Cold is only going to stick around for a day and a half.
Damn my crocus are blooming and my daffodil tops are turning yellow. Daffodil are about five weeks early. Hyacinth are showing color. They came up real fast this year and weeks early. I hope they don't get zapped; the next 48 hours are going to be weather whiplash.
From Weather.com: "Possible risk of severe weather today. Wind, tornadoes, and hail are possible. Look out for large hail." And after that an ice storm, then a blizzard. Sounds great!
Damn my crocus are blooming and my daffodil tops are turning yellow. Daffodil are about five weeks early. Hyacinth are showing color. They came up real fast this year and weeks early. I hope they don't get zapped; the next 48 hours are going to be weather whiplash.
From Weather.com: "Possible risk of severe weather today. Wind, tornadoes, and hail are possible. Look out for large hail." And after that an ice storm, then a blizzard. Sounds great!
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Well a huge front ripped through the area this evening. The worst of it went north of here and a tornado touched down in Mundelein, 30 miles from here. A roof was ripped off an apartment building with one injury.
There were multiple tornadoes and funnel clouds reported in the region, as well as hail as big as a golf ball.
There were big rains and wind through here. It isn't even cold yet. I hope the ice and snow forecasts are exaggerated.
There were multiple tornadoes and funnel clouds reported in the region, as well as hail as big as a golf ball.
There were big rains and wind through here. It isn't even cold yet. I hope the ice and snow forecasts are exaggerated.
The storm affected a large area. There are reports from multiple states and Canada too.
I was out earlier and it's slap your face cold outside. Yesterday was warm and humid. The dew point kept ratcheting up right up until the front blew through.
Spring has started in the garden. Plants are up, buds are forming. I guess even the birds are fooled.
I was out earlier and it's slap your face cold outside. Yesterday was warm and humid. The dew point kept ratcheting up right up until the front blew through.
Spring has started in the garden. Plants are up, buds are forming. I guess even the birds are fooled.
Yep, one thunderstorm at 3AM and a bigger one at 6AM. Total rainfall 0.02 inch. 9:30 AM temperature 62°F and at 11 AM it's 50°F. With thin clouds.
Here's a maniac that drove straight towards a couple tornadoes the other day.
We had some crap your pants lightning and it was super still, and very warm. I know that's when they hit. It's extra dangerous at night. All we got in our neck of the woods was straight line winds and torrential downpours.
I've been through a few scarier tornadoes, including the 1967 Oak Lawn tornado. That experience made me terrified of tornadoes as well as fascinated by them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Oak_Lawn_tornado_outbreak 58 deaths, the tornado went within a mile of the house I grew up in. We heard the freight train, the howling, the vibration of the whole house - a brick house. Frame houses a mile from my house were leveled to the ground, with most of the debris blown away. I'll never forget what the city of Hometown looked like - it was gone; except for rows and rows and blocks and blocks of toilets sticking up in perfect straight lines. Those houses (cheap frame duplexes) had no basement.
We had some crap your pants lightning and it was super still, and very warm. I know that's when they hit. It's extra dangerous at night. All we got in our neck of the woods was straight line winds and torrential downpours.
I've been through a few scarier tornadoes, including the 1967 Oak Lawn tornado. That experience made me terrified of tornadoes as well as fascinated by them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Oak_Lawn_tornado_outbreak 58 deaths, the tornado went within a mile of the house I grew up in. We heard the freight train, the howling, the vibration of the whole house - a brick house. Frame houses a mile from my house were leveled to the ground, with most of the debris blown away. I'll never forget what the city of Hometown looked like - it was gone; except for rows and rows and blocks and blocks of toilets sticking up in perfect straight lines. Those houses (cheap frame duplexes) had no basement.
I am guessing you know those are different birds. Around these parts we have tons of the American Robins but so few of the Varied Thrush.
Superstorm Sandy -- was like having a diesel locomotive roaring outside the house for hours. We were fortunate to only lose a small part of the roof.
After seeing "The Wizard of Oz" my sister would stare out the bedroom window (4 of us in one room) and look for tornadoes. Didn't bother to tell her that the window faced east.
After seeing "The Wizard of Oz" my sister would stare out the bedroom window (4 of us in one room) and look for tornadoes. Didn't bother to tell her that the window faced east.
Very common here. When a Varied Thrush shows up, people grab their cameras.
Same with the Anna's hummingbird. When the females show up, you smile. When a male shows up, you hope you have your phone with you.
Another popular camera bird is the Great Blue which are as abundant as they have ever been here so their appeal is lower than when we were kids..
