Even though it is officially spring, winter is hanging on in Vermont as we are expecting a nor’easter over the next few days. Most of the state is under a winter storm warning and a wind advisory. This means, we are expecting to start with a wintry mix that will turn into 10-15” of a wet, heavy snow and high winds of 20-30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. What does all of that mean? Travel conditions will be sketchy and likely difficult, and we are likely to lose electricity.

When we have this kind of weather, I wish I could just stay home. However, that’s not going to be possible. I have a doctor’s appointment later this afternoon, about the time the snow is to begin, but maybe the snow will either be light on my way home, or it will start later than expected. I might be able to work from home, but I’m guessing that won’t be likely. Then on Friday, I have to drive to Syracuse, New York, to present at a workshop on Saturday. This late winter storm is forecasted to be over by early Friday morning, so as long as Vermont and New York keep up with plowing and treating the roads, it shouldn’t be a bad trip. Besides, I’m looking forward to the workshop Saturday.

We do not get an abundance of sunshine in Vermont, but this last week has been different. It has been sunny each day this week beginning on Sunday. It won’t last long. The clouds will roll in tonight and stay for the next week. There will be some clouds this morning, but they should clear out by this afternoon and allow for another sunny day today. The sun has been a mood lifter for many people in Vermont. The forecast shows that the sun might return next Saturday, but Valentine’s will most likely be a cloudy day and cold day, not that I much care about Valentine’s Day since it will just be me and Isabella. 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

As my weatherman said this morning, we are entering the freezer. It’s going to be cold. Our low temperatures for the next four days are: 3° F, -1° F, 0° F, 0° F. We won’t get out of the teens this weekend, but we will rise to 30° F on Monday. I don’t mind the cold weather as long as there isn’t much wind. However, we are expecting mild winds over the next few days that will lower what the temperatures actually feels like, so those lows will feel more like -6° F, -11° F (the high tomorrow which is 10° F but will feel like -1° F), -8° F, -6° F. I don’t mind the cold as long as I don’t have to be out in it for long. I’d rather live in a climate where the temperature are below freezing than to live in a climate with over 100° F with feel like temperatures well above that. Where I grew up in the South, it was humidity that we dreaded, not the wind. Down there, the wind provided some relief.

I’m just glad that I don’t have to go anywhere until Monday. I can stay warm and cuddle up with Isabella, who will alway find somewhere warm to be. Have a great weekend, everyone! Hopefully, you can stay warm and cozy.

If this guy was in Vermont today, he’d (sadly) be wearing pants. As I write this, it’s 9°F (-12.78°C). The wind is making it feel like 0°F (-17.78°C). This weekend Vermont (and most of the northeast) is expected our heaviest snowfall yet. Where I am, the current prediction is 6.25”, but that number keeps changing. Luckily, it is expected to mostly fall during Sunday morning and be a dry powdery snow. Our last major snowfall was a wet heavy snow, which is a lot more work to clear off my car. The good thing about the snow being expected on Sunday is that I don’t have to go anywhere and when I do have to return to work on Monday, the roads should be clear. When the snow stops Sunday, I’ll go outside and clear off my car so I don’t have to do it Monday morning. Anyway, I’m just looking forward to (mostly) staying in and staying warm.

Through the summer, Vermont has been largely avoided the heat wave that has affected everywhere else in the country. I have certainly not missed the heat that had to deal with while growing up in Alabama and living in Mississippi. Vermont though has still suffered through this summer that seems to be a good look at global warming. Vermont has broken records for rainfall which has led to flooding around the state.

The heat affecting the rest of the country has reached Vermont. Thankfully, it’s not as bad as it’s been elsewhere. It’s gotten to around 90° (32° C) this past week, but 90° in Vermont after experiencing cooler temperatures feels much worse. I know there are places south of us who would love to have temperatures as low as 90°. Over the next few days, our temperatures will slowly decrease. By the end of next week, we’ll be back to having highs in the mid- to upper 60s (18-21° C). With the cooler temperatures will also come more rain.

Anyone who has experienced the weather this summer and still thinks that global warming/climate change isn’t real are just willfully ignorant and/or only listen to people who deny climate change. Most of the more vocal climate change deniers do so because it might cost them a little more to be less environmentally destructive or because their wealth is tied to the oil industry. If we don’t do more to safeguard the environment, the weather will continue to get hotter in the summer, winters will get shorter, though probably more intense, storms will continue to become more massive and destructive, among many more adverse effects.

If a heatwave came with the guy above, it might be more tolerable.