Very cold this morning...

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:51 pm

I have often wondered who has the largest and smallest ranges of temperatures.

For example, Minneapolis has had a record high of 105 and a low of -35 (140 degree spread), where as Honolulu has had a high of 94 and a low of 53 (41 degree spread).

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:11 pm

Sunny and nice enough this morning to open windows to air the house... lasted about an hour... Our temp has dropped 40 degrees in the last three hours. Buh-er!

Snow is starting. Glad we cut more firewood this week!!

A 57 degree drop total in 12 hours.

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:31 pm

Okay, I found this interesting.
USA Today

Ordinary summer heat makes much of the Southwest, including Death Valley, sizzle from June through August. But, Death Valley's unique geography turns this hot weather into extreme heat.

Winds off the higher surrounding land, known as the Great Basin, often blow hot, dry air thousands of feet down into the long, narrow valley, which is 282 feet below sea level.

As the air moves downhill it encounters increasing atmospheric pressure, which squeezes the air, warming it at a rate of 5.5° for every 1,000-foot drop in elevation. Some of the mountain ranges around Death Valley are 7,000 - 9,000 feet high, and the surrounding land between the ranges is 4,000 - 5,000 feet above sea level, which means the air can warm at least 20-25° by the time it reaches the bottom of the valley.

In addition, the steep walls of the valley heat up and radiate that heat back into the valley, causing the already hot air to grow even hotter. July's average high in Death Valley is 115°, but nearly every year the temperature reaches 125°, or higher.

rhulsey · Post by **rhulsey** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:05 pm

I've been working in central Kansas for the past few weeks. It was 2 degrees one morning last week, and with the ever present breeze, it was a bit on the chilly side.

Reg

HDSarah · Post by **HDSarah** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:32 am

I.D.10-t wrote:I have often wondered who has the largest and smallest ranges of temperatures.

For example, Minneapolis has had a record high of 105 and a low of -35 (140 degree spread), where as Honolulu has had a high of 94 and a low of 53 (41 degree spread).

In theory, the largest ranges should occur in "continental" (i.e., inland) climates that don't experience the temperature-buffering effect of the sea. High latitudes help drive the winter lows down, too, since the sun gives so little warmth when its angle is low and it's only up for a few hours. In midwinter at 65 degrees north latitude, the sun is mostly ornamental.

I believe that the all-time record high in Fairbanks, Alaska is +99 F and the record low is -66 F, giving us a 165 degree spread. In midwinter (i.e., NOW!) the daily record highs and lows have about a 100 degree spread: record highs are about +40 and record lows about -60.

Personally, I think that humans shouldn't have to endure a range of more than 100 degrees F. Fairbanks would have a nearly perfect climate if we could just cap the temps at +80 F on the high end and -20 F on the low end. (Yes, I'm serious. Really.

)

I would rather deal with -20F than +110F. You can dress for cold, but when it's hot, there's a limit to how much you can UNdress for the heat, and then you're still overheated.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:08 pm

I.D.10-t wrote:
fel bautista wrote:Probably no sympathy for us out in So Cal- it was ( I think) low 40Fs at 8 am when we went for our Sunday bike ride.
You're missing out. We love to bike in Minnesota, our bike trails are pristine along the river and there wasn't a cloud in the sky this weekend. Eyelashes collect moisture from your breath and freeze together when you blink, it is the feeling of living. For what is life without sensation? Heat, cold, wet, and dry that is life! The moving in and out of one climate controlled environment to another deprives us from that, it is like a living death, and living in California must be like constantly living indoors.

I pity you.

The light blanket of snow covers the dirt and detritus and makes the land look clean and new, we cannot see the rotting leaves and brown snow that you must see every day. I lived in a place that did not have snow, it almost drove me mad.

Oh, stick it. "Light blanket", my foot. I'm caretaker of my apartment building, and we're on a corner lot. I just discovered the pleasures of a snowblower this year. Screw my "carbon footprint".

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:00 pm

-34 degree wind chill when I arose this morning. Took an ice pick along in
case I had to chip the dog off the water hydrant at the corner of the block.
I'm ready for golf season ...

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:08 pm

Colin wrote:-34 degree wind chill when I arose this morning. Took an ice pick along in
case I had to chip the dog off the water hydrant at the corner of the block.
I'm ready for golf season ...

Yeah, that wind chill's a mofo. I bundled up majorly bigtime just for a two-block walk to the convenience store for milk and OJ last evening, and by the time I got home, my condition was dire. And I'd been contemplating going out for a pint. No way, José.

I.D.10-t wrote:...living in California must be like constantly living indoors.

Well, if anyone would know, it would be us, now wouldn't it.

Key_of_D · Post by **Key_of_D** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:58 pm

I'd rather take the heat, cause it's sure nice to be able to feel your fingers when playing pipes! Plus, you won't see much women in their bakinnis when it's -60F outside!

Charlene · Post by **Charlene** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:19 pm

I prefer to be warm. I can't do anything except sit and shiver when it's cold.

SteveShaw · Post by **SteveShaw** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:18 am

May I butt into this all-US thread? We have not had a frost (i.e. 32°F or lower) in Bude since December 18, and that is very unusual, even round here. In all that time day temperatures have made at least 10°C, 50°F almost every day and have hit 13°C+ several times. January, completely frost-free? What's going on! And last January was even warmer. My grass needs mowing!

Charlene · Post by **Charlene** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:40 am

SteveShaw wrote:May I butt into this all-US thread? We have not had a frost (i.e. 32°F or lower) in Bude since December 18, and that is very unusual, even round here. In all that time day temperatures have made at least 10°C, 50°F almost every day and have hit 13°C+ several times. January, completely frost-free? What's going on! And last January was even warmer. My grass needs mowing!

If I could get to the airport, I'd be tempted to come visit!

I've put some snow pictures on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... =622952654

WyoBadger · Post by **WyoBadger** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:18 pm

I don't know, we get the sub-zero stuff in winter, and the tripple digits in late summer. I've heard similar about the Northern Plains states.
Seems like Michigan (where Mrs. Badger's folks hail from) is sort of the same way, but of course they have humidity to make it even better!

Ah well, spring, early summer, and fall are lovely.

Tom

WyoBadger · Post by **WyoBadger** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:25 pm

Just read page 3 of this thread, and my point was already made for me.

But this past sunday, for a few glorious hours, the temperature hovered in the low 40's, and the sound of dripping water was everywhere. It was a hopeful reminder that spring will come, eventually.

I am so ready for it. It is cruel and wrong that the seed and flower catalogs start to arrive during this, the coldest time of the year. These people are sick, sick, sick...

I remember, when I was a kid, my dad coming in from snow shoveling and saying,
"I'm going to tie this shovel to the top of the car,
then drive south until someone asks me what it is.
Then I'm going to stop and buy a house."

Tom

Charlene · Post by **Charlene** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:17 pm

Our governor just declared a "snow emergency" for most of Eastern Washington. http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/ ... db3fb.html

Maybe my street will finally be plowed.