Fifty Plus (50+) - Snow is staying; can winter be far behind?

Awoke to a light spit of snow. Can look out my window to see termination dust half way down the hill. The river is getting shallower. Can winter be far behind? After a summer of almost constant wildfires with the smoke that made everything miserable I confess I'm not ready!

What's snow?
Our river is definitely not getting shallower. Six flood gates open.

Only going up to 91 degrees today . . .

Awoke to a light spit of snow. Can look out my window to see termination dust half way down the hill.

Where you at?

77f here today. I'll admit I did see some snow on the map out west and the local weather is predicting much cooler temps next week.

I'm there with ya though. I just found my cycling spirit and I'm not ready to give it up yet. I'm even looking at cold weather cycling gear so I won't have to give it up for winter.

Our high today was 43F... Feels like winter already :(

Moderators: Please delete this thread that mentions SNOW and WINTER!

I can empathize with y'all who have heat and floods. We started the summer with floods that literally wiped out entire villages. Some of which still aren't cleaned up. Then came the wildfires that burned nearly Three Million acres and brought miserable smoke and hazardous health conditions.

Moderators: Please delete this thread that mentions SNOW and WINTER!

+1

S-N-O-W is a four letter word and should not be written, uttered, spoke of, or thought of amongst polite company!

And the "W" word. Ugh! Let's not even speak of it, lest we hasten its arrival.

What's snow?
Our river is definitely not getting shallower. Six flood gates open.

Did you take that picture today, BD? Do you ride across the dam?
There is an earthen dam near here that I ride across, but it hasn't touched water in a long time. In the early 60s they had water skiing here.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/S2010011-3.jpg

Forgot to mention it was over 100 again here today. I must be crazy to live here. A friend has tried to get me to move to Eureka, it's 65 all year. I don't think there are jobs, however.

Snow is staying; can winter be far behind?

Around these here parts the reply is usually just "Quitcher whinin' an git out yer winter wheels!"

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/winter.jpg

Snow is staying; can winter be far behind?

Around these here parts the reply is usually just "Quitcher whinin' an git out yer winter wheels!"

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/winter.jpg

When did you take that?

When did you take that?

During a light dusting last November(ish) I think.

I'm close enough to Lake Ontario that I get snow collecting on the ground a couple weeks later than the Southern part of the City, the water keeps the imediate area that much warmer!

Moderators: Please delete this thread that mentions SNOW and WINTER!

OK, I won't mention the s* or w* words, but will say this photo was taken today:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=119582&d=1253752590

:D

It was 105* here today and drier than a popcorn f*rt in Death Valley.

I wouldn't mind a cool breeze and a cloudy day or two. Rain is welcome too but that usually arrives in The Season That Shall Not Be Named. ;)

Having missed several months of prime cycling I'm among those not ready to give up summer.

Snow hasn't yet come to Wisconsin, thank goodness. Not ready for it yet. The weather here has been very nice. We've had a few lows in the lower 40s though.

Did you take that picture today, BD? Do you ride across the dam?

The picture was taken Tuesday by a power company employee. There is no public access to the dam which is on the Oconee River creating Lake Sinclair. There is a greenway about 3 miles downriver from the dam which was under several feet of water for a few hours. Our flooding was minor compared to the mess they had up the road in Atlanta. By Wednesday afternoon, the river was back within its banks and life was back to normal, though the greenway was still closed for cleanup. The dam with floodgates open is an awesome sight and the sound is incredible.

Where you at?

Based on the BF name (Latitude65) and the reference to 'termination dust' (also know as 'rotation dust'), my vote would go to Fairbanks area of Alaska.

Snow is just a myth perpetrated by those who live in the North. The only ice we recognize is in our drinks.

(I lived most of my life in Rochester NY, but I have decided those years were delusional, after all, why did I willingly live where water freezes?)

I rather enjoy a good winter with lots of snow - cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/rkerriphoto/Miscellaneous/Belleonthetrail.jpg

And cycling does not even come close to x-country skiing on a track as a full-body workout including cardio.

Based on the BF name (Latitude65) and the reference to 'termination dust' (also know as 'rotation dust'), my vote would go to Fairbanks area of Alaska.

Thank you. I was beginning to think this post was a riddle for us to figure out.

Here's more Alaskan slang.....

http://www.decorphoto.com/ak-slang.htm

I'll post snow pictures later in winter. :D

What's snow?
Our river is definitely not getting shallower. Six flood gates open.

I've heard that the Cyclone roller coaster at Six Flags has been turned into a submarine ride. :lol:

I've heard that the Cyclone roller coaster at Six Flags has been turned into a submarine ride. :lol:

You heard right.

http://www.dailystab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/six-flags.JPG

Officially heading for a drought here now in the S.E. corner of the UK. Can hardly believe it after all the rain we have had in June and July but resoirvoirs not to capacity and only 30% of usual rainfall in August and none yet in September.

Calling Al Gore - it's snowing!!!

^^^^?

^^^^?

Some people think if it still gets cold then there is no global warming.

Based on the BF name (Latitude65) and the reference to 'termination dust' (also know as 'rotation dust'), my vote would go to Fairbanks area of Alaska.

Ahhh, Fairbanks, it's not the cold but the dark that will get ya. I think I could manage a good winter season but not in the dark. I'd get too depressed. Heck I suffer when the length of day drops to 11 hours in late Dec.

Ahhh, Fairbanks, it's not the cold but the dark that will get ya. I think I could manage a good winter season but not in the dark. I'd get too depressed. Heck I suffer when the length of day drops to 11 hours in late Dec.

My biggest problems with Wisconsin winters is darkness and length. When the clock changes from Daylight Savings Time in early November, our sunsets start occurring before 5 PM. I hate that. On Nov 1 our sunset is at 4:49. It stays before 5 until January 24th. That's 85 days, almost 1/4th of the year.

I usually don't get out of work until 5:30-6:00. So I usually don't see the sun when coming out of my building until around the 1st of March.

The two most important months to me are Nov & March. If Nov stays warmish and March warms up on the early side, then winter is more bearable. But when it starts snowing in early Nov and keeps snowing into late March, it seems like forever.

Ahhh, Fairbanks, it's not the cold but the dark that will get ya. I think I could manage a good winter season but not in the dark. I'd get too depressed. Heck I suffer when the length of day drops to 11 hours in late Dec.

Actually, it isn't that dark. As an example comparing this area to the Denver area for today there is only a 6 minute difference on day length based on sunrise/sunset times and by the time refraction is counted this area actually has more daylight than the Denver area.

I have PV panels that produce all year long. Admittedly the production gets a bit low in January and February but they still produce usable energy. Come March they are back at full output. Because of the earth's tilt we have more sunlight in the North than anywhere else on the continent.

Now, a bit further south....I agree it is DARK, DARK, DARK.

Actually, it isn't that dark. As an example comparing this area to the Denver area for today there is only a 6 minute difference on day length based on sunrise/sunset times and by the time refraction is counted this area actually has more daylight than the Denver area.

I have PV panels that produce all year long. Admittedly the production gets a bit low in January and February but they still produce usable energy. Come March they are back at full output. Because of the earth's tilt we have more sunlight in the North than anywhere else on the continent.

Now, a bit further south....I agree it is DARK, DARK, DARK.

It's all in the details. LOL. Still, in 3 months there will be 3:45 of sunlight and 6:30 of total daylight. That doesn't seem like much to someone from the southern lower 48. I think I would have a hard time adjusting to the waning light each Fall. Tomorrow has 6m30s less than today! But, come Feb, the increase in daylight daily must be incredible. I'd like to experience a full year in Ak. though I'd have to stock up on Zoloft or some other med like it first.

Yep, it is in the details. In that regard the standard astromical tables published by the Navy just don't reflect actuality at these latitudes. For example: Although they show on the order of 20 hours of daylight at the summer equinox, in fact there is 24 hours due to light refraction through the atmosphere. At lower latitudes, like where you live, light refraction is a very minor factor, if a factor at all. That is why in Hawaii, say, sunset and sunrise are very rapid occurances. Whereas, in the northern latitudes they occur very gradually.

In the same way, in the winter although the sun is below the horizon light refraction gives a substantial amount of extra usable light. Plus, due to the climate star light and moon light are significant illumination sources. It is not like using a hundred watt light bulb; but out of the city light pollution zone one can read the newspaper under the light from a full moon without assistance from artificial light.

Nope, for me it isn't the dark. It is the COLD. Most winters it is pretty common to go for days and occassionally weeks with the temperature never getting above -35F. That is 67 degrees below freezing. And that is Real Temperature not that misused thing called Wind Chill. That ain't a real temperature.

Sorry to get so long winded. But, there is so much misinformation about this place often I can't control the urge to put out some correct information.

By the way, the summer biking here is stupendous. Some folks even bike all winter. More wait until spring just before breakup and ride the dog and snowmachine trails. I'm not one of them so far.

Never having experienced temps near -35F (-10F is about the lowest), they seem pretty intimidating. The chart I looked at seemed to account for the light after the sun went below the horizon. I've not been as far north as Fairbanks. Denali Park is the most north I've been. My sister-in-law lived in Anchorage for 7 years and we currently have friends outside town now. I'd like to get our daughter up there soon for a visit.

Never having experienced temps near -35F (-10F is about the lowest), they seem pretty intimidating. The chart I looked at seemed to account for the light after the sun went below the horizon. I've not been as far north as Fairbanks. Denali Park is the most north I've been. My sister-in-law lived in Anchorage for 7 years and we currently have friends outside town now. I'd like to get our daughter up there soon for a visit.

Dramatic difference between Anchorage and the Interior. For one there is the Alaska Range. It pretty effectively blocks almost all of the climate moderating influence of the ocean. Also, south of the range they don't get reflection from the snow and cloud cover often blocks light from the winter sky. Still, it is way warmer. When I lived in Anchorage I never had to plug in my truck. Can't get away with that in the Interior.

Don't send your daughter; come yourself. Just remember that Alaska has 6 different climate zones, and for the most part, cultural areas. Also, that the place is Big so allow lots of time, or whittle down your goals. When I visit Texas, and if the local is too obnoxious, I'll remind them that Alaska could split itself in half and make Texas a distant third in size.

Dramatic difference between Anchorage and the Interior. For one there is the Alaska Range. It pretty effectively blocks almost all of the climate moderating influence of the ocean. Also, south of the range they don't get reflection from the snow and cloud cover often blocks light from the winter sky. Still, it is way warmer. When I lived in Anchorage I never had to plug in my truck. Can't get away with that in the Interior.

Don't send your daughter; come yourself. Just remember that Alaska has 6 different climate zones, and for the most part, cultural areas. Also, that the place is Big so allow lots of time, or whittle down your goals. When I visit Texas, and if the local is too obnoxious, I'll remind them that Alaska could split itself in half and make Texas a distant third in size.

If?! I like to remind them that to me, they are Yankees. :innocent:

Some people think if it still gets cold then there is no global warming.

It would be very generous to describe that as "thinking". :rolleyes:

Some people think if it still gets cold then there is no global warming.

Don't know the difference between Climate and Weather, eh? That's OK, most of the news media and so called "scientists" and politicians don't either.

Very little question the global climate is changing. Certainly in the Arctic we see in the vegetation and animal behaviour what we call Global Warming. But, we know so little about our planet that we can't be sure whether it is part of a trend, or just a blip in the cosmos.

The former head of the IARC and the person after whom the building is named gives a presentation in which he very convincingly makes the point that the planet warms and cools regardless of the behaviour of those living on it. As an analytic type I, and several others, have tried to poke holes in his thesis. We have been unable to contravene his position while at the same time are able to find numerous factual and procedural problems with those that are accepted by our governments.

Me? I say the planet will take care of itself. Our worry ought to be how to preserve our species on that planet. If we don't discover how to we'll join the many species that have gone extinct over the millenia.

Back to the original theme: It is mixed rain and snow outside right now. On the hill the snow should be thick enough to ski, or at least snow shoe, by morning.

My brother moved to Glen Allen Alaska in 1975 and he says he'd never come back to live,too uncivilized here.Usually his weather is the same as here in Alberta,year round.

What's snow?

:thumb: +1 90 degrees and 90% humidity here. ;)

:thumb: +1 90 degrees and 90% humidity here. ;)

Ugh!!! At least here one can put on enough clothes to keep warm. Unless your body is much, much better than mine there is no way down there to take off enough clothes to keep cool.

As an analytic type I, and several others, have tried to poke holes in his thesis. We have been unable to contravene his position while at the same time are able to find numerous factual and procedural problems with those that are accepted by our governments.


It is a rather simple exercise to go through the radiant heat transfer equations to calculate what the average temperature of the earth should be and when one does it you find it is just about exactly what the average temperature of the earth is. However in doing it you find just how sensitive we are to the emisivity of the atmosphere and the heat output of the sun. One we can change - the other is an open loop process. What I like to point out though is that if man is warming up the earth - how come the average temperature of Mars (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1720024.ece) has also gone up? I gues we are affecting it as well :D

100 yesterday - 96 today.
Not a chance of snow in my lifetime and even less of it sticking.
At certain times of the year, I'm only an hour away from clicking in and hopping on a ski lift.