The Year Without Winter
Woman in the Middle | January 28, 2014Is it possible that the so-called winter of 2013-2014 will be known as the “Year without winter”? We are beginning to think so around here. I know you folks in other parts of the country are reading this in disbelief, but the same weather phenomenon that is causing you to be buried in snow and ice is denying us a winter.
Called the “Triple R” by weather men, the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge of high pressure has parked itself over the Pacific ocean since October, driving the weather patterns that usually bring California rain and snow at this time of year north and east. That precipitation has to go somewhere, it doesn’t just disappear.
So far, we have had about two weeks of winter weather around here, way back at the beginning of December. Otherwise, it has been dry as a bone and spring like, which is nice, do not get me wrong. Weekend before last a friend’s daughter had an outdoor wedding. When I had heard that plan a year ago, I was a little worried. After all, in January it can rain, it can be windy, and/or it can be cold. But the wedding went off without a hitch weather wise and it was like a beautiful April day. Given that the bride’s name is April it was fitting.
We have very warm summers in Inland So Cal. So winter and summer balance out. You get enough cold in the winter to wish it would warm up. In the summer it gets hot enough you look forward to the cold. I am beginning to wonder if I am going to get enough cold this year to be ready for summer….
But the biggest problem is that we have not gotten much rain. The governor has declared a drought and I do not look forward to trying to keep the plants in the yard alive (not the grass, who cares about the grass) if they start limiting the water that we use. The good news is that we were planning on replacing the toilets soon anyway so the new ones should save on water. I need to start mastering the five minute shower. If we don’t get some rain soon that just may be mandatory!
UPDATE: The weather man says there is a possibility of rain by the end of the week. Oh let it be so!
About 10 years ago we were in a multi-year draught with water restrictions. I hated every minute of it. It’s unusual for us to have that especially for more than a year. We have been lucky. For the past 5 years or so, we have been over our “normal” for precipitation and the water reservoirs are more than full. I have been watching the situation in CA because I have friends there. I am hoping that it straightens out soon. The fires are scary.
Yes, the fires are very scary! The last big one we had endangerd practially every friend we have. We kept putting out the call “You can come to our house” but they usually couldn’t get here because of the fires!
The drought out there sounds scary on the news. Hard to be sympathetic about your lack of winter however. Right now, our air temp is 17 with a windchill of 2. Yes, two. In Memphis. Ugh.
I looked up the weather for Memphis today. It was 21 F at 2:30 your time. I feel for you! I don’t deal with weather extremes very well at all!
The fires look terrifying. I can’t imagine the feeling of helplessness those people must experience watching it come for their homes.
If you get a hankering for some cold weather and precipitation, feel free to visit us in NJ. We’ve got plenty to go around. Too bad you can’t pack up the snow and take it back to CA. It would solve problems for all of us.
Yes, I wish it could be distributed a little more evenly!
What has caused the Triple R of High Pressure to park itself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?
They don’t really know. Just goes to show you that there are still some mysteries on this old earth.