Broke Freezing: NW Weather Crisis

[Ivan Seeking]

I don't know what the weather has been around the nation and world this week, but here in the great NW we have been freezing our buns off! All week we [at our house] were at or below 10 degrees F at night, with daytime highs well below freezing. Today we finally hit 33 degrees with freezing rain and the roads are a sheet of ice. This morning I saw three cars in a ditch between our house and town.

I worry most about broken water pipes. Earlier I was talking with a gent whose boss had a water pipe break on the second floor of her home while she was out of town. She came home to find $80,000 in damage.

 

[Evo]

I don't know what the weather has been around the nation and world this week, but here in the great NW we have been freezing our buns off! All week we [at our house] were at or below 10 degrees F at night, with daytime highs well below freezing. Today we finally hit 33 degrees with freezing rain and the roads are a sheet of ice. This morning I saw three cars in a ditch between our house and town.

I worry most about broken water pipes. Earlier I was talking with a gent whose boss had a water pipe break on the second floor of her home while she was out of town. She came home to find $80,000 in damage.

Yikes! I was lucky, my frozen water pipe only flooded the basement.

How are you and Tsu getting up that hill of yours? Or down?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Yikes! I was lucky, my frozen water pipe only flooded the basement.

How are you and Tsu getting up that hill of yours? Or down?

Last night disaster struck: Little Tyke was out of food and I couldn't get into town!

It had been dry until now so there was no ice. As is common for us, the problems arise during the transistion from cold to moderate temps. However, the main reason we opted not to pave the drive coming down the hill is so that we could get traction on the gravel. The only time we are completely stuck is when we get a lot of snow on top of ice, or just tons of ice. I could have gotten out last night using snow cables but I knew the roads would be very dangerous.

 

[Integral]

I took Riki and Meja for their morning walk this morning on an ice skating rink. Even the dogs were slipping. I tried to move from lawn to lawn as grass was the only safe place to walk. Even gravel and mulch beds were covered with a layer of ice and slippery. The temp finally broke freezing at around 11am or 12noon. It is now back to normal wet and chilly.

 

[Moonbear]

We had a couple very cold days here too, but it mostly felt shocking because we'd been having such a long period of unseasonably warm weather leading up to it that it was a very sudden change (and VERY WINDY...we had wind advisories for two days and I thought I was going to blow away walking to my car). This time of year, it's not too unusual for us to have a few days here and there dropping below freezing, along with light ice and snow, though our norm is around 40. Actually, as I left our Christmas party yesterday, we were commenting that it was weird to leave and not have to drive home in snow. Every year since I've been here, it's snowed on the night of the Christmas party, and been bitter cold.

 

[hypatia]

It was not just cold, but also really windy. With 40 MPH gusts, the hairs in your nose instantly froze and wind burn was rampant. Today we warmed up to 33 with sunshine, but the news said it was not going to last long.

 

[GeorginaS]

The title of this thread almost sounds jubilant about it. Winter arrived here a week ago Friday, after the warmest, nicest November in about 100 years. Or so. Today began at -32C and is threatening to end at -38C. (That's -29 F and - 35F respectively.) It was -42 F and C today with the wind chill. Add a dash of blowing snow and you have a nasty, rotten day to help a friend move from a rural property into town. At least when we arrived back in the city there were windbreaks. Bleh.

But! I am Canadian. We take pride in being able to withstand this stuff. (You can see my cheek with the bulge firmly in it, right?)

 

[Moonbear]

I think you Canadians need to learn to migrate south for winter. At least you made my 19 F weather yesterday seem balmy.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The title of this thread almost sounds jubilant about it.

I have two out-buildings with exposed pipes. Insulation is good to a point, but when it gets this cold I have to play games with running water and portable heaters, in order to prevent damage. We aren't really prepared for weather that cold...not for long. It gets to be a pain.

Winter arrived here a week ago Friday, after the warmest, nicest November in about 100 years. Or so. Today began at -32C and is threatening to end at -38C. (That's -29 F and - 35F respectively.) It was -42 F and C today with the wind chill. Add a dash of blowing snow and you have a nasty, rotten day to help a friend move from a rural property into town. At least when we arrived back in the city there were windbreaks. Bleh.

But! I am Canadian. We take pride in being able to withstand this stuff. (You can see my cheek with the bulge firmly in it, right?)

In Oregon we grow webbed feet, so I assume that in Canada you grow fur.

 

[GeorginaS]

In Oregon we grow webbed feet, so I assume that in Canada you grow fur.

Who divulged our secret?

And on a serious note: whack me in the head for my lack of reading comprehension skills. You're pleased because your temperatures finally came up above freezing not because the temperature finally dipped below. It didn't make much sense to me anyone being pleased about temps dropped below freezing. I'll hush up now.

 

[zoobyshoe]

It's been brutal in San Diego: down into the high 40's.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Sorry, I'm gloating.

 

[GeorginaS]

Sorry, I'm gloating.

You don't look very sorry.

 

[zoobyshoe]

You don't look very sorry.

Hmmm...guess I can't fool you.

 

[Pyrrhus]

Well here in Minnesota, it has gotten very cold (no surprise) as well. Past Thursday was really cold, I think it got down to -4 F or so. The weekend has been better 10-14F temps.

I guess it has not been such a bad winter compared to last year. I think it has been bearable, and this is coming from someone who grew up in the Caribbean, where we have only one season (summer).

 

[DaveC426913]

Who divulged our secret?

And on a serious note: whack me in the head for my lack of reading comprehension skills. You're pleased because your temperatures finally came up above freezing not because the temperature finally dipped below. It didn't make much sense to me anyone being pleased about temps dropped below freezing. I'll hush up now.

I was fooled too. But you didn't miscomprehend; freezing is a one-way process: down. He should have said "broke melting at last".

Here it finally snowed. Prior to last weekend, we had not seen so much as a flake of snow this year. (Unlike just a mile to the North - praise be to the Lake Effect!)

 

[lisab]

Well here in Minnesota, it has gotten very cold (no surprise) as well. Past Thursday was really cold, I think it got down to -4 F or so. The weekend has been better 10-14F temps.

I guess it has not been such a bad winter compared to last year. I think it has been bearable, and this is coming from someone who grew up in the Caribbean, where we have only one season (summer).

...eerrrrr, uuuhhh...cyclo, I hate to break it to you, but it's not winter yet...

 

[DaveC426913]

...eerrrrr, uuuhhh...cyclo, I hate to break it to you, but it's not winter yet...

He hasn't seen a lot of Januaries and Feburaries yet...

 

[Pyrrhus]

...eerrrrr, uuuhhh...cyclo, I hate to break it to you, but it's not winter yet...

What?

 

[GeorginaS]

Hmmm...guess I can't fool you.

You think I can't see you from here?

<snip> it has gotten very cold...as well. <snip> Past Thursday was really cold, I think it got down to -4 F or so.

Very cold...-4F

Oh. Sorry. Yes, very cold.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I was fooled too. But you didn't miscomprehend; freezing is a one-way process: down. He should have said "broke melting at last".

Ah, the melting temp, as opposed to the freezing temp. What was I thinking??!

 

[GeorginaS]

Ah, the melting temp, as opposed to the freezing temp. What was I thinking??!

Yes, yes, yes, but you see, I'm a word geek. I am sadly literal about it more frequently than I'd like to be.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Yes, yes, yes, but you see, I'm a word geek. I am sadly literal about it more frequently than I'd like to be.

No no, the problem is that Canadians are easily confused when one mentions temperatures above 0C. There is no common frame of reference.

It reminds me a bit of the Canadian scientists who discovered an alloy that is superconductive at room temperature.

 

[Pattonias]

The title of this thread almost sounds jubilant about it. Winter arrived here a week ago Friday, after the warmest, nicest November in about 100 years. Or so. Today began at -32C and is threatening to end at -38C. (That's -29 F and - 35F respectively.) It was -42 F and C today with the wind chill. Add a dash of blowing snow and you have a nasty, rotten day to help a friend move from a rural property into town. At least when we arrived back in the city there were windbreaks. Bleh.

But! I am Canadian. We take pride in being able to withstand this stuff. (You can see my cheek with the bulge firmly in it, right?)

Wow, four days ago I was complianing when it was 42 degrees during the day and upper twenties at night. I think I would move if I saw a week below zero. I don't even think I own enough clothes to handle that.

Do yall do any of those fun things like poor out hot coffee only to see it freeze before hitting the ground?

 

[DaveC426913]

No no, the problem is that Canadians are easily confused when one mentions temperatures above 0C. There is no common frame of reference.

I'm surprised at you.

Physics 101 says that you cannot reach 0C, let alone exceed it. It is an invalid reference frame. You can only talk about what happens to observers as the temperature arbitrarily approaches 0C.

It reminds me a bit of the Canadian scientists who discovered an alloy that is superconductive at room temperature.

That belongs in the Science Jokes thread!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I'm surprised at you.

Physics 101 says that you cannot reach 0C, let alone exceed it. It is an invalid reference frame. You can only talk about what happens to observers as the temperature arbitrarily approaches 0C.

Don't you mean K?

That belongs in the Science Jokes thread!

I already posted it as an Alaska joke, which is how I first heard it. But in honor of Georgina and our friends to the north, it seemed appropriate.

 

[General_Sax]

My hometown was recorded as the second coldest inhabited place in the world yesterday.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/12/13/12141366.html

Now that's cold!

 

[leroyjenkens]

My hometown was recorded as the second coldest inhabited place in the world yesterday.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/12/13/12141366.html

Now that's cold!

It was about 130 degrees fahrenheit warmer than that where I am.

 

[turbo]

It's approaching mid-day, and we just got up to 20 degrees. With the gusty West winds it feels much colder. Can't complain, though. The last two months have been unseasonably warm, and in this region warm=wet. The last two winters were mild temperature-wise with over 10 feet of snow per season, and no real thaw until spring. I don't want a repeat of those - I hate shoveling.

"Normal" winters here are very cold and relatively dry, with a pronounced thaw in January (usually) to harden up the snow. Haven't seen that pattern for a few years now.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Don't you mean K?

I just realized if you put all three together you get: KFC.

Which should be a springboard for chicken temperature humor. But I can't think of anything.

 

[Pattonias]

I just realized if you put all three together you get: KFC.

Which should be a springboard for chicken temperature humor. But I can't think of anything.

I love the internet. Where else would a conversation lead to this statement?

 

[zoobyshoe]

I love the internet. Where else would a conversation lead to this statement?

I'm glad you asked. I have a book called Inexplicable Domesticated Fowl Phenomena which reports there is a small, isolated community in rural Arkansas where all conversations lead to this statement.

 

[Pattonias]

I'm glad you asked. I have a book called Inexplicable Domesticated Fowl Phenomena which reports there is a small, isolated community in rural Arkansas where all conversations lead to this statement.

I hope your happy, I just embarrassed myself laughing at the office. "Oh, yeah I just though of something funny from the other day... I'm working. I swear!"

 

[zoobyshoe]

I hope your happy, I just embarrassed myself laughing at the office. "Oh, yeah I just though of something funny from the other day... I'm working. I swear!"

Actually, my goal is to get someone to spew up on a keyboard and wreck it.

 

[turbo]

I just realized if you put all three together you get: KFC.

Which should be a springboard for chicken temperature humor. But I can't think of anything.

There is a famous point on the K scale that accurately describes how many times I have consumed KFC food since they've been in this area (over 35 years). Not funny, but true...

 

[Andre]

the Chickens are cool here, Natural ice skating is rare here before new year but it happens

Snow is moving in tonight and it will get even colder after that.

Probably because there is a http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/ENSO-summary.shtml going on.

 

[GeorginaS]

Actually, my goal is to get someone to spew up on a keyboard and wreck it.

The last keyboard I wrecked at work was because I picked up a juice box, apparently squishing it too hard, and a fountain spewed from the straw across my keyboard. A friend of mine mocked me that I hadn't yet mastered what his three-year-old son had.

 

[zoobyshoe]

The last keyboard I wrecked...

Which just makes me itch to know your total number of keyboards wrecked.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Awesome pic. It's like you live in a Van Gogh painting.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I just realized if you put all three together you get: KFC.

Which should be a springboard for chicken temperature humor. But I can't think of anything.

Funny!

It goes back to the triple point of chicken fat.

 

[zoobyshoe]

It goes back to the triple point of chicken fat.

That's it exactly!

 

[GeorginaS]

Which just makes me itch to know your total number of keyboards wrecked.

That was only my second. My first I spilled just a wee bit of coffee on while playing Asheron's Call one morning. A fair sized group of us were in a fairly scary dungeon when my "s" stuck pressed down (I thought that I'd mopped up all of the coffee and that only a few drops had landed on keys and not between them) and wouldn't come back up again. I wasn't sure what was going on, save that my avatar was running in circles, and I'd lost complete control of the keyboard and couldn't message my gang that I was having technical difficulties. Things went from bad to worse and I had to do a hard shut-down to make my computer happy or at least quiet. The keyboard didn't recover.

So, but, okay, two. That's not bad in, what? Over 16 years on a computer regularly. It was a nice keyboard, though, and they don't make them any more. It was sad, actually but a learning experience.

Now, for alloys at Canadian room temperatures, Ivan.

And to get back on track, the cold snap finally broke this morning and the temperature rose to -23C (-9F), and people were jubilant. I encountered a woman just as I got into the building at work this morning, and we commented on how pleased we were by the nicer temperature. And then I said to her, "And that's precisely how we know we're Canadian. We're fist-pumping happy for -23C weather." She laughed pretty hard.