Weather 2010

[McDonough]

Hello folks,

We all like to talk about the weather, or complain about it, particularly as it pertains to our gardening efforts.  And, because forumists are located throughout North America and the World, it is interesting to witness the climatic differences and challenges that each gardener faces, no matter where located.

Recently we've seen photos posted by forumist Lori Skulski in Alberta, Canada; very wintry scenes showing lots of snow.  By comparison, in Northeastern USA, we've had one of those endless autumns; sure, a few night down into the mid 20s F (-4 C) but typically warming up by midday. Today, it was 62 F (16 C), and I went for a 5-mile run in short-sleeve shirt it was so warm.  I would prefer generally colder temperatures to continue acclimatizing plants for the oncoming winter, although I'll gladly accept an occasional extra mild day here and there before the full onset of winter.

I uploaded a few photos, the first is me after a run a couple days ago, one of the few cold sunny days that reached just above the freezing point by early afternoon; man I love the cool weather.  Followed by two photos of a neighbor's super-late-flowering Chrysanthemum, one that doesn't start flowering until November, undeterred by frosts, with lots of orange-yellow blooms (photos 2-3).  I must ask my neighbor for a piece; the "mum" has been a stalwart last-bloomer in her garden for the 22 years that I've been here.  And photo 4, shows a view of my garden from the street... as I run a 1.25 mile loop around the neighborhood, I do visual botanizing and garden assessment while running; I like the look of the slow-burn of fall color on my epimedium plants as I run by repeatedly.

[Lori S.]

Good topic! 
Let me be the first to bellyache comment... It was a bracing -31 deg C this morning, and warming through the day to a balmy -26 deg C... ah, yes, practically shirt-sleeve weather too for us hardy northerners.   

[McDonough]

Good topic! 
Let me be the first to bellyache comment... It was a bracing -31 deg C this morning, and warming through the day to a balmy -26 deg C... ah, yes, practically shirt-sleeve weather too for us hardy northerners.   

Holy Moly Lori, that's CRAZY Cold!

First of all, for the life of me, I can never ever equate Fahrenheit with Celsius, as much as I've tried over the years.  Metric measurements I'm good with, but Celsius baffles me, and probably most Americans.  So, here's a link to one of many handy-dandy Fahrenheit-to-Celsius conversion web sites:
http://fahrenheittocelsius.com/

Let me translate those temps for us Americans, -31 C in the morning is -23.8 F, and the daytime temp of -26 C is -14.8 F.  Thankfully, you do have snow cover, to protect your plants given that extreme cold.

Lori, aren't you glad Hugh fixed the previously non-functioning roll-eyes emoticon; an essential technological feature of the forum

As a side note, hearing from others around the globe, might give some perspective on your own climate.  Thanks Lori!  Hope your weather moderates some.

[Lori S.]

Well, at least we were only the second coldest place on earth today... Apparently, that honour went to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, where it was -36 F (or -38 C)... yes, the "rolling eyes" emoticon is indispensible at times like this!
http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Calgary+coldest+place+Earth+Weather+tracker/3872612/story.html
 
It felt darned uncomfortable, walking to and from the train and out for a meeting today... made me wonder how I survived winters growing up in Saskatchewan, where it was really cold.

[RickR]

Good topic! 
Let me be the first to bellyache comment... It was a bracing -31 deg C this morning, and warming through the day to a balmy -26 deg C... ah, yes, practically shirt-sleeve weather too for us hardy northerners.   

Wow Lori, that's hard to imagine for me, too, so early in the season.  And Mark, metric/english temperature conversions have always been harder for me too, compare to lengths.

For anyone with an old computer with a small processing chip, here is a tiny sized (166kb) and very fast metric conversion calculator that you can download to you computer for easy, quick access.  No need to bring up a page on the internet, or even be connected.

http://www.download3k.com/Business-Finance/Calculators-Converters/Download-TM-Desktop-Metric-Conversion-Calculator.html

[Hoy]

Although I prefere the Celsius scale, I have no dificulties with Fahrenheit! You start with the freezing point of water (0C/32F) and the boiling point (100C / 212F). Then you get these  easy  equations:
C=(F-32)*5/9  and  F= 9*C/5+32

But I wonder, US was one of the first nations to sign the metre convention in 1875 and you have not starting using it yet!?

[Hoy]

Good topic! 
Let me be the first to bellyache comment... It was a bracing -31 deg C this morning, and warming through the day to a balmy -26 deg C... ah, yes, practically shirt-sleeve weather too for us hardy northerners.   

Yes, the weather is always something to talk about.
Here we have had the first day without temperatures above the freezing point. This morning it was -5C/23F here and -10C/14F along the road a mile further inland. This is exceptionally cold for the season here. The eastern and northern parts of Norway experience even colder weather - down to -30C/-22F - not much warmer than Calgary!
The weather is very quiet, clear and cold. The sun rises about 5AM and sets about 6PM but the low sun don't bring any warmth. And worse, I have no snowcover! The weather forecast says we will have the same for at least 10 days still.

I like cool weather but not this, not here.

[RickR]

When I was in High School back in the mid 1970's, that was the last real push for the change to the metric system in the U.S.  Compared to back then, the metric system is second nature to me now (I just have to stop and think about temperature first), but I was very hopeful, back in the 70's, that the change would stick.  Alas, it did not.

[Hoy]

OK, it is understandable not to change now, but why not then!

By the way, here's the weather in northern Norway today: http://vimeo.com/16917950

[McDonough]

OK, it is understandable not to change now, but why not then!

By the way, here's the weather in northern Norway today: http://vimeo.com/16917950

Artistic video, the aurora borealis is really something to see.

Worked for a couple hours outside today cutting down perennials.  It was 39 F (4 C), and even though I wore heavy winter garb, the wind was roaring and had the effect of drawing away any body warmth, I was freezing and my hands started aching.

[McDonough]

My weather forecast is looking colder, with some freezing rain.  Freezing rain is the one winter condition that I worry about the most; particularly after the ice storm of December 2008, with devastating damage and being without power for about a week, some areas 2 weeks.

[Hoy]

My weather forecast is looking colder, with some freezing rain.  Freezing rain is the one winter condition that I worry about the most; particularly after the ice storm of December 2008, with devastating damage and being without power for about a week, some areas 2 weeks.

Anything but freezing rain! Makes it impossible to drive in a decent way.....
What kind of tyres do you use in winter?

[Peter George]

In New England, everyone drives all wheel drive cars with 4 season tread, so we rarely have problems. Since I moved to Massachusetts in 1978 there have only been 3 years when I wasn't driving a 4 wheel drive/all wheel drive vehicle. When I first got here I used to put on snow tires around this time, but I discovered that the new all season radials work just as well and I don't have to bother changing them over twice a year.

[RickR]

In New England, everyone drives all wheel drive cars with 4 season tread, so we rarely have problems.

People in Minnesota drive all wheel drive vehicles here too, but that doesn't seem to keep them from going in the ditch.  They don't seem to realize that all wheel drive only gives them better traction to get going; it hardly keeps them on the road any better, and there isn't any advantage for stopping, either.  I don't want to afford a 4 wheel drive: I have a rear wheel drive, small Toyota pick up truck, and I do just fine.

[Hoy]

Now I use unstudded winter tyres but most people use studded tyres in winter. The unstudded tyres are composed of a softer rubber mix and are really good in winter, however, the studded ones are better on ice.
I change twice a year (1/2 hour work) and use special summer tyres in summer. They are build of harder rubber mix, the winter tyres are too soft in summer.
A lot of peoples here use 4 wheel drive but I have an ordinary front wheel drive (Kia ceed). No problems last winter!