Alabama Weather
I know some of you of greater latitude and elevation have harsher winters historically than us here in the southeastern United States. Many will scoff when they hear a Southerner say something like, "it was cold at my house last night", etc. Southerners could never win a contest of "my winter is rougher". We do have really cold weather here in north AL on occasion. In the mid-80's it went below zero three nights in row and didn't get above freezing for ten days. Everything froze. That was an anomaly in a region where the frostline is 12" (that may be stretching it some). I do know how very cold it gets "up north" and "out west". What was it Mark Twain said about the weather? Nonetheless, I am old enough to know that complaining about the weather is an exercise in futility. Still, it does not keep me from cursing the weather under my breath every now and again when the air is almost to cold to breathe, but here is the thing about meteorological conditions here in "The Heart of Dixie". Where I live we have a phenomena known as Alabama Weather. I sometime refer to them as "fire and ice days". It is where you might leave the comfort of an electric blanket and toasty warm house in the morning time dressed heavy and by the afternoon you have resorted to turning on the AC stripping down to your underwear, etc. Really, it is nothing new, but for those who don't live here or haven't experienced this, be prepared. The weather forecast for this weekend is a prime example of Alabama Weather when we go from a sunny forecast on Saturday evening of 66 degrees to 14 on Monday morning and a windchill factor of 3 F.
PS: I thought a couple of Barbara might warm things up a little. Have a great and stay warm or cool. Jeffery
I live in Charleston, SC and we have gone down to freezing several times in the past few weeks and soon to come. It is not normal.
ReplyDeleteLive in Auburn, grew up in Minnesota. Personal low is -45 Ice racing in the 80's. Even brand new antifreeze froze. Looks like pistachio ice cream. This might be a bear of a winter so prepare accordingly.
ReplyDeleteSpin Drift
I believe I was in Huntsville during the cold spell you described. Came into town to assist on the printing of a software manual. Was supposed to be there for a week and was stranded for a month. Twice (or three?) times I was ready to go and a new cold front blew through, shutting everything down with an ice storm.
ReplyDeleteHere in NE Texas we also have "Alabama Weather". Colder'n a witch's tit at night and balmy by the next afternoon.
BTW, I believe the second picture of Barbara is actually Judy Garland.
Thanks FrankP. That was Judy. I had trouble finding a BE "snow" photo. I had to settle for this AI with watermarks in it, but it's the thought that counts.
DeleteIn Oklahoma I've experienced more than one 100° temperature change in a week.
ReplyDeleteWorse I remember was 88° at midnight on an October 30th and by Nov 1st it was -1° and snowing like a MF.
-87° drop in 24hrs you feel every cracked bone and sprain since childhood.
-34° F. up here atop the world two days ago. A warm balmy -16° right here, right now.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at the "southern boys" we had in our company at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Waukegan, IL winter 64/65. It was one of the coldest winters I'd experienced and I come from central New England back when we used to have WINTER. Those poor guys from Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia didn't know how to cope. For a couple of them, it was their first glimpse of snow.
ReplyDeleteStanding out on the grinder in formation with the temperature right at zero and the wind blowing at 20mph was no one's idea of fun, but for them it was downright torture.
I had fire watch roving patrol one night, 2200-0200, when the temp was -20 and the wind was howling. Walking downwind wasn't too bad, but coming back upwind was agony. The wind and cold goes right through a navy pea coat and you might think you're naked wearing navy dungarees.
You don't know cold until you've experienced midwest wind driven or far northern deep snow New England cold.
Nemo
Till I was about 40 I preferred winters to summer. I still think I do until it's mid-July and 102 F in the shade with 90% humidity. I lost a lot of weight three years or so and with it my body's ability to insulate itself. I suppose that is just part of the aging process.
DeleteWell, you guys are at least getting some winter. Here in Southern Oregon Crater Lake has no snow. None. Looks like later this next week they will get some in upper elevations so that's good. Crater Lake averages 41-44 feet per year so it needs to get going. Dry winters mean bad fire seasons in our horribly mismanaged forests out west.
ReplyDeleteI was stationed at Redstone Arsenal in 65-66 and really enjoyed my time there. Climbed pools stringing TV coaxial cable for the missile systems school, living quarters of enlisted men and the Saturn Rocket engines on the test range. Best stateside assignment I ever had. I they would have guaranteed me a permanent assignment there I would have retired in Rocket City!
ReplyDeleteHere near Cape Canaveral, with one exception it has been warmer than usual every day this fall except for one in November that broke the old low temp record for that day. With the exception of one day in the next 10, the forecasts say lows will be warmer than normal and highs will be more like the normal temps.
ReplyDeleteMy hottest and coldest were on Minuteman Missile sites in beautiful North Dakota back in '75-76. -733 and +119 but not in the same year. We had one "spring" day when a chinook wind came through and it went from -35 to +50 in about 6-1/2 hours. Car windshields were cracking all over hte place, my '55 Chebbies were untouched because the weatherstripping was ossified years ago and the car leaked like a sieve. Plus the glass was thicker back then. But the body/glass shops were really busy for about 2-3 months!!
ReplyDeleteHi Irish and Jeffery!!,
ReplyDeleteAs the song goes,"Thirty miles from the Gulf Stream and the South wind moans!! (or something to that effect!!)" yup, I'm down in the "BOOT!" S/E Louisiana and the Weather here is similar.... We'll get down in the the low teens or maybe bust the single didget's for a few hours to a day or so... but not very often!!!
The Bitch is the "Humidity!!!!" We're down here where the "Gulf Coast" starts to form that "Pocket " by the Texas coast... just like the Pocket on a Base Ball Player glove "WE" catch all that Gulf Moisture gong NORTH!! coupled with the Cold Stuff from Yankee Land ........ "GO 'Figger!!!!!"' BTW It never stopped us from "Partyin'!!!!" From 06JAN till the Day before "Ash Wednesday" it "Carnival!!!!!" and of Course That last Tuesday before Lent is "Fat Tuesday" AKA "Mardi Gras!!!!!" and No Matter How bad the weather got it never stopped us from the Party"' It is said that on one "COLD" Mardi Gras day on His Majesty's Float, King Rex's Beard and Moustache were "Frozen!!!!!!"
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!!!!!!!!"
Let the Good Times Roll!!!!!
skybill
Stay safe down there skybill and don't party too hard before Mardi Gras!
DeleteHi Jeffery!!,
Delete'Will try to keep it between the "Navigational Beacons!!!!
and a tip of the "Hatlo Hat" to the Late Jimmy B.
skybill
I live in Connecticut. In my lifetime the high was 106° and the low was -26°. I know we don’t get the hot summers southerners get and it’s a good bit colder in Maine, Minnesota and Manitoba but both 106° and -26° are punishing enough.
ReplyDeleteWe get what are called chinooks, that is a sudden warm wind. We were at -25C yesterday, woke up to +2C today. Tomorrow will be back below freezing.
ReplyDeleteExile1981
Goodness! That sounds brutal.
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