OT: Anyone else weirded out by the weather?

I've moved around a bit in the past few years, and last year ended up in the Rocky Mountain region - last year was a *ton* of snow and ice, and I hated it.

This year - it almost seemed like I'd moved to California or something. Last winter, we actually broke the snow shovel and had to buy a new one this past fall. Well, that brand-new snow shovel has been used all of two times since November - whereas last year, we were shoveling snow at least three times a week.

Is anyone else a bit weirded out/concerned about this and how it'll affect summer? I barely survived last summer (I don't do heat well) and if it's this warm now...then does that mean it's going to be 120F in July????

It's not global warming, it's more like global weirding if you ask me - not just this warming of temperatures, but ...what's happening is a tremendous increase in 'extreme' weather. I'm kind of worried about all this.

This year's radical temperature changes are record-shattering...like 40 degrees higher than any previous 'record' ever posted. I don't think this is a good thing.

It's abnormally colder in the Pacific Northwest, and abnormally hotter everywhere else.

I would like to think that mild winter = mild summer, but I have a horrible feeling that might not be the case. Thinking I might need to move to the North Pole or something.

Sure - it's pleasant, but is anyone else thinking this is kind of worrying?

13 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

You do realize that it is a La Nina year, the second one in a row.

velvetychocolate

I didn't realize that annygybe - and just went and looked it up. Turns out La Nina is not nearly as common as El Nino.

The weather patterns associated with La Nina fit what's going on this year - thanks! Dryer than normal in a lot of areas and wetter than normal in the PNW region.

This time last year I had snow half-way up to my knees at times, and this year - well, it's sandal weather already - around 75F today. Unreal.

Yeah El Nino and La Nina patterns really affect PNW weather patterns significantly.

Ana

I read that this summer is supposed to be as miserable as the last one, which makes me very sad. I have one trip to California planned at the end of July, but maybe I need to plan another one to the PNW.

Aziraphale

I've been a little worried about this for about twenty years. The global average temperature has increased by one degree over the past century (which is a lot, even though it doesn't sound like it). There's no doubt we're experiencing a climate shift, and those do happen (wasn't there a mini Ice Age throughout most of the Dark Ages in Europe?) with or without the problem being compounded by deforestation and heavy use of fossil fuels. My biggest concern is how it's going to impact the global economy. The ocean's complex food web is teetering, and that's going to have far-reaching consequences. I'm definitely apprehensive.

End geek rant. Back to local weather: yes, we're having weird weather in the PNW, and it was weird weather last summer (half the flowers never came out because we didn't get warm dry weather until August), and although I appreciate not having to shovel the driveway all winter, I'm getting bloody sick of the constant drizzle interspersed with hail. Need to go back and read Angie's blog post about how to dress for spring even when the weather doesn't cooperate.

Michelle

Yes, very much so. Not only am I dreading the thought of another scorcher summer like last year, but I'm concerned about repercussions beyond my air conditioned walls. The lack of snow melt and forecasted dry spring is going to cause no end of trouble on the agricultural front, not to mention pose a major threat come forest fire season. I worry that we'll be swamped with bugs this season. And like Elisabeth, I'm just fearful about global warming in general.

missvee

I'm very worried too. We've had such a mild winter and virtually no snow. My daffodils are blooming (6 weeks early!!!) and there are buds on many of the trees. A hard frost now could be a real problem. I dread to think what the summer will bring - last summer was blistering hot with too much smog - no fun at all.

Meredith1953

Ours is weird too! "Change in the weather...Change in the weather...something's happening here". I do believe in global warming, I do, I do, I do!!!
*Clicking heels three times*

Elly

It is worrisome to me. The region I live in experienced some of the worst years of drought over the past 10 years. We hit levels that haven't been hit since the 1800s. both ends of the community burned, and elsewhere in the state we had relatives that were also evacuated multiple times for fire. We have had 2 or 3 "normal" winters where we have gotten plenty of snow, which means we haven't had the horrible forest fires. However, we have recently had two plagues of tree killing pest infestation that have swept through BOTH the mountains and the mesa scrub. If we were to have a hot, dry summer I am going to be up to my neck in Apache smoke jumpers. Dry weather and hot temps also mean water restriction.

I do agree that it is part of the natural cycles, but for our particular area that could be particularly dangerous because of local fire and drought cycles aligning with regional patterns. There is also a chance that an area that hasn't burned for over 1000 years could burn out on the mesa, which could burn with a heat that would devastate everything out there.

I had a prof that insists we are actually going into another mini ice age.

On a personal note, my heart condition means that I don't do heat. I may have to head for the hills.

Mochi

Boston has had such an odd winter (it snowed all of one time--a total of maybe two inches, if that much). And the past week it's been broiling temperatures. I am totally weirded out, maybe even freaked out, and concerned about this summer as well. I don't know what La Nina means, but I hope it's simply that; I do fear about climate change.

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