<p>I looked up arthritis and cold weather… it turns out it is not the cold but the change in barometric pressure… sure seems like the cold to me.</p>
<p>Ahh- I knew there was a reason I suffered through the hot Florida summer. The cold front won’t touch us- the last one had lows in the 50’s and highs in the 60’s. I still wore my usual T-shirt and shorts, but hurried in and out of buildings- too lazy to wear long pants and a jacket just for shopping (reminds me of not bothering with hat, gloves, boots just to go from car to store in very cold WI winters- a hat and gloves, like a plastic snow shovel and scraper, were always there in the car). The local weather news here routinely shows a brief nationwide report- sensible since so many are from “up north”. The middle of the country was getting this one, with a turn northward along the east coast. Ice is definitely worse than snow. Nothing can handle glare ice while proper tires and vehicles can be built for snows. </p>
<p>Loved the comments on naming. Crazy. I do remember (it’s only been a year and a half) hearing about “Alberta Clippers”- wintery weather originating there and rapidly hitting Wisconsin and other places. Then there were the blizzards of 'xx, xy… Let’s leave the naming to tropical storms/hurricanes- they get identified while forming off the coast of Africa and could be around for many days before even affecting land. easy to pinpoint beginning points on snowstorms. The last long lasting storm I recall was the blizzard of February 2011 (?) that affected Chicago (and us- the worst we’d ever had leaving the car parked near/at an airport). You can’t name every storm that closes schools and delays air traffic.</p>
<p>Correct on the barometric pressure. When I was researching “best places” to live/retire type books from the library I came across a US map with barometric pressure changes on it. I’ll bet where you live in Colorado experiences those changes in winter- the weather there seems schizophrenic- temperatures bouncing up and down.</p>
<p>Well, they name the stars, and beetles, so they won’t run out of winter storm names. Interesting about the barometric pressure map. I have never seen one.</p>
<p>Six degrees here, just days after I was working in a garage in shirtsleeves. But it is dry: I’ll take it. Good luck to the sleeted and iced ones!</p>
<p>Here in Arlington, TX we lost power around noon yesterday and it did not come back on until 5:45 this morning. To sleep, 2 blankets, a hoodie, 2 pairs of socks. I thought that was bad but my DD lost power in Farmington, CT a few years back for more that a week and she too survived the blizzard.
Don’t worry about the Cowboys, they will make it to Chicago. Around here right now, HS football playoffs are MORE of a priority. But some games set for last night and today will now be played on Monday.</p>
<p>Hondu…did your daughter get a generator after that snowstorm two years ago? The only good thing about it (we are in CT too) is that the temps the following two days were in the 60s and it was sunny. That sure helped!</p>
<p>The folks in Texas and other points south just dont have these extremes in temps very often. I hope it warms up soon for them!</p>
<p>Thumper1…No, she is at a condo complex with 3 other roommates.</p>
<p>My phone claims it is -32 deg outside. Record low for me. Instead of warming up to -22 as promised, it went the other way it appears. Will be going out shortly, curious to see how it feels.</p>
<p>Still no power in my part of Dallas. Slept under a mountain of blankets and stayed snug and warm. But it’s 49 degrees in the house so this is getting old. Will prob have to break down and go over to MIL’s if no relief soon.</p>
<p>Ihs76 that’s insanely cold.</p>
<p>Well, H finally got the pipe fixed, but our space heaters are not making much of a dent.
Gloves, hats & coats in the house.
Our dog is not too happy either, he sure runs back inside fast when he goes out!</p>
<p>In my part of Dallas we still have electricity. Although it is flickered a couple times over the last two days. I live about 3 miles from former President Bush. We always laugh and joke that they can’t let the power go out due to security issues. I lost about half of a 65-year-old live oak tree. The tree guys are out there cutting it up as we speak.</p>
<p>Sorry about the live oak loss.</p>
<p>ihs76, where are you? Egad that is cold.</p>
<p>“But it’s 49 degrees in the house so this is getting old. Will prob have to break down and go over to MIL’s if no relief soon.”</p>
<p>It does get old, very, very fast. If it were me, I’d just go.</p>
<p>Lol, sitting in a recliner at MIL’s after a hot shower and bowl of steaming chili. There is so much ice on the streets that we slid numerous times on our usually short drive. I really don’t believe there are many regions where driving on a thick layer of ice is easy. </p>
<p>They pulled a poor guy still in his truck out of an area lake after he slid into and over a guardrail on the bridge. This is bad stuff.</p>
<p>It is eerie hearing about bad weather everywhere but where we are (WI). It is very cold here but there’s virtually no snow left from the couple of inches we got a few weeks ago so the roads are blissfully clear. We are supposed to get an inch or two tomorrow but nothing to speak of or worry about since it’s a Sunday.</p>
<p>Thinking of everyone who isn’t used to handling/driving in snow, experiencing extreme cold, or dealing with an ice storm (the scariest to me, by far–thankfully we don’t get them much here).</p>
<p>Treetopleaf: I am in Great Falls, MT this weekend. Moonlighting for tuition money :D. Supposed to finally warm up to 0 deg tomorrow afternoon.</p>
<p>I’d rather have it -32 outside and 70 deg inside than 49 degrees inside and out. I hate being cold inside the house, makes me feel exposed to the elements.</p>
<p>“sitting in a recliner at MIL’s after a hot shower and bowl of steaming chili.”</p>
<p>Glad to see you came to your senses! </p>
<p>It’s just not worth the misery to stick it out if you have other options.</p>
<p>There’s just no place like home, is there?</p>
<p>Got power late last night at our house, to MIL’s disappointment, though we had a wonderful long visit. Pets were all out of whack being at a strange house, so we lugged our stuff, cat and dog, food and bowls, and litter box back to our home last night and it felt great to get everything back to normal. Now loading Christmas music to my ipod and watching a crazy football game (Philly and Detroit running through snow banks on the field, lol).</p>
<p>Now this storm is moving east-be careful out there folks. Our neighborhood streets literally looked like ice rinks and it is very very slippery still. I’m staying in until it all completely melts.</p>
<p>“Thumper1…No, she is at a condo complex with 3 other roommates.”</p>
<p>Interesting - my daughter was in a condo complex in Farmington with 3 other roommates at the same time.</p>
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<p>That’s quite a scene there!! I love how the punted balls just thud when they hit the ground.</p>
<p>Don’t know whose storm by name this is but it’s snowing now in NJ.</p>