Icelandic Freeze in NorthWest

We are preparing for this to hit today for several days. It is anticipated we will get down to 15F and not be above freezing for several days. This is perfectly usual in the mountains, but down on the valley floor this is unusual. In fact a cold spell at all before Christmas is unusual. Heavy snow has been forecasted, together with freezing rain. Oh goody :-D

Already the wind has picked up and it is bitter. Currently it is still dry. Busy weather-proofing the house, especially external water pipes & faucets, sprinkler systems and the travel trailer. The dog is already objecting and his arthritic back legs are seizing up, but he's loving the extra attention and pampering this gets him

How are those of you in So. Louisiana doing today?

 

Yikes! I know only to well how it is when it gets that cold and nasty out. I can vivdly remember walking to school in below zero temps and home from swim practice and my hair would be frozen just like icicles.

Stay warm, and home if possible. No sense being out and about if you don't have to be. Black ice is nasty stuff.

 

Yup, nothing like a good wood fire in an enclosed fireplace! We've had a few -20C/-3F nights already and that is not a friendly temperature though I like the 'squeaky' snow when you step on it. Oh, I would replace the soup with a nice bowl of venison chili.:yum

 

We have nice fires every night as it happens as it is our main form of heating. I believe this weather is coming from Canada (scowls at augie!). Not sure about staying in thoguh - we are meant to be in Portland on Sunday :eek

That is too spooky augie - I got a deal of bambi burger out the freezer this morning with the intent of making chili tonight. (Checks room for hidden webcams).

Off to buy some snow chains for my car right now. It is currently just above freezing and peeing it down. Nice slick ice under the snow tomorrow.

 

LOL @ spooky Lev! This is the time for bambi chili, plus knowing that you had to have something left in the freezer besides bambi nuggets!:-D

 

Oh yes! The freezer is stocked good still

The wind is picking up, the rain is lashing down - very cold. Hubby and dog are in the garage - LOL - no, they haven't been bad - they are lagging pipes and faucets. I have some tire chains for my car. Fire is roaring; chili is bubbling on the stove. Whisky is in the cupboard We are pretty much ready for anything the weather cares to throw at us now.

 

LOL Lev, that'll work anytime here to hunker down with! Hmm, I wonder how a dog 'lags' pipes? I guess it's an Oregonian thang.

Later, time for supper.

 

We breed 'em smart. There's ya sign!

 

OK...trip to Portland canceled for tomorrow. Think I'll just stay in and bake mince pies :-D

 

Glad you are ok Lev! In northern Louisiana, it is windy and cool, 40 Degrees or so. But dang it is windy! My favorate drink when it is cold is Port. I had a glass of 1977 Fonseca Port last night. You have to love customers that bring stuff like that in to share..:drool That is a glass of wine I will remember!

Wish I had a fireplace. I did make some sparks fly today using the dremel on my computer case.

 

LOL @ dremel.

Good to hear you and the port are doing fine. That's some crazy stuff in Louisiana too! We are currently quite warm at 36F and icy cold winds at about 10mph. Due to pick back up again tonight and temperatures plummeting. We've been told to start leaving a faucet slowly running. Looks like another front in coming in right behind this one at about Thursday this week, so more snow coming next weekend too.

 

It is the Global Warming Lev. Get the A/C ready!

 

Global warming my donkey!

See you over in Hot Button Topics for that one, Fred

 

It snowed with accumulation today in Northern California.

 

WOW - it missed us! :celebrate

 

Hmmmm...spoke to soon...it just started snowing big time - like pre-formed snowballs falling out the sky :eek

 

Mmm... Bambi... *drools*

 

What a fun day that was! Finally made it to work to find 50% of my staff didn't :-D Now the temperature plummets and we get to do it all again tomorrow!

 

Today I learned how to ice skate...in a Civic :-D Good times!

Temperature has dropped to 15F (-9C) already and it was only shortly after 6pm. Going to be a cold night. I'm practically sat IN the fire now with the laptop in a bid to stay warm. More snow due tomorrow - on top of the black ice....yummy!

How's the other snow bunnies in here doing?

 

Chipping ice off of everything. 15F? How warm you were. Was down to 10F yesterday here in the hand.

 

Freakin' nasty here. Light rain and it is freezing. Well, for the South it is. 45F. I hate winter.

 

We had around 20F today, and sunny, so it was actually quite pleasant. We expect a high of 16 and a low of -3 tomorrow though... I spent a part of the evening digging my down coat out of the box in the garage, and I have invested in fleece-lined leather gloves, a warm hat that covers my ears, and I have located my long knitted wool scarf.

I'm ready for you, cold. Bring it on! :major

 

Freezing rain in the Seattle area. Spinouts all over the place. Schools closed for the second day in a row. It's my husband's turn to deal with the kiddos today.

I think I'll wait an hour before I drive in to work.

 

Hope you are all safe and that the freeze is soon over and power restored, etc.

Here in Cairns, OZ, today, it is going to be around 33°C (91°F) and around 86% humidity. Hot and sticky here for the next 6-8 weeks.

Bazza

 

you guys dont know cold until you spend a winter in the midwest. here in minnesota, if were at 20F its a nice day. it is 15F here now and my window is open.

 

Someone dump some snow on Bazza. Let him feel some real winter.

 

Oh yeah. I've spent time in Montana in the winter. The problems with the NW are three:

(1) the municipalities have no idea how to sand and salt properly when there is snow;
(2) natives have no ****ing clue how to drive in snow (sample problem: chains on back of front wheel drive vehicles)
(3) it's very damp so more likely to get thaws and freezes on the road so there is glare ice. Even I have trouble driving on glare ice without chains.

Took me two hours to get home from work today and I was one of the lucky ones. Planning on working from home tomorrow. Schools closed again.

FJM

 

Sounds like Michigan. Takes most of the state three months to remember how to drive.

 

Not gonna happen. :-D It is summer here right now. In winter it gets down to a freezing 54°F ( 12°C) for us, for a couple of weeks. :-D Bazza

===

 

Hmph. We call that tropical. I guess I'll have to see a man about a C-130...

 

Trying to get my boys in from the UK. They've bunny-hopped all over the US so far all day today. Gradually they are getting nearer and nearer, but the whole ordeal has been touch and go, and stress has been immense. Waiting to see if their final connection will come through. The entire Northwest is really struggling with huge ice storms and snow today.

 

Hope they're home real soon, Lev.

 

Hope they make it home safe.

Temperature's here this morning, without wind: -14 Celsius. With the Wind? -20 F. *shudder*

Plus the relative who generously plows our drive managed to get stuck. *head desk*