Thursday, January 05, 2012

Not looking very much like winter


January has only just started, but I’m already wondering how much winter I’m going to see this year. So far the season is not impressive. Open water? Got that. No snow cover? Got that. One day of winter temperatures sandwiched between 50 degree weather? Got that.

Even looking out a full week, nothing is on the horizon or further west that signals an approaching storm or spate of winter-normal temperatures. It’s mid-November all over again. Even the winter birding feeding has slowed, as though the feeder birds are still finding natural food.

Winter could still arrive with a vengeance, but even if it does, winter is unlikely to last much past late March. So instead of winter weather beginning by Thanksgiving and lasting until late March, a span of some 16 weeks, a winter that begins in mid-January is one that will last only about 9-10 weeks. And even that assumes actual winter weather will begin by the middle of next week. It seems as though the weird weather of 2011 is stretching over into 2012, too. I just hope 2012 doesn’t bring another tornado, earthquake, the hurricanes or another 6ft. of rain to Roundtop Mtn.

6 comments:

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

I bet there are some folks who think we've lost our minds, complaining about no winter weather. But we HAVE to have winter to keep our northern species of plants and animals. And to play in it, too.

Carolyn H said...

Woodswalker: I've taken to grinding my teeth when I hear forecasters enthuse about how "nice" the weather is for January. Is it any wonder that few people think much about climate change or global warming when they are constanting reminded how "nice" the weather is?

Cathy said...

Oh yea! we are going to hammered later this year with a massive snowstorm. All this nice weather is just tempting the snow Gods.

Granny Sue said...

I'm with you. I want winter to be winter. Last year was perfect in my book.

Did your package arrive okay?

Cicero Sings said...

Still very mild out west here as well. Often when the east is mid the west has terrible weather and vice versa. Doesn't seem to holding true this year.

ramblingwoods said...

the weather is strange and I am wondering how the birds and plants will react as I live near Buffalo NY