We have snow in El Paso. It's not much, but snow nonetheless. Temps are supposed to be chilly today, but decent while the clouds stick around (right around freezing). But tonight is supposed to be COLD for El Paso standards as we are expecting to drop into the teens or single digits once the clouds clear.

That dust and wind sounds rather intimidating, Fencer. I guess I'm more used to wind-driven snow.

International Falls, the self-proclaimed "Icebox of the Nation," hit an air temperature of -30F/-35C this morning, and will not get above 0F today. We were lucky; it only got down to about 5F/-15C here this morning - comparatively balmy! And we got a bit of snow from an Alberta Clipper as a bonus!

The earth is at perihelion - closest to the sun - today. Enjoy! It'll gradually pull away from the sun until the far point of its orbit next July.

Were I live there is never any snow, nor rain for that matter. I happen to really like rainfall and is a shame that were I live nor a cold climate or rainfall is very common. Thankfully in January it tends to be quite cold, so I try to enjoy as much this comfortable temperature.

I can't believe it's been two months since I've had time to get back into this thread. I've missed it, 'though have kept up with the posts.

stargazer, that video of the Metrodome roof collapsing from the snow is quite something. Incredible!

So, last I posted was mid-November, and we didn't receive snow for quite awhile after. Flurries fell gently off and on, but nothing of significance until only a couple of weeks ago, when it finally came. Everything is so white, cold, and wintry now. Absolutely beautiful!

Well, early in the morning, the night of the lunar eclipse at the winter solstice back in December, all five of us got out of our cozy, warm beds to brave the cold weather. Bundled up in coats, scarves, and gloves, with the telescope set up outside, thanks to our youngest son's efforts, we were in and out of the house for a couple of hours watching, watching, in wonder once more of the beauty, especially as it reached totality. Awesome! We used the telescope some, but more to look at other celestial objects, as the eclipse, itself, was better viewed with the naked eye. We thought it may be cloudy that night, but thankfully the sky cleared. What a treat!

We have around a foot of snow now (usually there is more this time of year, but ... lovely! The first big snowfall I was out in the morning and ended up shoveling five or six neighbours' driveways: I just couldn't get enough of the beauty. Good exercise too. It was such an amazing day, because the wintry sun would peek out, then clouds would gather again, only to have quite heavy snow come down for awhile, after which it would clear somewhat, and the cycle would repeat itself over and over.

Tonight is one of our coldest thus far: -30C with the windchill (-22F). I was out for my walk about an hour ago and the night sky was so crisply-clear with the Hunter stalking his prey in the south-east, as Sirius keeps an eye on him, and Jupiter shining in the south-west. Imagine this scenario: the scent of wood fires in the clear air, the satisfying crunch of cold, dry snow beneath one's feet, the shadows cast by the gibbous moon was, and all under the glorious sky was idyllic. Magical.

And isn't tonight when the moon is at its most northerly point? I'm not sure how to explain this properly, but I know others *coughstargazercough* could help me here.

Hoping for more snow sometime this week ... with temperatures remaining cold, except for Tuesday, when we get a hiccup of 'warmer weather', but still below freezing.

You rang?

You're right; the moon is at its farthest north (and therefore highest for Northern Hemisphere viewers) this evening. It's much like the sun's behavior (high in summer, low in winter), except the moon goes through the cycle once a month instead of once a year. While it happens each month, it's most noticeable in winter, since the moon is closer to a big, bright full phase then. (There are some other, relatively small effects that repeat in an 18.61-year long cycle; these sometimes make the moon even higher or lower than usual. But that's a tale for another night ).

Glad you got to see the eclipse, jo! (And how fun that you got to watch it with your family). Not surprisingly this season, it was snowing here. And I agree, such an eclipse, while fun to look at telescopically, is at its best with the unaided eye. One can take in all the changes, across the whole sky, that way.

I can just smell the wood fire smoke and see Orion by your description, jo! Alas, 'tis cloudy here, with more snow on the way. We've received around 55 inches (140 cm) so far - almost the average for a normal winter. With half of January and all of March left - our 2 snowiest months - we might have a crack at the snowiest winter ever!

And it won't be melting soon; temps this week may sink down to -15F/-26C and struggle to reach 5F/-15C during the day. And that's in the city. The rural areas north of here are going to get a lot colder.

Yes, I rang. Ah, good, thank you for that, stargazer. And I would like to hear that other moon tale sometime.

55" of snow already, 'gazer! I am rather envious, but then look at what we have now, and remember what we didn't receive last year, and am thankful at least it's a semi-normal winter for us this year. And, like you say, there are weeks more winter to come!

When I was out for my morning jog in the bitter (but invigorating) cold this morning, a verse of this well-known winter song kept on popping into my mind:
"Over the river and through the woods
Oh how the wind does blow
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go"

One thing I forgot to mention in my description above is how the snow glittered last night in the moonlight. Just like tiny crystals of light, sparkling and glistening everywhere I looked. Soooo pretty.

Now, tomorrow's 'hiccup' is still just that, but will bring with it potential freezing rain, even rain for a bit, then turning into snow again as the day comes to an end. Should be ... interesting.

It's interesting to hear about all the snow because it's 70 degrees here! It's quite a treat!

I thought maybe the weather buffs would find this article about a potential California superstorm interesting. It doesn't seem imminent, but interesting nonetheless. My hometown is well situated for flooding, so I hope I'm there if it hits! I have no idea what my college home away from home would be like in a superstorm.

Here it is warm and sunny, like Summer or Spring. It's hard to believe it's still Winter...

~Riella

Winter still has a couple months to run here - and it may be 4 months before the snow is all gone.

The next few days will be the coldest of the season so far - down to -15F/-26C, with windchills down to -40. (On the old windchill chart, that'd be more like -55F/-48C). Our piles of snow won't be going anywhere soon.

Our sky has cleared in advance of the cold, so I'm about to go out to look at tonight's full Wolf Moon. Check it out if your sky is clear!

That's an interesting article, Kate. Sounds rather speculative; it may happen eventually, but apparently would require one of those rare 'perfect storm' situations.

Here it is warm and sunny, like Summer or Spring. It's hard to believe it's still Winter...

its not like that in my part of California though I wish it was... espicially today it was supposed ot be sunny all day, we had sun for maybe about 45 minutes??? Then it was gloomy, cloudy, windy and COLD all day, no fun, espicially for waek Californians who dont normally deal with snow and such

and Kate that California potential superstorm sounds pretty interesting indeed...

Winter still has a couple months to run here - and it may be 4 months before the snow is all gone.

The next few days will be the coldest of the season so far - down to -15F/-26C, with windchills down to -40. (On the old windchill chart, that'd be more like -55F/-48C). Our piles of snow won't be going anywhere soon.

Pure awesome! It's kinda weird, but I like really cold weather (provided I'm wearing the right gear!). Yesterday it was about 5F, and I have a long walk from my car to my classes so it felt like an adventure .
A lot of people groan whenever it snows a little bit more, but I love it! Snow sports are awesome.

And by the way stargazer your sig is amazing, I love that place.

Winter still has a couple months to run here - and it may be 4 months before the snow is all gone.

The next few days will be the coldest of the season so far - down to -15F/-26C, with windchills down to -40. (On the old windchill chart, that'd be more like -55F/-48C). Our piles of snow won't be going anywhere soon.

Our sky has cleared in advance of the cold, so I'm about to go out to look at tonight's full Wolf Moon. Check it out if your sky is clear!

That's an interesting article, Kate. Sounds rather speculative; it may happen eventually, but apparently would require one of those rare 'perfect storm' situations.

I know how you feel, it was recently -20C, but now thankfully it is up to -13. And to top it off there is a bitting cold wind blowing ALL the time

Yes - I also suffer under lots of snow and cold . . very depressing, though beautiful. We also have quite a few more months left in winter, and they're the worst ones. I'm quite ready for the snow and cold to go away - forever!!

On the way to work last night, just as I was about to make a turn on the final road/driveway into work, I saw a bright green streak flash in the sky in front of me and a meteorite sail to the Earth. It probably lasted less than 3 seconds but it was an incredible sight! It's amazing to know that these little fragments of space rock are oftentimes very small and yet create such a huge spectacle upon atmospheric entry...really something!

Here in Northern British Columbia (Canada) we just got about three feet of snow in the past week. It was quite amazing how fast it all piled up. We had a few small snowfalls last week, and then all of a sudden we woke up to about a foot on Sunday! Lots of people were late to church due to being stuck in their driveway, including my family. We've had a few small snowfalls since the one big one on Sunday, but it does all add up - we've had our street plowed all of one time and the sidewalks near our house haven't been cleared of snow at all since the snowing started. Walking home from work is an adventure