*contemplates a trip to Alberta to see some snow*

Actually, the snow arrived a couple hours ago, and though it's only an inch or so thus far, it's the winds that are making things interesting outside. To the south (southern Minnesota and Iowa), blizzard conditions are already being reported. The storm is currently centered in Colorado, so areas to my south and west (like Kansas and Nebraska) are getting the most action right now.

It'll rapidly move to the northeast, bringing over a foot of snow to southern Minnesota - and it's so flat down there that the accompanying winds (exceeding 40 mph/65 kph) will blow it all over the place. It'll then pass through Wisconsin (over 15 inches of snow expected), Michigan, and Ontario.

Temps will drop below 0F/-17C for the first time here this season, with windchills approaching -40F/C. Sites in Montana are already reporting windchills below -40. Those are respectible readings.

*contemplates a trip to Alberta to see some snow*

The odd thing is, while we can have long stretches of severe cold, we don't get nearly as much snow as other parts of Canada. But, it usually happens this way. One or two huge storms a year, with a whole lot of nothing in between. It's good, though, because the summer was severely dry. Since we get very little rain, we need the snow to hydrate the soil.

The best part was standing in my driveway, watching the people who are too cheap to buy snow tires trying to navigate the ice-covered streets with their all-seasons.

luckly, we didn't get very much snow here, so it is almost all gone, but it is suposed to get colder this weekend and it might snow again!

New Englander here...and the snow is REALLY coming down. It's supposed turn to rain later, which could mean ICE. !!! We are so not looking forward to a repeat of last year, when we had an enormous ice storm causing the power to go down for several days...Hopefully it doesn't get that bad again!

yeah, Silvertounge! we are having the same weather! the snow is SO thick and heavy (I just was out shovling)!!

Today it's my turn to look outside and see a big white pile where my car is parked. We only got about 8 inches but the wind (up to 40 miles/hr) is piling it up pretty high. Our current windchill is -11F/-24C. Those readings are only going to go down over the next few days.

I just talked to my parents, who live about 2 hours south of here near the Iowa line. Their town received over a foot (30 cm) of snow and the drifts are 6-8 feet high. They're not going anywhere today.

lotsa snow today, to say the least. Took forever to drive to school, and walking to the building I was the coldest I've been in a long time. I had to go out on the roads again later to the doctor's, sure picked a good day for that

ugh! the snow won't go away and it's gotten really cold!
oh, well!
but the weather is better than it was last year! last year, we had a HUGE ice storm and everyone in all the states that get snow lost power in their homes for a month! that was awful!
but this year is better.....so far......

The wind and snow has moved on to the northeast US and southern Ontario, with some spectacular lake-effect snows reported in areas like Buffalo, NY.

It's been followed here by cooler weather; today's high was an invigorating 5F/-15C. I'd forgotten how brisk windchills around -30F/-34C can be.

Observers in northern Norway reported a rather bizarre-looking glowing spiral formation the other night. The images look almost fake but it was observed and photographed by multiple observers. It turned out to be a failed sub-based Russian missile launch.

stargazer: wow! that sounds so cool! the spiral thing, I mean.

But I think I'm getting soft. I just went out to get the mail and found the 9F/-13C windchill a bit invigorating. I suppose this means I'll need a coat when I go out and about tonight.

Yes, I agree a coat might be a good thing to put on when it's that nippy. And I am not one who is known to wear a coat very readily, as I believe you aren't, either.

Interesting and very sad, as well, to hear about the current Irish weather, polly plummer. It's special how communities and neighbours pitch in to help when there is a crisis like that. Take good care!

aslansothername, thanks for the pics! What fun you got snow. (Nice dogs too. What did they think of the cold, white stuff?

Wow, hyaline12, that's quite the storm! Did your father make it to his gigs?

From the sounds of everyones' posts, it has been a rather wild and somewhat crazy December weather-wise thus far.

stargazer, we were issued a winter storm warning shortly after your area, but it never really materialized where I live because we're so close to the lake. And sure enough, the forecaster said that those by the lake will get very little snow. *sniff* Actually, it wasn't until this morning that we had some thick and heavy snow squalls: a joy to behold ... and rather treacherous driving as well. Thankfully all my errands were fairly close to home. The accumulation, though, was only a few centimetres, and everything looks so pretty. Considering we had torrential rain on Tuesday (the day of the potential winter storm) and a high of 6C/43F, yesterday brought quite a change with temperatures dropping and windchills of -15C/5F today; -21C/-6F tonight (although these aren't as cold as you're experiencing, gazer). The wind was strong enough last night to shatter the front door of a local bank!

And, reading a later post of yours, gazer, I see you did receive a goodly amount of snow ... and your parents' area was really hit! Wow! Yes, Buffalo can get quite the snow dumps from lake-effect snow: that southern side of Lake Ontario always seems to have more exciting weather than we do.

Silvertongue and Liberty, I hope that an ice storm doesn't hit your area of New England again. Ice storms are terrible!

That spiral formation in the sky looks amazing! I wonder what we'd think if we saw something like that in our night sky. I believe I'd be a bit freaked out. Here is a little article on the phenomenon (Strange Lights over Norway).

Tomorrow is continuing cold for us with flurries, then Saturday and Sunday turn a bit milder (just above freezing) with some rain. I'm hoping next week will turn to seasonable temperatures again ... with accumulating snow. (That's just my wish: I haven't heard the long-range forecast yet. ) So, for us, a White Christmas is still in question.

(stargazer, I do like your Grinch signature! )

johobbit: yeah, I hope we don't get an ice strom this year. there was one last year and it was AWFUL!

I hope you can avoid the ice storms this year too!

To tell the truth, I'm glad I live in a place that's usually too cold for ice storms (it usually just goes over to snow). We've had a couple that I can recall, and it's just crazy. Give me a foot of snow and -20F any day.

But it's toasty here today; the sun is out and the windchill has warmed up to 0F/-17C. Quite pretty with all the new snow.

Today had a high of about 56 F, and its going to be at least 70 by Sunday, though the weather reports have been wrong the last couple of days... I feel like a party pooper with all my depressing weather reports

well, today isn't too bad.....it's sunny, but it's only 28 degrees!
oh well! spring will come again.....some day!