So I haven't posted here in a while. Weather here in El Paso has been quite warm (60's and into the 70s), but we've had a lot of wind. We don't get the strong winds I grew up with in Colorado (140-150 mph), but our winds pick up the desert dust and we are getting brown-outs about every week or so. It's the time of year for that. When the wind blows like that, you just get inside, seal up whatever you can so you don't get sand dunes in your home, and wait it out.

On another note, reports this morning are indicating El Paso had a 2.5 quake in the city. I never felt it, but others did. I've lived here for 12 1/2 years and this is the 2nd quake (series of quakes) that I have heard of in the area. The previous set was a series of about 40 quakes up to a 4.0 that shook about 80 miles from here.

Welcome Fencer. It would appear we are not far behind you for warm weather here. The snow was melting rather dramatically today, with the temps in the upper 40's to lower 50's.
No earthquakes of late to report. Though I suppose we are due. It is the nature of such things to be unexpected.
The Mrs, and I did rather enjoy the weather enough to make use of the grill outside. Has enyone ever had Gummiebear brats before? I must say that they were a tad different. Mext time I shall have to do without the ketchup, and mustard, so as to enjoy the flavore alone.
Going to a trade show in New Ulm on saturday for rendezvouse. Looks like it should be fair weather. If it's not sloppy wet I might just go in outfit, moccasins, and all.

The interesting thing about yesterday's quake was that the epicenter was well within city limits. It still didn't do anything and all my students were either really surprised it happened (didn't know about it) or didn't make a big deal about it. While my mobile home absorbed any shaking I would have felt (I would have assumed it to be wind), I did hear it. It sounded like a close-flying airplane not quite at the sound-barrier. It was like weak sonic-boom without the sound that typically follows it. But when dealing with 2.5 earthquakes, I pull out a quote from Independence Day: "Not even a 4-pointer. Go back to sleep."

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day outside. It was in the mid-70s, sunny, light wind. This is what I woke up to this morning....

That's not snow by the way, that's sleet. It's a sheet of ice outside. And the temperature is 34F so it's quickly turning from ice to mush. Yay Kansas!

wild rose, it sounds like you've received a lot more snow than we have this winter!

we did have a lot of snow (still do) I think we even had more than last year, sorry that you didn't have very much of it

fantasia_kitty, hard as I try, I can't imagine anyone planting anything in March here in Russia, it is still below zero (twas -15C today and they are promising that it may come down to -20C ) planting season doesn't start till May

it snowed lightly today, as it has for the past few days.....I can't help but wonder when it is going to melt, though I feel it won't be soon, something tells me we are in for a late spring *sighs*, but then again, things might change

I am glad that we have been having clear night skies for the past week, the moon is full now and such a beauty to look at

Sadly I must report a failure on making of a Snow-Wiggle.

No problem-o, dear Wiggle. There is always another winter, and hopefully it will be more productive, snow-wise, than this one has been.

Interesting about the quake, Fencer. I'm glad it wasn't too strong. And good to see you in here again.

Sleet, fk, wow! And I see footprints. I gather those are doggie ones?

Hurrah for clear skies, wild rose! The moon, Jupiter, and Venus (and Mars in the opposite direction from J & V) have been awesome to watch, indeed!

Rain for us today, and a bit cooler, but still above freezing. Yesterday it was a balmy 15C/nearly 60F here! And very windy—a south-westerly. Some flurries may come tomorrow as the temperature dips below freezing, but then it rebounds again to above seasonal for the school March Break next week. I remember the days when the neighbourhood kids would play in the snow during this holiday, but not this year, that's for sure!

It makes me so sad that winter is ending, and we haven't really even had one yet.

Part of me thinks it would be fun to experience an earthquake - a minor one, for sure! Yet the rest of me likes the fact that the ground doesn't shake around here.

Fantasia, you have more sleet on the ground than we have snow

Winter did try one last gasp overnight, with a few snow flurries. Tonight should be clear with wind chills around 0F/-17C - but this is still the winter that really wasn't.

Only 22.2 inches of snow so far - less than half of where we should be, and about a third of a typical winter. *sigh*

And after tonight's brief cooldown it's right back into the heat: Saturday may reach 55F/12C, and the season's first 70F (21C) is likely next week. We're getting deep into March and while the snow season extends into May, the odds of any real cold snap are quickly diminishing.

BTW, most of North America advances to Daylight Saving Time this weekend. Set your clocks ahead if appropriate. (*ponders a move to Arizona or Hawaii, as they don't observe DST. )

El Paso's version of winter has returned. We have cold winds and no snow. I thought I was about to put my coat away for good for the season, except for mid-May when I'm going to the Colorado mountains for a Christian writer's conference. Not this time. I'm wearing it now, and it really doesn't help that the school where I am teaching cannot decide whether they are going to have the heat on or the AC on. It's alternated several times this morning. Two days ago, we hit 80 degrees. Today is only supposed to be in the 50's. That's rapid weather changing for here, but not for what I am used to in Colorado where it would go from 70-80 degrees to sub-freezing and snowing in one hour. Ahhhhh, spring time.

It won't be long before the AC is on here too, even though I can still see snow outside.

Yesterday we shattered the previous record high set way back in 1878; 66F/19C compared to the old record of 59F/15C. That meant only one thing: a backyard campfire with friends (Ryadian's family) followed by an evening of stargazing.

The 70s remain in the forecast for this upcoming week. If we get rain it might even begin to get green around here.

winter has returned!!!!....oh wait, it never did leave....never mind
we had a large snow storm yesterday, but it's pretty warm today, I think it is even above 0, though my dad says they are promising down to -10C this week

My sister (who lives in Michigan) would call from time to time and say it was a heat wave: it was -5F, for the high temperature. Even I haven't experienced that kind of cold much.

I wouldn't mind a little winter this year, Fencer. I don't think it got below 0F more than a dozen times all winter. I'm getting soft.

And this week? Our average high is now 39F/4C - but (starting today) every day of the next 6 or 7 will be waaay above that, in the high 60s or low 70s - with record highs expected most of the time. Whew! (I hope this doesn't bode for a hot summer!)

I hope this doesn't bode for a hot summer!

That's my big concern too. Last year was a horrid summer... way too hot, even for me. But at least this year so far we're getting a steady stream of storms and rain.

'Tis local noon and we've tied the record high temperature for the day (64F/18C). Where, oh where, has winter gone?? 80F/27C by Friday!?

We're actually on the edge of a moderate drought due to the dry fall and winter.

Consolation? There's still 76 days left of the possible snow season.

Part of me thinks it would be fun to experience an earthquake - a minor one, for sure!

*nods* Actually, we have had a few over the years—minor ones, thankfully. It is quite a thrill, I must admit, and I say that with all respect to those who have experienced severely damaging and loss-of-life quakes, which are terribly devastating.

wild rose, you certainly got the winter I wanted.

I hope, too, that this summer isn't like last year's brutally humid, sweltering season. We've had a fair bit of rain over these months, with more on the way the next couple of days. Having said that, March can still bring snow (often quite common); April can too, but not as frequently, and even May. Our daughter remembers a snow-day from school a number of years ago ... in mid-April!

This week, March Break for our public schools here, is unseasonably warm, and we've broken a couple of records already, anticipating another one this Sunday, when it could get up to the early 70s!!! In the shade it remains cool-ish, but get out in the sun today (at 17C/62F), and .

I keep wondering how the maple syrup season is faring, since this winter has been anything but typical.

Just looked at the long-range trend, and it appears we are beginning to drop in termperature towards the end of next week—'though still above freezing. Wow, weird, weird.