There was great rejoicing in the Twin Cities as the temperature crawled above 0F/-17C this morning for the first time in over 78 hours.

The rapid heating is causing problems with water mains bursting.

As wagga noted, we're close to the cross-quarter day that marks halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere). However, we joke a bit about the worst case scenario should the groundhog see his shadow - 6 more weeks of winter takes us to the spring equinox, and around here we should be so lucky as to see spring in March.

wagga, I'd love to see the Southern Cross and other such sights some day.

We in the Northern Hemisphere have it easier as far as finding directions at night. Polaris is less than a degree from the pole and marks north quite precisely, and while it's a myth that it's "the brightest star in the sky" it's fairly easy to find by using the pointer stars in the Big Dipper (which never sets north of about latitude 44N).

haha love your profile pic, stargazer. It didn't get below freezing here in southern Oregon for the 2nd night in a row, but it's supposed to start getting icky. Was raining some yesterday and overnight, but I've heard threats of snow.

I enjoyed my 70F on Sunday. Did some touch up painting on the outside of the house.

Today we have freezing rain and icy conditions.

It's been cold and snowing here. I'm getting tired of shoveling snow...well my back and arms are at least.

It's thundering, it's raining, and it's 23F/-5C outside.

fantasia, wow. So weird.

We had an ice storm all day yesterday, and now have about a 1/2" or more of ice coating everything. for the first day in 'forever' that I have not stepped a foot outside the front door. Had to cancel all that was planned, as it was just too dangerous to go into town. Overnight now (it's currently 5:40 a.m.) there was periodic freezing drizzle, and even 'freezing fog'! This morning the iced drizzle should continue, changing to rain or snow mid-afternoon, with possible thunder tonight, even though, as with your area, fantasia, it will be a few degrees below freezing!

Environment Canada put out strong warnings late Tuesday night for people not to go out on the roads unless absolutely necessary from very early Wed a.m. until Thursday afternoon, at least. I am amazed we have not had our power go out yet!

Having said all that, all the bountiful, beautiful snow we had last week is now ... gone. However, as snow settles in falling over the next few days, everything should be white and colder again. With some ice underneath.

Our weather the past two weeks has been insane. Last week it got down in the 20s and 30s , with a minor snow flurry. Now it's been getting into the 70s!! The high today is actually 77! The forecasts are showing 50 and 30 degree temperatures next week. It's almost like the weather has a fever...
That's life down south, I guess.

Jo, I suspect your ice storm is the one we had a few days ago. I was driving home Sunday evening in light drizzle. The freeways were fine because they'd been treated, but the side streets were skating rinks.

By Monday morning, everything was ice as temperatures dropped. Then we got about 4 inches/100mm of snow Tuesday, on top of the ice. It is snowing now (and quite pretty if you don't have to drive in it), with 4-8 inches more expected, then the temperatures drop again as cold air moves in (lows around -15F/-25C and highs around 0F/-17C). Winter was late this year but it's making up for lost time.

Maybe some of this snow will come your way, Jo.

Cleander, those kind of temperature swings are reminiscent of the ones we can get, once spring decides to make an appearance, which may be a few months.

The freezing fog that was mentioned by our good hobbit was also seen, and felt here. It was with careful steps that I wandered back, and forth across the drive, and sidewalk to apply salt.
One of the local channels showed a video clip from a Wisconsin station where a youngster was skating on a country road.
The snow has finished falling here stargazer. I would guess we have five to six inches to add to the four, or so from last night. Thankfully it was of the light fluffy variety.
The temps are to fall through the night with a "high" of -2, or less tomorrow. Add the wind, and it will be an interesting commute in the morning.
We expect to hear of more pipes freezing. Word of advice for anyone wanting to build a home in a hemisphere where temperatures frequently fall below freezing. NEVER install plumbing in an outer wall, especially on the north side of the home! Whoever trains said architects to do so must have been raised in the deep south.
If you should have such a situation I advise buying some bails of hay to place on the outer wall next to the pipes. Also leave open the cabinet doors under the sink if you have them while the temps are low outside. If you do not mind a little higher water bill, leave a trickle running over night. Just get ear plugs if you have a weak bladder while you sleep.

We *always* leave the taps dripping at night now...going through 5 days without water due to busted frozen pipes being replaced just once was enough...and it was 1.4 degrees Farenheit this morning. Well that's the coldest I noticed it got, it was actually 3 degrees when I woke up, but around sunrise it always drops a little more before rising again with the sun.

Ooh, you are all heroes to me, coping with these!
All I have in west London (UK) is grey skies and light rain. Even the temperatures have been mild since I arrived a few days ago. Where I stayed with a friend in south west England there was a decent fall of snow, which lasted for a few days in cold temperatures - but was unusual.
Last year I was in the north of England, and we got a few moderate snowfalls. None of the icy issues.
Wishing you all cosy homes, warm clothes, and good health!

Something really terrible happened in North Queensland. There has been a 7 year drought on the other side of the Great Dividing Range which the farmers were only just recovering from. We've sent aid, the cattle were fattening up nicely & lovely calves & lambs had been the result. Now it is all swept away because of an extreme monsoonal event, the sort where a year's rain falls in a day. Hundreds & thousands of cattle swept away, newborns and all, well beyond control. Townsville was flooded and the homes that were ruined are in the thousands. The broken-hearted farming folk crying their hearts out over the radio. Wildlife killed as well, kangaroos & even birds not only the livestock.

None of this monsoonal rain came down this way. Even a storm which caused much disruption in Sydney, itself, bypassed us entirely.

Sorry to hear that wagga

Nature is a fickle mistress....

Thank you for your good wishes, Kalta. The flooding is such a national disaster that it should concentrate the attentions of those in power here onto what really matters in our national life, like nothing else. I do grieve for the farmers though. Years of grindingly hard work wiped out in days, our fourth biggest export trade decimated, & that entire region's economy wrecked. All we can do is the best we can, & may God prosper our efforts.

It is interesting to see the comparison between the relatively mild climate of UK & the harsher climate of USA. Although yesterday was still too hot in the evening, the weather seems to be winding down already. Maybe in a fortnight we will see the last of the February Dragon. Happy Valentine's day.

Also sorry to hear that wagga.

I think the large western mountain ranges in the US (Cascades and Rockies) tend to create some of our extreme weather. Because they run north to south, the prevailing westerly winds have to go over them to reach the plains, bringing rain to the west side and drier air to the interior. In the winter it is common for cold weather to come straight over the North Pole and be funneled to the central US as well. Add the moisture and warmth from the Gulf of Mexico, and we have quite a potential cauldron of weather ingredients.

Winter started late here but is making up for it; several snowstorms the past week dropped about 6 inches (150mm) each, pushing this month into 4th place for the snowiest ever. There are a few mountains of snow out there and it's quite pretty if one doesn't need to get around town.

Seattle, which according to the news averages about 7 inches (175mm) of snow all winter, has more than doubled that amount just in the past two weeks. My brother has tales of being unable to get around - they don't have the equipment to deal with it that snowier areas do, and there are some good sized hills there, not to mention less-experienced winter drivers (though that can even apply in areas like the one I live in, where snow is a fact of life). Indeed, until this past week, Seattle's February snow total exceeded that of Minneapolis.