60s here would result in some pretty serious flooding from snowmelt.

I had something of a white-knuckle experience Thursday afternoon. I attempted to drive through the prairies of southern Minnesota toward the Twin Cities. The conditions in town were good, as the wind was broken up by buildings and trees. But out in the country, I quickly encountered a whiteout as winds roared out of the northwest at up to 47 mph (76 km/hr), driving the powder snow across the freeway in a ground blizzard.

This wasn't the first whiteout I've driven in, but it was still frightening. Imagine being surrounded by a complete wall of white on all sides, being able to see nothing outside of the car. You can't stop for fear of being rear-ended, but it's hard to proceed because you might drive off the road or hit someone.

Fortunately, those conditions only lasted seconds at a time, but it was enough to send semis jackknifing into the ditches. I turned around at the first available exit to return to my starting point, but the southbound lanes were a sheet of ice (the temps were a blistering 33F/1C earlier that day; when the storm blew in it flash-froze that melting snow to the road). Visibility was better but the wind was blowing cars across lanes. The semi in front of me must have had an empty trailer because the wind kept blowing it sideways - pretty scary. Somehow he avoided the ditch and jackknifing, but I found out that multiple semi crashes closed the road shortly after I got through. (No serious injuries reported).

Spring is here! We saw the first redwing blackbirds at our feeder today.
Just wish it would stop snowing.

That is one thing I enjoy about spring, aileth, the return of the songbirds. But they'd be crazy to show up here right now.

We picked up another 7 inches (175mm) of powder snow last Saturday, moving this winter up to 43rd on the all-time snowfall chart.

Yesterday and today feature a blistering heat wave (around 4C) ahead of another big storm tomorrow which will bring that heavy 'heart-attack' snow and even thundersnow (which is pretty cool). We could get up to another 10 inches (255mm). Don't put away those snowshoes just yet!

This January was the mildest in the 8 that I have spent here. Usually we have anywhere from 4 to 15 days below 40F/4C. This year we had not one day! I think the average low was 7-8 degrees above normal.

Wow! And it's been the opposite for us. The average low for us was a good bit below the norm, especially in January.

Two nights ago we learned that if your sidewalks aren't shoveled, you can get a $75 fine. I found that odd because when I'm out walking, I prefer walking through snow to a shoveled sidewalk that's slightly icy.

Hmmm, I have no idea what policy is in place here. I'm guessing there is no bylaw as loads of people don't shovel the sidewalk in front of their homes, but then, we usually get snowy winters, hence we have these cute little sidewalk plows

that putt along sometime after the storm subsides, so the sidewalks can remain very awkward for walking into the following days, especially on the quiet side streets.

I, too, much prefer a snowy sidewalk to a shoveled sidewalk, for the latter can be very icy. Partly packed snow is actually very pleasant to walk on ... and makes the greatest *crunch* sound.

Oh man, stargazer, whiteouts are scary, indeed! Glad you were okay, and that there were not any serious injuries. Especially in the farmland areas of Ontario, of which we have lots, the open fields allow the wind to ferociously whip across the wide spaces, roads and all, creating some very dangerous winter conditions at times.

We saw the first redwing blackbirds at our feeder today.

It'll be another couple of months, most likely, before we see our first redwings. Are yours as domineering as ours, aileth?

We received more snowfall on Tuesday—6" or so. It was light and fluffy and so pretty. However, once that snowplow came through later in the day ... that's heavy stuff! But again, we had trouble finding a place to put what we shoveled. And as with your way, 'gazer, it is going up to 5C/41F here tomorrow (!!!). Today was just above freezing so all the abundant snow is beginning its melting. Tomorrow evening we are expecting a lot of rain, which will then turn to ice as the temperatures drop on Friday, with flurries and more snow on the weekend. Nope, we are definitely not anywhere near done with winter yet. Methinks Wiarton Willie was bang on this year.

We had some funky weather move through this morning. I think it's the same cold front that's supposed to bring another round of heavy snow up north and possibly tornadoes in the southeast. Crazy wind gusts, rain, sleet, and snow. And the high today is supposed to be 51F.

Today school is actually canceled for snow instead of temperatures. Wind is playing a factor as well. It is beautiful out.

Picture 1
Picture 2
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Picture 4

Nice pictures, Twigs. Thanks for posting them.

It really is quite beautiful out, though it might be better enjoyed viewed through a window in the comfort of one's home since the wind is howling and wind chills are well below 0F.

Snow totals were held down a bit because it couldn't decide whether to rain or snow at first (so there was a layer of ice under the snow on my car, which made it harder to shovel out). We got about 11.5 inches/295mm; areas to the northeast report much more, and it is still snowing there.

Some rather unusually cold weather (for this late in the season) is coming in on the heels of this storm, with highs next week around 0F/-17C and lows between -15 and -20F (-26 to -29C).

That certainly sounds like crazy weather, fantasia ... nice term for it, "funky".

Twigs, your photos are gorgeous—a winter wonderland, but horrendous to shovel. We had that same type of Narnian beauty yesterday afternoon, but during the night the temperatures rose to just above freezing, with strong winds and even long rolls of thunder (in February!), so roads and sidewalks were quite a mess this morning. However, more chilly weather is coming this weekend and then very cold next week again (the high on Thursday is only to be -21C/-5.8F, not including the wind chill), so winter is hanging on for dear life. Of course, the more frigid temps mean that all the puddles and moisture now on the roads, etc, will all turn to ... ice.

Apparently wind gusts today could buffet up to 80kms/hr (49miles/hr)!

While I must admit the pictures were nice, they look an awfully lot like the back yard. ( Not that there is a shower curtain in my back yard, and that was a most pleasant, though curious addition. )
We had well over eight inches here with the wind gusting around 30, to 35 mph. what really makes it an adventure is the wind cannot seem to settle on a particular direction. I turn down the sidewalk and start blowing the way the wind WAS blowing, only for it to shift, and I have a face full.
Mind you I was well awake by the time the Mrs. saw me lumbering into the back porch looking all the world like a mobile snowman.
Thankfully the sky is clear, but the wind has only backed off a bit.

More wind is on tap for the next couple days, Puddleglum, especially in open areas. Keep warm!

Meteorological spring begins Saturday, but someone forgot to tell the weather. We may set a record low high temperature for the day (4F/-16C is forecast). Lows well below 0F/-17C are called for all week, with highs Thursday struggling to reach 0F/-17C. This is about 30F/17C below average and rather unusual this late in the season.

They've brought out the front-end loaders and other equipment to move the snow away from the parking lots outside. But in a few months people will likely be complaining about how hot it is.

Sounds like quite the blustery adventure, Puddleglum.

Meteorological spring begins Saturday, but someone forgot to tell the weather.

No kidding! We are far below normal here too, with the temperature around -15C/5F and windchills a fair bit lower (near -30C/-22F): the normal for this time of year is around -2C/28.4F. This arctic air is supposed to extend not only through this week, but well into next week as well, with skiffles of snow from time to time, although no large snowstorm forecast as yet, however I am still hoping for another couple of good ones before spring weather arrives.

But in a few months people will likely be complaining about how hot it is.

That'd be me. Although, to be fair, I don't think I have uttered one complaint about the cold, snowy weather this winter, says this polar bear.

Today's high was a blistering 1F/-17C... but we failed to match the record of the coldest high temperature for the date (-1F in 1962). So...spring?

Finally getting some rain here in Southern California. Total for today as of this post: .56 inches. Yay! We are now at 1/3 of normal rainfall for this season.

EDIT: We got about 2 inches total during the past few days.

It is COLD out there today. High temp: 6F/-14C. With the wind chill factored in, it feels like -15F/-26C. It's also snowing a lot more heavily than I thought it could with the weather this cold. It's better than yesterday though. It was that perfect set of factors that was causing freezing rain to stick to everything. Lots of black ice, lots of rollover accidents. We went to my niece's concert yesterday and when we left, the windshield immediately iced over until the defrost kicked in and started working.

It's all good though, it's supposed to be 56F/13C by Friday.

Finally, it has been raining for quite a bit, bringing in autumn rather earlier than usual. A beautifully large band of rainclouds stretched from North West Western Australia, diagonally down to south of Sydney in the East.

Summer finished officially last Friday, but the heat may return for a while yet. It is said we are in for El Nino, which is developing in the West Pacific.