@courtenay 

The winters here in western Michigan are not as severe as they used to be. But if you go “up north” to the Upper Peninsula there is a lot more snow and cold temperatures. I actually don’t mind the cold that much, but driving through snowstorms can be tricky. I don’t know if you ever have blizzards in the UK, but we had them here in Michigan during the 1970’s. We haven’t had storms like that in decades. I would rather have the cold weather than put up with the summer heat, which we have for only a few weeks. There are birds called juncos which love to play in the snow instead of flying south. 🙂

@courtenay I have been through the cold weather here in the Northwest too. Very glad I packed a knitted wool hat, 2 pairs of gloves, and two coats. Made my way across Leeds central city with my luggage this morning, anxious not to slip on ice or lose my luggage/balance. Snow warning and blustery winds are forecast in the NE where I am now. 

Does anyone get cabin fever during the winter months?  I get it when the weather is too cold for taking walks or doing most things outside. It is true that you can do many things indoors such as reading and listening to music, but at some time you will want to be outside. I don’t get cabin fever so often before Christmas, but it is during February that the feeling comes most often. I just spend time thinking about spring. 🙂

At the moment it is swelteringly hot, up to 35 degrees Celsius, in the dying days of Spring. It bodes ill for a very hot summer, this year, in Southern Climes. I hope it doesn't get anywhere near as bad as it did in 2019, when at the end of that year, we had bushfires as well, to contend with, as well as record heat. On 4th January, 2020, here, in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, was the hottest part of the world at 47.9 degrees Celsius. 😢 

@waggawerewolf27 I'd give you a "like", Wagga, but I don't like weather like that at all (despite having grown up with it) and I don't miss it one bit!! Take care and stay cool as much as you can. I hope there won't be bushfires like "Black Summer" again.

Meanwhile, here in the UK, it got oddly warmish directly after that freezing cold and snow, and we've just been having a storm. Not bad in the North — only a fair bit of rain yesterday, which has cleared up now — but in other parts, especially in South Wales, there's been bad flooding and a lot of disruption on the roads and railways. It's been turning colder again, but not freezing. 

@stargazer wrote: 'Tis Halloween in North America now, though it looks a lot more like Christmas here! Less than 48 hours after August-like high temperatures, the snow is falling fast and accumulating outside. 2-4 inches (50-100mm) is expected by the time it finishes later today.

That sounds so lovely! We are expecting our first snowfall accumulation later this week, just in time (hopefully) for cutting down the Christmas tree at a large Dutch farm about 15 minutes SW of us.  

Indeed, @narnian78, the many Christmas lights already glowing here (both inside and out) are so pretty, and will be even moreso with the coming forecast snow.  

@narnian78 wrote: I don’t know if you ever have blizzards in the UK, but we had them here in Michigan during the 1970’s. We haven’t had storms like that in decades. I would rather have the cold weather than put up with the summer heat, which we have for only a few weeks.

I miss those mega-blizzards, when everything could be shut down for a few days at a time. When we lived in Montréal, Québec back when I was a pre-teen, we experienced what is still called "The Storm of the Century" in March, 1971. If you Google this, it will easily come up.

@narnian78 wrote: Does anyone get cabin fever during the winter months?

Never. I love winter and snow and cold and wish it could go on and on (with a very decent splash of gorgeous Autumn in there somewhere too ). Many people here start complaining about the snow and cold shortly after Christmas, but I plug my ears and ignore them.   Instead I speak out for those of us who revel in the utter snowy beauty, invigorating air, gorgeous billowing snow clouds, shorter days, much longer stargazing, and magical hush of the winter months.

@waggawerewolf27 wrote: At the moment it is swelteringly hot, up to 35 degrees Celsius, in the dying days of Spring. It bodes ill for a very hot summer, this year, in Southern Climes.

Oh my, that is so not my type of weather. I hope you can stay well hydrated and cool enough.

That is sad about the flooding in South Wales, @Courtenay.  

As I mentioned above, my family is all hoping that the forecast snow does come to fruition on Thursday and the following days. Too often in recent years we have cut down our Christmas tree at the best on frozen ground, 'though at times without snow, or at 'worst', on muddy ground. This year, we hope the air and ground are white-white-white!  

Most of our lovely outdoor (and indoor) lights are up, and we have a number of comments from neighbours as to the cheeriness of the homey glows on bushes, tree, porch railing, planter, etc. I love coming back from my night sky walks (in early morning and early evening) to see our cheery property from afar. It's so welcoming and heart-warming.

Posted by: @jo

Many people here start complaining about the snow and cold shortly after Christmas, but I plug my ears and ignore them ,

That'd be me. LOL

Our first blast of cold north arrived overnight last night. Today's the first morning that feels quite wintery. We've been enjoying some beautiful, mild, Fall weather up until this point. We even had some pretty Fall colors with our trees this year as we skipped the yo-yo temps and high winds we usually have.

@jo Ooh, an actual white Christmas — I've never had one of those before. Maybe I need to spend Christmas in Canada some time, or else somewhere in Scandinavia??  

Does anyone remember the episode “Silent Snow, Secret Snow” from the 1970’s television series Rod Serling’s Night Gallery?  It is about a boy who retreats into a world of snow. I watched it again not too long ago.  One wonders if that could actually happen.  If person is fascinated by snow enough I suppose it could. Some people really like winter!  🙂

Here is a 1964 film version of the story:

https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=silent%20snow%20secret%20snow&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#ebo=0

Well, Merry Christmas to all of you, and I hope your Christmas is suitably Snowy. I know ours won't be, & the best I can do is to hope it will be at least tolerable, when today's maximum was 37 C. @Courtenay : Think what you will be missing, this year! A Christmas heat wave at worst.  

At some point I hope to curl up and watch a movie called "The Day after tomorrow" about what would happen if something drastic happened to stop the world's air & ocean currents working as they should.  I hope the air conditioning stands up to high temperatures this year. 🐧🥶😶‍🌫️🐨

Posted by: @courtenay

Maybe I need to spend Christmas in Canada some time

Absolutely. Nothing like a good ol' wintry, snowy Canadian Christmas.  

Posted by: @waggawerewolf27

I hope the air conditioning stands up to high temperatures this year.

Wishing you cool wellness in that oppressive heat, wagga. Indeed, snowy movies are good to watch at times like that.   I dislike summer to the extent that I keep all my decorative snowmen up around the house all year long to try and help me feel cool during the heat of that hot season.  

Tomorrow we are (hopefully) having our first major snow event. Flurries blew around most of today, with Lake Huron effect snow squalls hitting tomorrow through Tuesday. Just north of us has got pounded with snow over the past 24 hours. In some areas, 100+ cm fell (40")! And it's still coming down! Apparently, according to the very long-range forecast, we are having what is known as a typical winter here in Ontario, meaning ... lots of snow!

We are planning to go and cut down our Christmas tree tomorrow, and are still doing so, unless the roads become too slippery. Family is able to join us, so we are really hoping for a white-covered ground when we awaken, which makes cutting down a tree so much more fun! Then, after getting the tree up ('though before trimming it), we are all settling in for some homemade beef stew, salad, fresh bread, and apple crisp for dessert, mmm. (Guess that should go in the Food thread. )

Flurries are forecast all next week, with more accumulating snow on Wednesday. Daytime temps are a bit below freezing, with nighttimes anywhere from -2C to -7C. Hardly any sun in the forecast (fine by me), 'though maybe a peep of it will make its way around the scenic, atmospheric cloud cover.

Our weather has been milder than I expected, with the odd frost and little rain. Rain is forecast for this morning, but not very heavy. 

I'm working on a show in northeast England until 4 January, walking 1.2 miles each way from our accommodation. Weather is of real interest right now!

An added bit to my post above: temps are quite cold this weekend —> -14C / 6.8F with the windchill this morning on my long, beautiful walk in the swirling flurries. On the low eastern horizon as dawn grew, there was a more open pool of sky, in which I could see the lovely, long grey streaks of snow falling. That was gorgeous! The cows were out this morning, nibbling away in their field. They sure seem to enjoy these cold temperatures, too, and often are more frisky in the frosty weather. So cute as they cavort around the field.  

We shall see how the heavy snow squalls develop later today.  

I hope the area of England you are in enjoys snow at some point during your stay there, coracle.  

We did have overnight snow in central Yorkshire almost two weeks ago, and it was pretty cold walking around Leeds the next morning. 
As long as we can get to the theatre safely, and the audiences can do the same, and the heating and all tech systems work properly, a bit of snow would be fine!

Yes, it is so important to have sturdy boots with good treads in the snow.

Here, we have had snow off and on much of the day, with high wind gusts. More snow coming tomorrow. Just north of us had even a larger dump, and are digging out again.

It is like a wonderland, with all the glittering Christmas lights glowing on the pure, white snow. ♥ Here's really hoping for a white Christmas!