Last Sunday, I sang at church with an accompanist who also used to live in the D.C. area. I came in an hour before Mass, hacking, coughing and carrying a water bottle. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sing,” I said. “I’m so congested.”
“It’s the weather,” the accompanist replied. “It’s a typical D.C. winter!”
I had been thinking exactly the same thing. I spent December 2005 lamenting my lot in life as I tried to figure out how to manage snow falling every other day. The shoveling, the scraping, the bundling, the unbundling—I was exhausted before 7:15 a.m. And then I’d have to drive to Cedar Rapids, gripping the steering wheel and praying the whole time that my wheels would hold to the road and I wouldn’t end up in the ditch along the highway like so many other drivers.
But this year, it’s been a typical D.C. winter out here: occasional mild days, but mostly day after day in the high 30s and low 40s, with rain instead of snow, and not quite as much scraping of the windshield. Of course, I got an email Sunday from a friend in D.C. marveling at their 73-degree day, but I’m not bitter about that. Not bitter. Not bitter.
Don’t worry – I’ve drunk the Al Gore Kool-Aid and I, too, believe all these weather patterns are a sign of something terrible happening to the planet. But if something terrible is happening, I’d rather be able to work toward a common solution in a t-shirt rather than an overcoat. I’m just wired that way.
On Friday, though, a weather alert came through my inbox. Usually these alerts announce something dire: high winds or fog thick as a blindfold or icy roads or Arctic temperatures. I read them as soon as I see them, holding my breath as I see what’s in store for my commute.
This time, though, the National Weather Service saw fit to warn me of this newsworthy situation: a return to normal winter weather.
THE WEATHER PATTERN OVER THE MIDWEST IS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE LOCAL AREA OF EASTERN IOWA…NORTHWEST ILLINOIS… AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI IS THAT THE UNSEASONABLE MILD CONDITIONS WE HAVE SEEN LATELY WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST. EXPECT MORE TYPICAL CONDITIONS OF MID-WINTER TO RETURN TO THE AREA OVER THE NEXT WEEK. NORMALLY AS WE APPROACH THE MIDDLE PART OF JANUARY HIGHS RANGE IN THE MIDDLE 20S TO AROUND 30…AND LOWS ARE IN THE UPPER SINGLE DIGITS TO MIDDLE TEENS.
I’ve been living in the fairly thin coat that got me through several D.C. winters, but it’s time to remember I’m living in Iowa now. This week, it looks like my real winter coat is going to make a reappearance.
on Jan 9th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Here in North Central Illinois, the wind almost took my Suburban off the road. The wind chill will force me to stay inside.
I thought these Yankee winters were gonna be OK. Now I hear it’s been saving up!!
on Jan 9th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Sissy, you have to be careful out there — that Midwestern wind is a killer! I hope it hasn’t been saving up, too…I’m not ready for a constant blast of snow. A little? Sure. But a lot? Never!
on Jan 10th, 2007 at 7:33 am
I’ve been loving this winter as well. My part of the country has mostly missed the snows you’ve gotten. That’s just fine with me! At least it’s now mid-January, so anything that comes at us from here on out won’t last long.
“Drunk the Al Gore Kool-Aid” – hee!
on Jan 10th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I moved here in August from the DC area and was looking forward to having a snowy and cold Christmas. Geez louise,it was warmer here than at my parent’s house in Charlottesville VA! I don’t look forward to lots of snow, but I would like to wear the winter coat I thought I’d need!
on Jan 10th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
As a former Midwesterner – may you enjoy your return to winter…and may it be brief.
I witnessed snow, briefly, when I was there in December. That’s enough for me.
on Jan 10th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Sally, actually, we’ve even missed the snows that have hit Iowa — it’s like we’re in a protected bubble or something. All that changes this weekend, though, I think.
Robin, I know — you’re definitely not getting the true Iowa winter…but hang tight, and I think you’ll see something fierce soon enough.
Katie, I’m hoping for brief, too. Brief is the magic word.
:-) Genie
on Jan 16th, 2007 at 7:21 am
It is finally turning cold, and January-ish today. It has been lovely BUT our tulips are sprouting (and it is january…) and the cherry blossoms came out (and it is january..) and my allergies are horrible (and it is january…) and everyone I know has been horribly sick all winter because we have not had a good freeze (and it is january…) and it was weird and not in a good way to sit on my porch at 8pm and not even need the sweater I had on. BUT luckily for the greenhouse effect I am loving not spending thousands, yes $1000′s, of dollars on heating my too big uninsulated 100 year old victorian farm house. That is the only good thing about this warm weather.
on Jan 16th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Cole, wow…tulips in January. That’s bizarre! Not necessarily worth all the savings on your heating bill, but that’s always a nice side effect. Hope you start feeling better very soon.