[kona]

We have the doors and windows open all day. Sunny, high around 80 and not a cloud in the sky on November 26th 2006.

Gotta love winter in Florida.

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by kona

We have the doors and windows open all day. Sunny, high around 80 and not a cloud in the sky on November 26th 2006.

Gotta love winter in Florida.

High today in the Garden State will be a balmy 59 sunny degrees, so I will be raking / blowing leaves and giving my lawn it's final cut. So take that!

[Jammie]

Wow, you guys hit below the belt. SD~it's 18 degrees above zero and the windchill is THREE. AND the worst is yet to come. So I'm sure it's easy to understand why we're planning on making Fla. our home soon. Besides having extended family down there, on the average, you have MUCH nicer weather down there.

[tallrick]

Please remind me how great our weather is when they are telling me to evacuate my house in the summer. If I don't leave willingly the bugs grab me and force me out, I would rather be at home during a blizzard, in the summer no one goes outside in Florida either.

[grammy164]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Please remind me how great our weather is when they are telling me to evacuate my house in the summer. If I don't leave willingly the bugs grab me and force me out, I would rather be at home during a blizzard, in the summer no one goes outside in Florida either.

Been through a blizzard, tallrick. You lose your power during them too and it's near impossible to get warm. You can also have damage to your home from the winds--we did. Blizzards aren't much different than hurricanes--just much, much colder!!!

[MoMark]

It's 1:02pm Central time (2:02pm Eastern) and it's 65F here, slightly overcast and breezy, but not bad I have just finished the herculean task of removing all debris from my rain gutters!!! It took me two days!
Here's our forecast for Springfield, Missouri....
Today: 67F high, 54F low, cloudy, winds 18mph SSW

Monday: 68F high, 50F low, sprinkles

Tuesday: 66F high, 25F low, showers

Wednesday: 55F high, 18F low, rain/snow

Thursday: 35F high, 20F low, snow

Friday: 38F high, 26F low, clear

That's why I've done all my outside work like hacking away at bushes and clearing gutters yesterday and today!! When it rains, those gutters will back up and then with the snow and ice coming, they'll freeze ..NOT GOOD! So I had to clear them out while there was still time and while I can still wear sweat pants and a t-shirt outside and not freeze to death!!

[alexander59]

Do not get used to it. It's Florida.

[tallrick]

Originally Posted by grammy164

Been through a blizzard, tallrick. You lose your power during them too and it's near impossible to get warm. You can also have damage to your home from the winds--we did. Blizzards aren't much different than hurricanes--just much, much colder!!!

Can't you just build a fire? I have never heard of a house blowing away in a blizzard, and homes are nowhere as strong as our homes in South Florida. I was wondering why nobody has rigged up a Diesel generator to run on heating oil, then use the engine cooling system to heat water, and also the exhaust to create steam for the radiators in the home. Also if the winter is cold there must be cold water in the ground that can be use to increase the efficiency of the air conditioning system. I would like to try out my concrete home building method in a northern climate. Especially in a place where I can have a basement for the bowling lanes.

[grammy164]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Can't you just build a fire?

Only if you have a fireplace. We didn't. I remember waking up in the middle of the night because I thought I saw blue lighting. It was all the transformers blowing and they seemed to flash blue. We had a front awning over our front door and one over our front window. Both were blown off, our screen door was ruined and a light fixture. We had a big tree in our front yard. Even when daylight broke, it was snowing so hard and the wind was blowing so strong that we couldn't see the tree or anything across the street. Just as with a hurricane, everything stops. The only difference is the clean up. After a blizzard it requires shoveling a foot of snow and waiting for roads to be cleared. We had one of our main truck routes completely lined with rigs that were just waiting to be able to get moving again.
I'm from the great lakes and even ice storms can produce power loss, downed trees and major damage.
Weather risks are everywhere. I hate hurricanes too. We moved here just in time to get hit with Charley, Frances and Jeanne. I just remember how few sunny, warm days I had up north and how many I get to enjoy down here. I just prefer sunny and warm to gray and cold.

[sunrico90]

See below for info on blizzards. I experieced one in North Dakota that dropped the temparature to 82 below zero. Power lines gone, some houses the wind broke the window glass, water lines frozen and busted. I rather deal with hurricanes...


What is a blizzard?
Blizzards are severe winter storms that pack a combination of blowing snow and wind resulting in very low visibilities. While heavy snowfalls and severe cold often accompany blizzards, they are not required. Sometimes strong winds pick up snow that has already fallen, creating a blizzard. Officially, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as large amounts of falling OR blowing snow with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 of a mile for an extended period of time (greater than 3 hours). When these conditions are expected, the National Weather Service may issue a "Blizzard Warning". When a less severe, but still dangerous, winter storm is expected a "Winter storm Watch" or "Winter storm Warning" may be issued. A "Winter storm Watch" is issued in advance and means that there is the possibility of a winter storm affecting your area. Keep alert and stay tuned to TV, radio, and other sources of weather information. A "Winter storm Warning" means a winter storm is imminent or already occurring.
What makes blizzards dangerous?
Blizzards can create a variety of dangerous conditions. Traveling by automobile can become difficult or even impossible due to "whiteout" conditions and drifting snow. If you must drive in a blizzard, be prepared! Make sure your automobile is properly equipped and that you have emergency supplies in case you become stranded or lost.

The strong winds and cold temperatures accompanying blizzards can combine to create another danger. The wind chill factor is the amount of cooling one "feels" due to the combination of wind and temperature. For instance, a strong wind combined with a temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature about 35 degrees colder. A wind chill chart may be used to estimate the wind chill factor.



Exposure to low wind chill values can result in frostbite or hypothermia. Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims. A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite. Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops dangerously low. Symptoms or hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Both hypothermia and frostbite require immediate medical assistance! However, low wind chill values shouldn't keep you from going outside, but encourage you be informed and dress properly.

Blizzards also can cause a variety of other problems. Power outages can occur due to strong winds and heavy snow. Pipes can freeze and regular fuel sources may be cut off.

Storms with Strong Winds

Sometimes winter storms are accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow, severe drifting, and dangerous wind chill. Strong winds with these intense storms and cold fronts can knock down trees, utility poles, and power lines. Storms near the coast can cause coastal flooding and beach erosion as well as sink ships at sea. In the West and Alaska, winds descending off the mountains can gust to 100 mph or more damaging roofs and other structures.
Extreme Cold

Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. What constitutes extreme cold and its effect varies across different areas of the United States. In areas unaccustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered "extreme cold." Freezing temperatures can cause severe damage to citrus fruit crops and other vegetation. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated or without heat. In the north, below zero temperatures may be considered as "extreme cold." Long cold spells can cause rivers to freeze, disrupting shipping. Ice jams may form and lead to flooding.
Ice Storms

Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and lines, and communication towers. Communications and power can be disrupted for days while utility companies work to repair the extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice may cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.
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