What is Winter? (Bangor: how much, school, live in)

[chaosX5]

I have been on this forum for awhile and questions always arise concerning winter and it's length. There seems to be some disagreement as to how long the winters are, etc..... Maine has many regions and of course the length of cold weather will vary to some degree, I can understand that. My question is this, what do you consider winter? What do the conditions have to be for you personally to consider it really WINTER?

I live in a warmer climate, people here will put on parkas when it's 50 degrees and I could still be wearing shorts and a tee shirt, winter means different things to different people

Just curious!

[Elcarim]

If you want actual statistics as opposed to opinions, you can check out City-Data. You can scroll down the page of the towns listed for Maine and see the average temps and snowfall, etc. for the entire year.

I understand what you mean about freezing your assets off at 50*. It's the same down here. When it drops to 60*, the kids are bundled up to the 9s in the mornings when they get out at school. When it hits 70*, I'm getting flush in the face and perspiring! That's where I believe personal opinion isn't quite good enough to go on. We're all programmed differently, and my idea of cold won't quite match yours. In that instance, stats are good!

Here are the screen shots for Bangor, for instance.

[Nor'Eastah]

To get a truer idea of what "winter" really is, it may be instructive to look at it for what it is - the winter solstice, the date on which, in the northern hemisphere, when the sun rises at the latest time in the morning, and sets at the earliest time in the afternoon. I'm not trying to be funny here. The sun in and of itself means life on this planet, and even minor fluctuations in its behavior and the number of hours that it sheds light on our surroundings, are of great physical and psychological import.

Case in point: some years, we have "mild" winters, some years we have "harsh" winters. These distinctions are based on what you have noted above - personal tolerances for cold and the degree of precipitation or "snow". And yet, whether mild or harsh, the season is perceived as "winter". The low sun in the sky, the dark mornings and evenings, tend to depress people and animals. Perhaps this is one reason why we collectively try to improve our moods by celebrating the "holidays" at this time, although there is no historical reason to assume that Christ was born on Decemeber 25th.

In New England, as opposed to the South or many parts of the Southwest, "winter" coincides with a sharp, notable drop in temperatures, when those accustomed to dressing in a wool shirt or sweater for outdoor pursuits, suddenly feel a bone-chilling coldness that signals the onset of serious weather patterns, and the tendency to "bundle up" as you describe it, to throw another log on the fire or turn the thermostat up a few degrees. It is an innate, almost instinctual reaction to ensure survival. It has nothing to do with how much snow has fallen, as we have sometimes received ten inches of wet snow in May (not winter!). But the diminished light levels, the extreme lowness of the sun in the sky, its directionality, when combined with that sharp temperature drop, all coalesce to produce the recognizable onset of "winter" here in New England.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

It's winter today! It's 4 above and the wind is howling. When the wind dies down the lake will be booming tonight as the ice expands. Look up my post from last year titled "On Ice". On some lakes when the ice becomes 14 inches thick the ice will be harvested and stored for next summer.

A snowfall in October before all the leaves are off is not winter. It happens. My standard for winter is when you can drive the tractor across a field and the ground is frozen hard enough that the tractor does not make tracks.

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by chaosX5

I have been on this forum for awhile and questions always arise concerning winter and it's length. There seems to be some disagreement as to how long the winters are, etc..... Maine has many regions and of course the length of cold weather will vary to some degree, I can understand that. My question is this, what do you consider winter? What do the conditions have to be for you personally to consider it really WINTER?

I live in a warmer climate, people here will put on parkas when it's 50 degrees and I could still be wearing shorts and a tee shirt, winter means different things to different people

Just curious!

come on up to maine that will show ya what winter is.today would have been perfect.nice balmy day sun was shineing.light breez.

[bluemute]

I'd say you just know when winter begins and when it ends each year, nothing scientific. You may find yourself even mumbling under your breath at that beginning moment "I guess it's winter now." Maybe it's a week at 12 degrees, the third time you scrape ice from your windshield, or the wearing of the long underwear for a full 24 hours.

And then sometime after mid-February there's a point when you realize you've had five days above 35 and didn't wear boots outside every day, and that maybe you have some mud to look forward to.

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

It's winter today! It's 4 above and the wind is howling. When the wind dies down the lake will be booming tonight as the ice expands. Look up my post from last year titled "On Ice". On some lakes when the ice becomes 14 inches thick the ice will be harvested and stored for next summer.

A snowfall in October before all the leaves are off is not winter. It happens. My standard for winter is when you can drive the tractor across a field and the ground is frozen hard enough that the tractor does not make tracks.

I've been out back harvesting my firewood for next year, this past week. The ground has been'soft all week. Today, there was 2 inches of ice where it was open just two days ago. In fact I could drive the tractor on top of some of this new ice.

Of course, there were some open areas where the water does flow.
It was 6 degrees out there when I tried to cut this morning. I quickly gave up (doesn't take alot to make me do this) and only brought out 1 load of wood.

[chaosX5]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

If you want actual statistics as opposed to opinions, you can check out City-Data. You can scroll down the page of the towns listed for Maine and see the average temps and snowfall, etc. for the entire year.

I understand what you mean about freezing your assets off at 50*. It's the same down here. When it drops to 60*, the kids are bundled up to the 9s in the mornings when they get out at school. When it hits 70*, I'm getting flush in the face and perspiring! That's where I believe personal opinion isn't quite good enough to go on. We're all programmed differently, and my idea of cold won't quite match yours. In that instance, stats are good!

Here are the screen shots for Bangor, for instance.

I completely agree with you Elcarim, it is a personal idea of cold. I've looked at the stats and I know what I think of as cold and winter, but people keep throwing around statements like 9 months of winter or 8 months of cold weather. I just wanted to know what the pros (real Mainers who like it there!) think winter is............what prompts them to think "hey, winter's here!". I'm just curious

Thanks for the response everyone

[Cornerguy1]

Today, there was 2 inches of ice where it was open just two days ago. In fact I could drive the tractor on top of some of this new ice.

Just to clarify the point so someone doesn't attempt to drive a tractor on 2 inches of ice over open water......... 2 inches of ice over open water is barely safe for foot travel let alone any machinery.

In other words, do not attempt to take a tractor or any piece of machinery across your local lake on 2 inches of ice.

The ice you drove on was either in puddles or in shallow areas where neither the tractor nor its operator would be in danger when the tractor broke through, right?

[chaosX5]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

come on up to maine that will show ya what winter is.today would have been perfect.nice balmy day sun was shineing.light breez.

Sounds like Florida