Thanks for the welcome, Maine-ers (home, school, living in)

[LisainCalifornia]

I know my last thread got a bit off track (sort of reminded me of Thanksgiving with the in-laws--we are a lively, yet diverse minded bunch ) but wanted to thank everyone for posting.

I have a question...

Are you able to tell when it is about to snow? I know the weather channel would be the obvious way to tell--but other than that, is there a way to guess that snow will fly soon?

Thanks,
Lisa

[Northern Maine Land Man]

We normally get flurries and a dusting of snow in October. We get a good "tracking snow" in November where we can easily follow deer tracks. One year we got 15 inches the day before Thanksgiving. However, we do get the rare brown Christmas now and then where we have bare ground on Christmas Day.

[Maine Writer]

About 24 hours before it snows the wild birds overtake the feeders and eat from sun up to sun down. They'll bicker over seeds and perches on the feeders. About an hour before the snow starts to fall a little heavier than flurries most of the birds disappear.

My cats turn into ghost hunters the day before a storm. They randomly chase, run, race and tackle absolutely nothing.

[dramamama6685]

Do the dogs act out of sorts at all? The cats would crack me up.

[CoastalMaine]

Lisa, sometimes it does creep up unexpectedly, but usually you can feel the change in the air so, you know it's coming. Old timers will say, "Feels like snow", and the other will nod in agreement.

If you've not experienced the wonder of a snowfall, especially a good one (meaning better than 18"), you're in for a treat. Do you know the snow makes noise? It's really amazing to just stand outside in it and listen to it fall. You begin to realize how small you really are in the midst of this big puzzle called life.

After the snow stops, there's a lull. Everything is silent. That's pretty neat too. Then the birds and wildlife get to going again and we begin the organization of it. (Read plowing and shoveling! lol)

[LisainCalifornia]

I didn't know that snow has a sound when it falls! That is really interesting. I have only seen actual snow falling twice in my life, and most of it melted very quickly. The first time was in 1976, and I was in the 6th grade and living in Davis, California. It snowed enough to cover the ground, and then they canceled school and sent us all home at lunch time. All the kids were so excited, and there was just enough to play in a little when we got home that day.

The next time was 1996ish, and we were still living in our home in San Francisco. It had been really cold (at least for S.F. standards) for several days, and I remember waking up on Christmas Eve and the air smelled differently. This is why I though a Maine'er might be able to tell if snow is coming from the smell or something else being different. At about 3:00 in the afternoon I was walking around holding my son who was about 18 months old, and looked out the window, seeing snow falling. I called my husband over and we watched it together in amazement. That is not something you think you ever will see--snow in San Francisco!

But besides that, I haven't really been in a real snowfall. I do love rain, and gray skies. I LOVED the El Nino year in S.F. when it rained crazy buckets of rain from September thru May--that was great! But I think I would love snow just as much, and I just haven't had the chance to be in it.

[msina]

Snow that piles up on a metal roof makes a lot of noise, when it slides off and hits the ground! There are times that we get over two feet of snow in a single storm, that is something to consider. I like winter and snow but around the end of March it starts to get old.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by CoastalMaine

Lisa, sometimes it does creep up unexpectedly, but usually you can feel the change in the air so, you know it's coming. Old timers will say, "Feels like snow", and the other will nod in agreement.

If you've not experienced the wonder of a snowfall, especially a good one (meaning better than 18"), you're in for a treat. Do you know the snow makes noise? It's really amazing to just stand outside in it and listen to it fall. You begin to realize how small you really are in the midst of this big puzzle called life.

After the snow stops, there's a lull. Everything is silent. That's pretty neat too. Then the birds and wildlife get to going again and we begin the organization of it. (Read plowing and shoveling! lol)

I'll tell DW it feels like snow and most of the time I'm right. Not that I'm that good but I just get a feeling about it. We'll go outside when it's coming down good and just listen to it especially at night. Kind of a soft hush. Nice and quiet and you can hear it hit the ground or the trees. Good and romantic and I get brownie points (always an ulterior motive). Then come the plows later on. Baahh!

[juststoppinby]

Yes I also can smell the difference in the air when it is about to snow, lots of us can. There is also a difference in the air. I DREAD the thoughts of another winter, especially before we have had summer!

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

About 24 hours before it snows the wild birds overtake the feeders and eat from sun up to sun down. They'll bicker over seeds and perches on the feeders. About an hour before the snow starts to fall a little heavier than flurries most of the birds disappear.

My cats turn into ghost hunters the day before a storm. They randomly chase, run, race and tackle absolutely nothing.

That is a good thing to know... we didn't have birds AT the feeders last winter. They just found us this spring. I think I'll make sure to lay in an extra bag of seed -- keep one ahead through the winter -- so we don't come up short for them.

I don't think I could tell anything by the cats here though. They behave like that much of the time. I'll start watching to see if it coincides with any of the summer storms, though.