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| A blanket of snow |
The weather people were predicting that a nor'easter was coming through -- just ten days after Hurricane Sandy slammed into the Northeast (and followed through to the Midwest and up into Ontario) and while power was still out for thousands of people. To me, a nor'easter conjures up images of wind and rain and blowing leaves and yellow slickers. But what this nor'easter brought was snow.
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| Our pine tree |
Around here it started as snow, right from the beginning, and turned out to be a good, old-fashioned snow storm. It looked like the middle of January. Only . . . it was Nov. 7.
Fortunately, additional power outages were kept to a minimum -- yes, a few more wires came down, but nothing compared to last week. The snow has now ended, but the wind still blows. I hope there's no more damage.
I'm usually skeptical of people making hysterical pronouncements about how the weather is crazy, the climate is changing, the ice caps are melting. Hasn't the weather always been crazy?
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| We forgot to bring in our grill |
I think there's pretty incontrovertible evidence (despite what I see out my window) that human activity is causing the climate to warm up, and I believe -- seriously -- that we should all trade in our SUVs for a Prius or a Volt or a Leaf. But now I'm beginning to wonder if things are going beyond that.
Stranger things have happened. Maybe those Mayans were right. So be careful out there, for 12/12/2012 is nearly upon us!
12 comments:
I don't think it's just humans. I think the earth is always in change mode by it's own natural processes. We just want to believe we have a role in it.There have been very hot times and very cold before humans ever came into the mix. And like the dinosaurs we too will be phased out. It's just earth's way.
Natural phenomena, man-made or man-helped, the climate is changing and we should adapt. I love my Mazda 3 which gets 40+ MPH! I wish -hope - pray - our utility company puts wiring underground.
Mercyn has a good point. Underground wiring would sure make things less catastrophic. I do believe we have a hand in this and we really need to understand, normal is no longer a given.
So glad that you at least have power now. That sure helps the attitude. I feel so for those with out the magic light switch and are suffering in the cold. Lets hope nature is done with you for now.
We actually have underground wiring on our street, but not on the roads leading into our little neighborhood, so it doesn't do much good. Underground wiring does sound like the perfect solution, but I hear it's ridiculously expensive, so I doubt it'll happen anytime soon. They'll probably just do more tree trimming this winter (as they did after last year's Halloween blizzard), but I don't know how effective that will be. This storm didn't bring down the branches -- it brought down whole trees!
I dunno. Phoenix (where my sister lives) is sounding better and better, if it weren't for those darn dust storms!
I once thought underground cabling was the way to go. Then I went to work for the phone company and learned what it would mean and what its drawbacks are. Remember all those flooded subway tunnels? That is what will happen to the cable tunnels. True, power would not be disrupted because some lines came down or poles were damaged but it would still be interrupted. And it might take longer to repair if cables had to be replaced underground. There are no perfect solutions.
What happens today is weather. What happens as an average, over time is climate change. I think we have climate change, but one storm doesn't prove anything.
But I hear that the Mayans either were waiting for the mothership or ran out of stone.
I think the scientists would have done a better job of convincing people if they'd called it "climate change" instead of "global warming."
Climate change is occurring...always. I am not in a snit over this fact and never have been. What contribution humans make is the BIG question. I see the Europeans are defunding many of their "green" programs, owing to budget shortfalls. Economist today's issue. Dianne
We do what we can within whatever our abilities and/or limitations to alter our circumstances -- changing what we can that will make a positive difference, and recognizing what we cannot alter.
Earthquakes can also make underground wiring, etc. less than desirable in many instances.
The years we lived in Phoenix/Scottsdale metro area we experienced only one dust storm -- heard of a few out in the desert. Suppose subsequent population expansion since the '70s has encompassed more desert area where the dust blows. Wonder if overall, there has been an increase in the storms or just more people in the way of them?
I've understood a couple major things are occurring that are bringing about our weather changes -- earth tipping slightly on its axis, man made pollution.
I've always wondered if all the "stuff" (extracted oil, gas, coal, minerals, water tables that don't get replenished, etc.) don't have some gradual long term effects internal earth effects resulting in .... ???
Do all those things have effects? Yes, they do, Joared.
If 12/12/12 will be the end, I hope it happens before 6:45pm. That's the time I'll have to leave the house to go back to work for a meeting.
Wow, you really got hammered!!
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