High of 86@

[PrincessFiona]

Wahooo...It's going to be a beautiful day here!!!

kris

[migirl]

Wow, enjoy the great weather!! 8) It's supposed to be in the mid-60s here today. Yesterday we had snow flurries 8O and tomorrow it's supposed to be almost 80 degrees. Welcome to springtime in Michigan!

Yeah for you! You've needed some warmer weather.
It was high 70's today and humid (wierd). Summer is on its way!

[houseelf]

....and its back to the fifties here in Minnesnowda. Living here ain't for sissies or the faint of heart. I think that "Little House on the Prairie" was full of sh**. It only snowed in Walnut Grove on the Christmas special. The rest of the time they had perfect weather.

Kelly

[Sheherezade]

Funny --that's what we are doing in New England, too. Warm (high 60, 70) for a few then back to 40's with rain. They keep saying "Welcome to New England weather!" Maybe it's easier to bear if you think it's special? Now I'm wondering if this is what happens in Ohio too......

Angie

....and its back to the fifties here in Minnesnowda. Living here ain't for sissies or the faint of heart. I think that "Little House on the Prairie" was full of sh**. It only snowed in Walnut Grove on the Christmas special. The rest of the time they had perfect weather.

Kelly

You mean that people lived in MN before insulation and furnaces? I forgot that Little House on the Prairie took place there. Yeah, they never showed Pa getting his frostbitten digits amputated.


Angie....i think that people like to think their weather is "special." Right now, we're have a "Colorado spring." It was 75 and sunny yesterday and today it's 40ish with rain/snow mix to continue tomorrow. Just like last week. Hey, guess it's just that craaazzzzyyy Colorado weather!!

[Rapunzel]

Well, I definitely think there are some parts of the nation that have their own unique weather patterns. New England has some pretty crazy weather in the spring that's for sure. It's fairly predictable (within limits) in the summer, fall, and winter, though. But, it's not as predictable as Texas weather. In Texas we really don't need weathermen (weatherpersons? ) in the summer. Starting about May the weather stays hot and humid with little to no rain. The bit of rain TX gets in the summer is in May and June in the form of violent thunderstorms (which, oddly enough, I miss). The weather gets quite nice by October and November with a bit of a chill in December. January has it's "ice storms" (not fun) and by late February we're back up to hospitable, warm weather again. TX weather is so boring compared to New England weather in my opinion (except for the thunderstorms - what I wouldn't give for a good, loud thunderstorm right now).

Regarding what Nellie mentioned about people not living in Minnesota prior to efficient heating methods: It's a fact that one of the main events that brought large bodies of people to Texas was the invention of and widespread use of the air conditioner. Before air conditioners it really was hotter than hell there (although that didn't stop my great-great grandparents from moving there).

Jennifer

Regarding what Nellie mentioned about people not living in Minnesota prior to efficient heating methods: It's a fact that one of the main events that brought large bodies of people to Texas was the invention of and widespread use of the air conditioner. Before air conditioners it really was hotter than hell there (although that didn't stop my great-great grandparents from moving there).

Jennifer

I've often wondered about that when visiting Southern states -- how did people live through the heat in what was usually much heavier clothing that we wear today? Obviously, the did it and survived! (Perhaps that is the origin of the image of a swooning woman? That would have been me). Makes sense that air conditioning would lead to a population shift.

Thought I would get the chance to have some nice warm weather this weekend in St Louis (it was in the 80s last week), but no, it will be rainy and in the 60s. Still better than here in Chicago, I guess...

I've often wondered about that when visiting Southern states -- how did people live through the heat in what was usually much heavier clothing that we wear today?

Believe it or not, you do get used to it after a while! I was out and about in temperatures I didn't even want to think about last summer. We tote around Sonic slushes here, and I like to take an afternoon siesta at the hottest part of the day (the Mediterranean people know what they're doing!). But for me, it's not the heat so much as the bugs. My whole summer life is ruled by what's biting at what time. My husband and I just bought these net hoods that slip over hats to keep the bugs off our faces, and there's no using our back porch until we get it screened in. Ugh.

[PrincessFiona]

Elizabeth,

That is so true (about getting used to the temp.). I remember when we first moved to TX..the first summer was a nightmare. I could barely leave my house. Each summer after that got progressively better...by the time I was leaving TX for good, I was actually out riding my bike in the mid-day heat.

Fast forward to Minnesota. I knew we had adjusted to the colder climate when my kids started taking their coats off to walk home from the bus stop when it was 50F. "It's too warm outside for a coat" they told me 8O Sure, I guess 50F is warm compared to -20...but I thought it was funny that we were all 'cold' when it was 50...or even 60 in Florida. Heck...I wore a jacket there when it was 70 sometimes...This weekend it was in the upper 50's and I was out gardening in shorts.....


kris

[Rapunzel]

I think that being acclimated to extremes in heat or cold is a common occurance depending upon where you live. I am having a difficult time with the much colder climate here in Boston (although I am improving every year ). Whereas I could be outside for quite a while in 100+ degree heat with high humidity in Dallas in August and do just fine (amazingly with very little persperation!). I think that has changed somewhat since I've lived through two substantially cooler New England summers. I am supposed to go back to Dallas in August this summer so we'll see if I've become a wimp to the heat (in which case my family will get to tease me tons ).

But, if I had to live through a Texas summer without the occasional relief of air conditioning (particularly at night) I doubt I would survive very long. Every year the city of Dallas reports deaths from heat stroke among the elderly and those unable to afford a/c units. It can get quite deadly.

Jennifer

Fast forward to Minnesota. I knew we had adjusted to the colder climate when my kids started taking their coats off to walk home from the bus stop when it was 50F. "It's too warm outside for a coat" they told me 8O

Oh yes, I remember that! I was telling some native Arkansans this winter about 40 degrees seeming like a heat wave after below zero in Wisconsin, and they looked at me like I was crazy. It was like explaining to the Wisconsinites that in Denver it snows 6' and the next day it's 56 degrees and sunny and the roads dry off. 8O Winter here is damp, which I had no experience with (Denver=dry-cold, Wisconsin=just freakin' cold). I'm still learning how to dress for Southern winter.

Do they break out the shorts in Minnesota at about 42 degrees like they do in WI? Boy, that was NOT pretty...