Looking ahead to next winter!

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NordicSplitter

NordicSplitter

Minister of Fire
May 22, 2011
541
Western,NY
For those of us in the lower 48 states, I think it is safe to say that this years winter as far as snow and cold is all but said and done. Every major long range weather report has concluded that all that cold air up in canada is trapped and will more than likely stay there, at least this winter. I was splitting some ash outside today in balmy 34F weather in Febuary! This makes me think of what next winter may bring. Either this was a freak occurance or this may turn out to be a 5yr+ patern. I think freak occurance. I started the season with about 6-7 cords of wood and burned up about 2 so far. Saying I burn through 1 more cord that will leave me with about 3-4 cords left for next year. I already have 2 cords cut, split waiting for me to pick up, free of charge. My goal is a total of 12 cords c/s/s for next winter...for some reason, I think its going to be a doosey!
 
Today it was in the low 40's here, I walked outside this morning it felt like spring not February. I've only burned around 2 cords so far, I'll probably finish up around 3-4 cords which is crazy since I've burned 5+ the last few years.
 
NordicSplitter said:
For those of us in the lower 48 states, I think it is safe to say that this years winter as far as snow and cold is all but said and done. Every major long range weather report has concluded that all that cold air up in canada is trapped and will more than likely stay there, at least this winter. I was splitting some ash outside today in balmy 34F weather in Febuary! This makes me think of what next winter may bring. Either this was a freak occurance or this may turn out to be a 5yr+ patern. I think freak occurance. I started the season with about 6-7 cords of wood and burned up about 2 so far. Saying I burn through 1 more cord that will leave me with about 3-4 cords left for next year. I already have 2 cords cut, split waiting for me to pick up, free of charge. My goal is a total of 12 cords c/s/s for next winter...for some reason, I think its going to be a doosey!
Click to expand...

Thanks!! Now you jinxed us!
But seriously, I think we are far from "out of the woods", still alot of time left to have a good snow storm or cold spell (especially because no one is expecting it now). As far as "freak Occurance", it was an "El Nino" winter this year, which explains the warmer than usual weather pattern. We got our weather from the south, which is why the cold air stayed in Canada (where it belongs!)
This has been my kind of winter. I hate the cold and snow, and its gets worse as I get older.
Like everyone else, I have used much less wood than anticipated this year, always a good thing.
 
I've seen a few forcasts suggest the jet stream will start to collasp come mid Feb. Once this happens, the lower 48 will eventually see real winter temps. The good news is we are much closer to spring than we were come mid Dec. Out of the woods yet, not really. Will spring be delayed... we'll have to wait and see.
 
egclassic said:
But seriously, I think we are far from "out of the woods", still alot of time left to have a good snow storm or cold spell (especially because no one is expecting it now).
Click to expand...

I understand your viewpoint but it's getting hard to believe that we can still have a serious cold spell (a couple of weeks of zero weather or a week or two of serious snow cover).

Not only have we used less wood, but also a lot less hay for the horses than normal.

Ken
 
I still think we are going to get our butts kicked by some major snow event still this year.

-SF
 
In previous years with little snow and relatively warm, many times late Feb. or March can hit us pretty hard. It may be snow or it may be ice. With so little snow cover anywhere in the lower 48, I would not be surprised to get a big ice storm yet this year. Also, I have seen some warm winters turn out to be that March was the coldest month! I recall many below zero nights and lots of ground cover of snow after the robins and other early birds return. I remember one particular year when I really feared for the birds but they seemed to come out okay.
 
At this point if the bottom fell out and we had a month of deep freeze I would still say we had an easy winter. We've had 15 inches of snow this year(mostly small amounts that didn't stay except for a day or two) last year we had 36+ inches of snow by this point. I'm good regardless of the outcome!
 
Ken45 said:
egclassic said:
But seriously, I think we are far from "out of the woods", still alot of time left to have a good snow storm or cold spell (especially because no one is expecting it now).
Click to expand...

I understand your viewpoint but it's getting hard to believe that we can still have a serious cold spell (a couple of weeks of zero weather or a week or two of serious snow cover).

Not only have we used less wood, but also a lot less hay for the horses than normal.

Ken
Click to expand...

I hope you are right, but, like Backwoods said, March can be very cold and snowy. And, winter can stretch into April, albeit short lived.
About 5 years ago, we were selling our old house and listed it in late Feb. In march, we had to cancel about 3 open houses due to heavy snow.
So, at least here in southern ohio, just 'cause the calender says Spring.........
 
im 3 cords in for next yr plus 1.5 left from this yr. so looking good already.
 
Well, since it was +7 F at dawn this am and our largest snowfall in 85 yr. was in '03 in March [60+ inches at my house], and since areas in Denver had 36" and in one suburb over five ft. last night, guess I'll worry about the end of winter later on. We often see a nice respite in January here, two to three weeks of sucker-warm stuff, then Feb. and March arrive and freeze us again, and last year we had a freeze the first week of June that did a number on my blueberries, which had already begun to leaf out.....
 
Other than the storm we had in October....which knocked the crap out of us here in the Northeast, we (I) only had an additional 6 inches.....I've burned more Oil this year, than last, just because the temps were too mild to burn wood, yet cold enough to use the furnace...being fearful of falling short on wood didn't help, wanted to save the wood for the cold stuff.
 
Yep, looking forward to next year. Just turned on the furnace one time this year to make sure it still worked on a morning, I didn't load up on wood the night before. And the bottom dropped out. But the NC13 has done rather nice in this unseasonably warm year. I'm into my 2 cord of wood this year, will probably only use maybe less than another cord this year. Infact the last two days, was the first time for almost a week that I burned actual wood. And not my little fire starters, sticks of dried hedge from 1 to 3 inch's in diameter.
 
I dont think winter is over yet. The jet stream is is dipping down getting colder here.
 
SlyFerret said:
I still think we are going to get our butts kicked by some major snow event still this year.

-SF
Click to expand...
I agree SlyFerret........I am hoping and praying for some real winter, anyway!!
 
Just saw on the weather channel that its snowing in Algeria! Thats Northern Africa folks. This winter is all screwed up. Wow!
 
NordicSplitter said:
Just saw on the weather channel that its snowing in Algeria! Thats Northern Africa folks. This winter is all screwed up. Wow!
Click to expand...
WOW!
 
i would say that the chances of getting a prolonged cold spell are over for most
of us now...the days are getting longer and the sun is getting higher in the sky.

we still have at least 2 or more months with the possiblility of snow but even that
dosent last that long once you get to the middle of Feb and March
 
NordicSplitter said:
Just saw on the weather channel that its snowing in Algeria! Thats Northern Africa folks. This winter is all screwed up. Wow!
Click to expand...

Wow.
 
I first thought you said "Looking "FORWARD" to next winter"
Glad I re-read it.
Here, we are over the hump, 2 more months of winter, some heat in the sun now, over 8 hrs of daylight.
March is typically our heavy snow month. Another 2' would be nice. :)
 
Going to be close to 50f here tomorrow.
Looking ahead to next winter!

We have like one mile on our sleds.
 
HotCoals said:
Going to be close to 50f here tomorrow.
Looking ahead to next winter!

We have like one mile on our sleds.
Click to expand...
I literally ran the bogie wheels off of mine a couple of weeks ago with the 7" we got in our only real snow this year. A whopping 40 miles or so..........its depressing...... :smirk:
 
Backwoods Savage said:
I recall many below zero nights and lots of ground cover of snow after the robins and other early birds return. I remember one particular year when I really feared for the birds but they seemed to come out okay.
Click to expand...

I saw a robin in our yard last Tuesday. DH actually saw it first and asked me to come look and tell him if it was a robin because he didn't believe it. Sure enough though, it was getting a quick drink from a puddle.

I'm also afraid of a cold snap since there is no ice on the lakes, could set us up for some serious lake effect.
 
The past few nights I have been hanging around on the front porch and hearing the crickets and frogs doing their thing, you'd think it was the middle of summer. Tonight the stove is lit again, supposed to be in the high 20's. Same all week 50's daytime and 20-30 at night. Already have spring bulbs coming up all around the yard! It's been shoulder season all winter.
 
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