Learning about weather in No. America

[Canice]

I love hearing about the weather BBers are experiencing! (It also helps me picture what folks are doing, how they're cooking, etc.) I think it's so interesting -- maybe spring is particularly varied? I'm often very surprisied to find out what the weather is in other parts of the US and in Canada (OK, dcornelius, BIG surprise out of AZ today! ;) :p ) . I've been so surprised to hear about cold, gray weather (SNOW?) etc. in the middle of May. To hear so many people I've worked with (most of whom are from other parts of the U.S.) talk about it, we have the WORST March-September weather in the world here. It's sure not balmy -- I like winter-type weather, myself -- but I always had the impression that the rest of the country enjoyed warm sunny days from Presidents' Day to Labor Day :confused:

[BlueMoose]

Not here in MN! We feel fortunate to have a thaw in February. :rolleyes: Where I live the leaves are just now coming out on the trees. I'm so jealous of those of you who are talking about gardening and fresh produce.

[HRJ]

Originally posted by Canice
I always had the impression that the rest of the country enjoyed warm sunny days from Presidents' Day to Labor Day :confused:

Not here, either! Actually, New England weather is crazy -- when I moved here, people kept telling me, "If you don't like the weather in New England, wait 15 minutes." I thought they were exaggerating, but it's true -- the weather is wildly changeable, and can go from the 30s to the 80s and back again within a couple of days.

Today, it was in the 30s -- IN MAY!! ARGHH! One of the oddest things for me to deal with is that I live on the top of a high, steep hill -- and often, what's happening on the top of the hill is substantially different from what's happening two-and-a-half blocks away, at the bottom of the hill. Today, it was actually SNOWING :mad: for about a half hour up here -- I drove down to the grocery store, and, within blocks, the snow turned to mere drizzling rain.

I do wish we had a longer growing season here -- but I also don't like really hot weather, so, I guess I'll take what we've got. And you can't beat New England in the fall -- definitely one of the most beautiful places ever.

Helene

[kima]

I live in Victoria British Columbia on Vancouver Island. We blow the image of Canada as a land of igloos and Arctic tundra (that would be Toronto!!!:p :D ). We rarely get snow- most years just a skiff or two. The daffodils are blooming at the end of February. Our weather is mild all year round- very nice but heat would be nice once and awhile! We get half the rain of Vancouver or Seattle- the only drawback can be wind- it is rarely perfectly calm here. I love our weather- it suits me to a Tee.:)

[mochadelsol]

Kima, your weather sounds perfect for me!! I love cool temps. Down here in Southwestern Washington, the temp is up and down sometimes from day to day. Spring and fall is my favorite. Today was 68, cloudy with some sun breaks. :D Just perfect.

[KValley]

Originally posted by mochadelsol
Kima, your weather sounds perfect for me!! I love cool temps. Down here in Southwestern Washington, the temp is up and down sometimes from day to day. Spring and fall is my favorite. Today was 68, cloudy with some sun breaks. :D Just perfect.

Hey there! My in-laws are in Battle Ground- not so far from your neck of the woods. The amount of rain they get there would make me nuts. When it's nice, it's gorgeous, but when the skies are grey, it can be so depressing!

I have to agree with Maureen- the climate in Victoria is just about darn near perfect. It's a lot like the Dungeness Peninsula where I grew up- just right across the Straights of Juan de Fuca from Victoria. That whole rainshadow effect- rains like buckets all around you, but in your little slice of heaven it's mild and relatively dry!

Living in another rain shadow now, but this one is from the Cascade Mountains rather than the Olympics. We've also had a very cool (cold) spring. May in central Washington is usually very dry and warm- in the 80s, clear and sunny. It's not unusual to have very little to no rain from May - September. Not this year- it rained a bit today, but otherwise it was lovely. Upper 60's, overcast but soothing. Still, we haven't had a proper spring- a few days of sun and warmth, but I am still in sweaters and wool socks until the southwestern light hits the house in the afternoon.

Summers are hot and dry; winters cold and dry and lots of snow, if we are lucky. 9 inches average annual rainfall; loads of sunny days with autumn being the best season (IMO). Generally I really like the climate here, but March is the pits.

[lindrusso]

Spring has been elusive here as well. Our frost date in NE Indiana is May 10, but here it is May 19 and we are having widespread frost and some areas are calling for a freeze! No planting for me until the nighttime temps get out of the 30's (the very low 30's, that is)! I just hope we can get the plants in in time to get tomatoes before fall sets in! :) I guess I'll plant a larger number of Early Girls this year! :)

I am sooooo glad that I didn't put anything in yet - they would be rotting (in addition to cold temps, we've had tons of rain as well) and frost bitten and I'd have to start all over!

Both of my boys are sick with fevers (one of them since Friday), so I am really, really ready for spring to come! But until then, I'll put on a pot of homemade, 6-hour marinara and take advantage of the cool weather. :)

[aggie94]

We had unseasonably mild weather this weekend, which was a much appreciated change from the typical mid-90s humid days of the past few weeks. This weekend, the humidity was low, the daytime highs were in the 70s and the nighttime lows were in the 50s. It was like Oregon in the summertime! ;)

[Nirak]

Our weather report is calling for snow this week! Went to dd's end-of-the-year outdoor Girl Scout picnic in down coats last evening. The food was cold before it made it to the table, and my fingers were numb half way through dinner. But the girls worked hard to put together a nice meal and it was fun. Maybe it will warm up soon!

[ebobbitt]

The weekend here was gorgeous but it was in the 40's one of the nights. That's really unusual for this time of year. And then there was the 87% humidity according to the radio when I was on my way to work Friday. We've had tons of rain too. This spring has been a little strange but we seem to have missed out on all the tornados we usually get.