Tag: snow

it’s now winter, they say

As you might’ve heard, winter officially started today, December 21, at 6:04 AM CST.  But I have a problem with this.   See, we had lots of ice here a few days ago, which is most definitely winter weather.  But according to some official consensus, we were getting ice and snow in the fall.  And this is in Arkansas, where we rarely get ice and snow.   Some places in the country have had feet of snow already!

So obviously the system is broken.   And I’m not afraid to challenge the status quo.  We need to devise a new system for determining the seasons.  Now before some sticklers for traditions get crazy over my ideas, I know why the current system is setup.   It’s based on the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year.  And I could use more terms like equinoxes and diurnal movements and such, but all that isn’t necessary at this time.  Because whatever it’s based on now, it doesn’t work.

I propose we use a system based on the actual weather.   That just makes a lot more sense.  (Maybe too much…)  I know, it would vary depending on where you are, but that’s fine.  Once it starts snowing, then it’s winter.  When snows have ended and the average high temperature is in the 50s or 60s, then spring is starting.  When the average high temperature starts exceeding 90 degrees, it’s summer.   And so forth.  And note that I’m basing these numbers on Arkansas.  Your results may vary.

Is this too much to ask?  Or can someone suggest a viable reason for keeping it the way it is?

snow

We finally got some snow accumulation here in Conway, AR, last night.  But it was only 1-2″ inches of accumulation.  Russellville got 11″, and they’re only about 45 miles to the northwest.  So we were ripped off.  But at least it’s something, even if it’s mostly melted just a few hours later.

The reason it didn’t accumulate much is because two days ago it was over 70 degrees, with the low in the 60s.  Then it snows the next night, and then tomorrow the high is 62.  But at least we got something.

Since there wasn’t much snow on the ground, I couldn’t build the snow castle / fortress that I’m planning to, but I did build a snow midget.  It’s not much, but at least there was a few minutes of enjoying the snow.

If only I had an industrial-sized snow-maker…

share the snow, please

There is a massive blizzard hitting California right now, with some of the higher elevations getting up to 10 feet of snow.  I’m wondering if 10 feet of snow has fallen in central and southern Arkansas in my whole lifetime…

Those people don’t need 10 feet of snow at once.  Buildings just aren’t designed to handle that, plus it would be extremely difficult to walk in.  (Think about that!)  So they should share.  What I want is just 8 inches of snow at one time here in central Arkansas.  I want to build a giant snow castle — one big enough for people to be inside.  I know, it’s ambitious, but I want to try.  (I have some techniques for making it work, so it might not be as much work as you would think.)

Plus it’s great when it snows here.  Once there’s any accumulation on the ground, businesses and schools start closing.  (Sometimes they close even at the threat of snow accumulation!)  I know, people from the northern half of the U.S. probably think that is crazy, because they get snow all throughout the winter.  But it’s a rare thing here in Arkansas.  There are some years where we never see any accumulation, or maybe an inch or two.  So it’s a big event when it snows here.  You get to stay home from work, play in the snow, cook deer chili (or using other meat), and just have a mini vacation from everything.  Plus the snow is so special because it rarely happens.  And so many people panic like we’ll be trapped for days — it is guaranteed that the grocery stores will be out of bread and milk before the ground is covered.

It’s just a great time when it snows here.  Now it just needs to happen…

snow reduces global warming

I recently learned that snow plays an important part in regulating the global climate, and a shortage of it can contribute to global warming (because of the effect).  So obviously we need more snow.  Well, coincidentally, I’ve been wanting one of those snow-makers for a while, so perhaps it’s time to get one installed on my house.  That way I can just push a button (because it would have to be remote-controlled, of course!), and snow would start shooting out from the corners of my roof to cover the yard.  This would be awesome for parties, and I would use a specially-formulated mixture so it will have reduced melt-ability during the non-winter parts of the year.

And when it’s cold enough outside for snow, I wouldn’t have to wait on the weather to cooperate — I’d just create my own snow with a click of a button.  And with sub-freezing temperatures, it would last for a while, giving me time to build that snow castle I have big plans for, and of course my driveway would be so deeply covered that I couldn’t go in to work.  So this plan would be, in one word, awesome!

When the Buffet o’ Blog R&D department gets this finished, we’ll put it on the market for sale, so other people can enjoy snow any time of the year and help combat global warming.  We’ll help save the Earth, we’ll make lots of people happy, and we’ll make millions of dollars.  It’s a win-win scenario, for sure!