Say it ain’t snow
The party is almost over. I’m talking about the 60-degree days, sunshine and incredibly mild weather we’ve been blessed to experience so far this November.
To start the week, we were running 7.8 degrees above normal in Pittsburgh for the month of November, which is in the running (so far) for the warmest November on record. Second place goes to 1931, with 2015 marking the only other year in the 2000s making the top six warmest Novembers list.
An invasion of cold air and an upper-level low pressure system may put an end to the fun as early as tomorrow. Normal highs this time of year for us hover around 50 degrees while normal lows usually dip to around freezing. We may be struggling to get out of the 40s several days coming up with some much-needed rain and possibly even the first snowflakes of the season.
The long-range forecasts for this winter mostly feature a set-up that may help us battle extremely dry and drought conditions across the tri-state area, so rain will be very welcome to farmers and for our drinking water supply and lawns. Snowfall is forecast to be a bit below normal but more than last year’s paltry totals. That would also help to alleviate our drought situation.
Most every Thursday and Friday this fall, my husband and I and some friends tried to play nine holes of golf and we pretty much made it up until mid-November. Last week’s rain and chill broke the streak, and with snow and rain in the forecast this week, it appears our duffing days may have come to an end for 2024. It was a great run, even while trying to find our golf balls amid many falling leaves and while wearing shorts and short sleeves well into November!
I bought new ski boots this summer and just picked them up from the ski shop along with my freshly waxed and sharpened skis. I have to admit that seeing a video of a few feet of snow falling in Colorado a couple of weeks ago made me shiver and think, “Am I really ready for snow and cold?” It’s been so mild and nice that we have been spoiled. But, yes, I am ready to ski. That doesn’t mean I want to shovel or drive in snow and ice.
To everyone who will blame me and my new ski boots for finally bringing on the snow, I say you have to look in the mirror. My neighbors already have their Christmas lights not only hung but glowing. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!
Communities already lit their holiday trees, so I kiddingly say if we get snow … it’s the early decorators who manifested it!
Then again, that may be me as well since I’ll likely have put up my lights by the time you read this. Can’t waste these 60-degree days!
Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.