Polar Vortex
I think it's safe to say the majority of the US has experienced crazy weather this winter. Between winter breaks lasting 2 and half to three weeks (I have a friend who teaches in Indianapolis who had an entire week off due to weather after her 2 week winter break!), to sub-zero temperatures for days at a time, and last but not least... the "flash blizzards" in which we get a few inches of snow plus howling winds all in the span of 36 minutes during the morning or afternoon commute, the weather indeed has a mind of its own these days.
Being from Minnesota, I actually don't think much of winter weather. The winter of 2009 when we had about 7 snow days was a little crazy to me but other than that, I'm not phased by Iowa winters because Minnesota winters truly are worse. They are colder, snowier, and longer so I think I'm somewhat programmed. Nevertheless, Iowa still has it's crazy moments but they mostly come in the form of bipolar-ness rather than extended extreme conditions.
Case in point:
So... I'd like to call your attention to a few points in the graphic above. First, note that it is currently 45 degrees and this is down from 52 at 3:45 when I was on my way home. 52 degrees. Please also note the high for tomorrow of 51 degrees. But wait, above you'll see the words BLIZZARD WATCH in effect for Thursday where the high will only reach 38 degrees. We are also supposed to receive anywhere from 4-7 inches of snow throughout the day. It's also important to note that yesterday around 3am a round of freezing rain swept through Iowa, turned into snow around 7am and continued to snow in a fast flurry until noon only to end as a 40ish degree day with perfectly blue sunny skies. w.t.f.seriously
Funnily enough, we haven't actually had many snow days this year. We had two full days in January but those were because of the wind chill warning, not snow. We had a 2 hour delay one day which was a first for Des Moines in many years, but other than that we've all trekked through mother natures forces to teach the youth of America like champs. Truth be told, I'm quite disappointed we haven't had more days off. In Minnesota we never had snow days so I never expected them (seriously, I think I had one snow day in my entire 13 year career in Minnesota schools) but in Iowa they do call snow days so I've come to expect them throughout the winter. A lot of teachers complain because it adds days to the end of the year which I get but I'll take an excuse to stay inside snuggled in my sweatpants in the dead of winter any day.
That is all. I wanted to be sure to document this crazy winter. And my heart goes out to those experiencing much worse conditions, stay warm and safe everyone!
Being from Minnesota, I actually don't think much of winter weather. The winter of 2009 when we had about 7 snow days was a little crazy to me but other than that, I'm not phased by Iowa winters because Minnesota winters truly are worse. They are colder, snowier, and longer so I think I'm somewhat programmed. Nevertheless, Iowa still has it's crazy moments but they mostly come in the form of bipolar-ness rather than extended extreme conditions.
Case in point:
So... I'd like to call your attention to a few points in the graphic above. First, note that it is currently 45 degrees and this is down from 52 at 3:45 when I was on my way home. 52 degrees. Please also note the high for tomorrow of 51 degrees. But wait, above you'll see the words BLIZZARD WATCH in effect for Thursday where the high will only reach 38 degrees. We are also supposed to receive anywhere from 4-7 inches of snow throughout the day. It's also important to note that yesterday around 3am a round of freezing rain swept through Iowa, turned into snow around 7am and continued to snow in a fast flurry until noon only to end as a 40ish degree day with perfectly blue sunny skies. w.t.f.seriously
Funnily enough, we haven't actually had many snow days this year. We had two full days in January but those were because of the wind chill warning, not snow. We had a 2 hour delay one day which was a first for Des Moines in many years, but other than that we've all trekked through mother natures forces to teach the youth of America like champs. Truth be told, I'm quite disappointed we haven't had more days off. In Minnesota we never had snow days so I never expected them (seriously, I think I had one snow day in my entire 13 year career in Minnesota schools) but in Iowa they do call snow days so I've come to expect them throughout the winter. A lot of teachers complain because it adds days to the end of the year which I get but I'll take an excuse to stay inside snuggled in my sweatpants in the dead of winter any day.
That is all. I wanted to be sure to document this crazy winter. And my heart goes out to those experiencing much worse conditions, stay warm and safe everyone!
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