Global Warming in Minnesota

OK, global warming foes. We're not just making it up. By this time, early February in the Land of Lakes, we have usually had dozens -- at least two -- of days where the thermometer went below zero. That's what we're known for -- the coldest major population center with ridiculous winter temps. We take pride in it.

There have been only a couple of below zero days so far this winter. And those were at night. None of that stuff where the afternoon temp never went into positive territory. Moreover, we've had no snow. The total is around six inches since November in the Twin Cities. What's up with this?

And they just released the revised gardening zones. We are definitely not anywhere near zone 3 anymore. In fact, in some places in MN, we're barely in zone 4. And because there's no snow cover, on those few occasions when the temp has dipped into the teens or single digits, I worry about freezing. Snow is a wonderful insulator for plants, even those supposed to be hardy in zone 3. We might as well be living in Iowa.

Obviously the global warming naysayers have not been here recently. Probably never been here, in fact.

Too cold to snow?

View from the kitchen window
When people from New England, where they get lots of snow, ask me how I like the snow in Minnesota, I always tell them that it's too cold and dry to snow much. The difference between here and there is that when it does snow, the snow remains on the ground until April. In contrast, the 10 inch snows that regularly occur in Massachusetts disappear within a week or two.

My tune has changed. Right now it's snowing again, and we are on track to have the snowiest December in many years. The Twin Cities are shut down in expectation of 12 inches or more. It's blowing and drifting, as they say on the road conditions report. This is probably snow scam -- weather people are never happier than when a disaster is looming. But there are five inches on the ground at 9 AM with no sign of stopping anytime soon.

What's going on? Looks like global warming to me. It is now warm enough to snow, and snow hard. Kinda exciting, and reminds me of my childhood in snowy Central Mass.

Who ever thought there would be an upside to climate change?