How is the weather?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Sorry to hear that! My landlords provide a propane-powered space heater for the lower level where the pipes come into the building. When it drops near or below freezing, I run the space heater for a short time. To know when it's cold enough to use the heater, I have a temperature sensor from my weather station down there. I grew up in Michigan in a house where a burst pipe was always a possibility in winter, so I know how serious that can be. There were a couple of really cold mornings last winter - I remember one on a weekend when it got down to -31ºC out in the boonies (-24ºF).

What is the temperature sensor like?  I'm trying to figure out when to run heater...perhaps early morning?

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have an electric shovel, which isn't great for the speed and amounts involved so far this year, but if I go out every once in a while, it does the job.

The older gentleman next door allows me use of his snow-thrower if necessary, and I usually clear his pavement with it as well.
VS

I hadn't heard of an electric shovel before now.  What brand do you have?

PD

[krummholz]

What is the temperature sensor like?  I'm trying to figure out when to run heater...perhaps early morning?

PD

My temperature sensor is part of an Ambient weather station, but you can always just put an ordinary thermometer close to the pipes. If needed, I run the heater late at night and early in the morning.

I ran the heater for the first time this morning (first time this winter, that is). The sensor read 0.9ºC, so I figured that was a little too close for comfort. That was triggered by an outside temp of -14ºC (about 6ºF) overnight, and they are forecasting as low as -17ªC tonight and tomorrow night (just above 0ºF), so I guess I'll be using it a lot for a while.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

My temperature sensor is part of an Ambient weather station, but you can always just put an ordinary thermometer close to the pipes. If needed, I run the heater late at night and early in the morning.

I ran the heater for the first time this morning (first time this winter, that is). The sensor read 0.9ºC, so I figured that was a little too close for comfort. That was triggered by an outside temp of -14ºC (about 6ºF) overnight, and they are forecasting as low as -17ªC tonight and tomorrow night (just above 0ºF), so I guess I'll be using it a lot for a while.

I've had my on for the past few days (round the clock).  I stuffed some insulation in an area that is drafty and, hopefully will seal up that area better soon.

PD

[VonStupp]

I hadn't heard of an electric shovel before now.  What brand do you have?

I have a battery powered Greenworks. It is great for up to six inches of snow. We ended up with 24 inches of snow so far in January.

Wow!  That cold?!  What was the temp outside when you had 40 below wind chills?

I think we were right around zero degrees (F). Chilly enough for needing a union suit when removing snow! Today is 30-below wind chills, and we will be around 5 degrees.

Luckily the sun is out though!
VS

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have a battery powered Greenworks. It is great for up to six inches of snow. We ended up with 24 inches of snow so far in January.

I think we were right around zero degrees (F). Chilly enough for needing a union suit when removing snow! Today is 30-below wind chills, and we will be around 5 degrees.

Luckily the sun is out though!
VS

Starting Monday, it should begin warming up here a bit--at least for a little while!

PD

[VonStupp]

Starting Monday, it should begin warming up here a bit--at least for a little while!

PD

Ay, it looks like most of the US should experience a bit of a thaw.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Ay, it looks like most of the US should experience a bit of a thaw.

Hurrah!

PD

[Spotted Horses]

Light rain in coastal California.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Light rain in coastal California.

Is the ground dry enough now to deal with it o.k.?

PD

[DavidW]

It is going to be cold here.  It will get down to the teens with wind chills in the single digits (F).  That is nothing compared to what some of you go through, but it is absolutely wild for it to get that cold in South Carolina!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It is going to be cold here.  It will get down to the teens with wind chills in the single digits (F).  That is nothing compared to what some of you go through, but it is absolutely wild for it to get that cold in South Carolina!

What is a normal low in January where you are?

PD

[Holden]

Tropical cyclone number two for the season is currently forming in the Coral Sea. Some predictions have it tracking south to south west meaning it could make landfall much closer to SE Qld than most cyclones. If that's the case we can expect bucket loads of rain and with many dams close to capacity the flooding risk intensifies.

[DavidW]

What is a normal low in January where you are?

PD

High 30s.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Tropical cyclone number two for the season is currently forming in the Coral Sea. Some predictions have it tracking south to south west meaning it could make landfall much closer to SE Qld than most cyclones. If that's the case we can expect bucket loads of rain and with many dams close to capacity the flooding risk intensifies.

Eek!    Hope that that isn't the case for you.

High 30s.

Yes, that's quite a difference!

PD

[Spotted Horses]

Is the ground dry enough now to deal with it o.k.?

PD

No problem in that respect. The dramatic December storm involved very heavy rain for a hour or so (a months worth of rain in a hour) but the total dumped by the storm system over three days was about twice the typical monthly total. Getting the entire months rain in one storm system isn't unusual here. Aside from the unfortunate people who had their homes flooded in the flash flooding, you wouldn't have known it had rained at all three days later. The landscape is still parched.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

@Madiel I Heard that it's in the low 60's at the Australian open?!  Maybe nighttime temps?  It sounded like it was quite hot during the daytime?

PD

[Madiel]

@Madiel I Heard that it's in the low 60's at the Australian open?!  Maybe nighttime temps?  It sounded like it was quite hot during the daytime?

PD

Not necessarily at night, yesterday and today in Melbourne has been in the 60s on your scale. If I'm converting correctly the maximum yesterday was 69. It's not boiling hot ALL the time here. Especially not in Melbourne which is notorious for the changeable weather.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

No problem in that respect. The dramatic December storm involved very heavy rain for a hour or so (a months worth of rain in a hour) but the total dumped by the storm system over three days was about twice the typical monthly total. Getting the entire months rain in one storm system isn't unusual here. Aside from the unfortunate people who had their homes flooded in the flash flooding, you wouldn't have known it had rained at all three days later. The landscape is still parched.

It's hard when the ground gets so baked that it's hard for water to get through too. 

Not necessarily at night, yesterday and today in Melbourne has been in the 60s on your scale. If I'm converting correctly the maximum yesterday was 69. It's not boiling hot ALL the time here. Especially not in Melbourne which is notorious for the changeable weather.

Interesting!  I guess that I've become so used to seeing tennis players struggling in the heat at the AO that it's hard to think of it being in the upper 60's during the daytime (currently watching some of the replays there).

How is the weather in your area?

PD

p.s.  It's in the teens here (F).  Thankfully it's sunny out, so I'm hoping to get in a nice walk this morning. 

[krummholz]

Our temps have been hovering just above freezing for the last couple of days. Currently -3ºC (roughly 27ºF). Ice storm coming tonight and tomorrow with up to 5mm of ice accretion expected. Power outages likely.