Louise's Utopia: The In Between

We are in that exciting, yet somewhat frustrating time of year, that I affectionately call the in between. Another name might be the not yet. It is not yet Spring, but not really winter anymore. The weather doesn’t really know what to do. Be warm, or be cold. Last week it was in the high 60’s. I opened the screen door to go outside and it was full of flies. My initial thought was, ugh. But then I remembered that flies in the screen door means warm outside, and it was warm. What a glorious day we had, staying outside for several hours. We also saw wildlife slowing returning. Migratory birds flying overhead, and my friend the American Kestrel. This week, not so much. It is once again bitter cold, windy, and snow is in the forecast. It is the in between season. If Spring is associated with childhood, this might be the toddler time of year. Happy one minute, and throwing a tantrum the next. I have to keep telling myself, in this somewhat mundane time of year, that Spring will be here soon enough, just a little bit longer to go. One thing we have done, in anticipation of Spring, is plant garden vegetables. We are starting them indoor this year and hope to have an abundant crop. Slowly plants have started to poke their little heads out of the dirt, an exciting sight to see. But, with many outdoor project planned, we can’t wait for the weather to turn nice, and get outside a little more. Of course, with the nice weather means many ticks, so I guess there is always a balance to everything. It certainly reminds us that even the joys of this life are always fleeting.

One constant, here on the Coteau, but especially during this time of year, is the wind. Wind is a daily part of life. You can’t really get away from it, and it is a rarity that we have a totally wind free day. What is interesting this time of year is how the wind can shift from the north to the southwest. This brings the rapid temperature changes. One might ask why we have so much wind. Don't forget, it is the great plains after all. Land of the dust bowl, tornadoes, etc. So, most people think, great plains equal wind. Even though, unlike most in the Midwest, we sit on a hill, nonetheless the land in general is very flat. As you travel west, the great plains of course slowly transition into the Rocky Mountains. These mountains are the key to the weather patterns that we face in the Midwest. As Russ Shumacher, Colorado’s State Climatologist notes, “As troughs of low pressure aloft move from west to east over the Rocky Mountains and then emerge on the other side, the columns of air are “stretched” vertically. This makes them spin at increasing rates, just as figure skaters do when they draw their arms in. These features interact with the usual south-to-north gradient in temperature that exists east of the mountains – that is, warmer in the south and colder in the north – kicking off a process in which strong cold and warm fronts develop, and a cyclone can rapidly intensify. Along those fronts, widespread precipitation forms, including everything from heavy snow to severe thunderstorms.” So, we often see a colder north westerly winds, known as Alberta Clipper Systems. The National Weather Service defines Alberta Clipper Systems as, “A fast moving low pressure system that moves southeast out of Canadian Province of Alberta (southwest Canada) through the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes region usually during the winter. This low pressure area is usually accompanied by light snow, strong winds, and colder temperatures.” These are often followed by warmer southwesterly winds, known as Chinook winds. The National Weather Service defines these as, “This is a region-specific term used for Foehn Winds in the lee of the Rocky Mountains in the United States; Foehn Winds are warm, dry winds that occur in the lee of high mountain ranges.” This leads to the sort of seesaw in weather that we often experience during this time of year. Cold one day, warm the next. Or even cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon. According to Live Science, “An extreme example of a Chinook wind was recorded in South Dakota in January 1943, according to Black Hills Weather. The recorded temperature at 7:30 a.m. was minus 4 F (minus 20 C) and when the Chinook winds began shortly after, the temperature increased 49 degrees F (7 degrees C) in just two minutes and by 9 a.m., when the Chinooks died down, residents were experiencing 54 degree (12 C) weather. When the winds died down, it took 27 minutes for the temperature to drop 58 degrees, back to where it was in the morning.” It definitely makes for interesting weather around here, and an awful lot of wind. But we have learned to adapt. Don’t make any weather dependent plans in the early spring, and by all means invest in a nice kite.

So, in conclusion, while it may feel from time to time like Spring is here, old winter still has some fury left. So, button down the hatches, and don’t put away the mittens just quite yet. We may still be in for a bumpy ride. What is your favorite experience of Great Plains Weather, especially in the early spring? Let me know. And are you as ready for winter as I am? Please share the blog and leave a comment! :)