Record Weather Year

[Brakelate]

So, moving out to South Central Utah, I figured it would still be a pretty "moderate" climate. After all, coming from the whacky Antelope Valley, where despite still being in LA County, and less than an hours drive from downtown LA we had always endured some extreme weather.

Despite all of my (albeit somewhat abbreviated) research, weather history showed that the area around Page, AZ was not all that different from Lancaster, CA. In terms of predicted weather that is.

Just my luck then, that while moving out here this past summer, we hit "record" high temps. People said "it never gets this hot out here" as I saw 117 on my patio. Then, a month later, the rains came. We got hit with a Record Monsoonal rainfall season. People said "It never rains like this out here" as I watched a muddy river flow past my patio . Now, after stuffing everything in the garage, checking and topping off all the fluids in the various vehicles with freeze resistant coolants, anti-ice windshield wiper fluids and bio friendly fresh water stuff in the holding tanks and pipes of the RV and trailer I still find myself worried about plastic coolant lines bursting and other such cold weather issues that are relatively foreign to me.

The "cold" season is usually only supposed to run in January, for about five or six weeks. Or less.

But no. After catching a nasty flu bug, another Record was about to be set. The most snowfall in Utah on this date, since about 1924. Obviously not as bad here as in the higher elevations and northern valleys, but even St. George is getting slammed with "unheard of" cold, snow and freezing wind chill factors.

Not being able to sleep, with everything hurting from the regular Arthritis to my more recent maladies, combined with the sweat, chills and stomach issues, I ended up staring out the window most of the night, watching the snow blow horizontal through the halogen beam emitted from my porch light, that same patio covered in wind blown ice formations.

Funny, unlike the Antelope Valley, where it blows pretty much all the time, out here it goes from 51 degrees at sundown last night, to a cold front that suddenly slams into the house with winds like a freight train. Then it snows, then temps drop. Then in half an hour this afternoon, it went from overcast and flurries, to clear blue skies. Tonight will be cold. The next snow supposed to arrive on Saturday.

Boy, what a year. This is very beautiful, but rugged country. And it changes in an instant. From hot to cold to wind to dry to downpours, all in one afternoon.

So, why didn't my buddy Tetge warn me about all of this? I miss the typical LA Basin 70 and hazy year-round. I am starting to wonder as I limp around looking for burst pipes or floor heater ignited fires what on earth I got myself in to. But, hell. At least here I can pay the rent. So I suppose all is well.

[Brakelate]

Looking out the kitchen window. Poor Cobra.

[Brakelate]

Same bluff 20 minutes later.

[Brakelate]

Pups on the patio. Funny, they don't seem so happy, even the St. Bernard. I think he was tired of being the hot water blanket for the other two.

[Brakelate]

What is that thing seen in the left hand corner of the first Cobra in the driveway pic you ask ? Well, that is material for another thread! Muahaahaa.

[SonicVenum]

When they say, "Ride with Brakelate, die in the alley," I didn't know freezing to death was an option.



Definitely beautiful country though, my ninja!

[Brakelate]

Apparently anything is possible when you roll TFTF.

How is the Gpz project coming along? Give me some warm distraction to think about... Project cars, bikes, gals, smog, traffic, anything.

It is 18 Deg with not a breeze or cloud in the sky. Yes, the natural beauty is second to none however. How cold did Walker say it gets at his place? I don't seem to remember this glitch in his program.

[jhwalker]

Apparently anything is possible when you roll TFTF.

How is the Gpz project coming along? Give me some warm distraction to think about... Project cars, bikes, gals, smog, traffic, anything.

It is 18 Deg with not a breeze or cloud in the sky. Yes, the natural beauty is second to none however. How cold did Walker say it gets at his place? I don't seem to remember this glitch in his program.

Good pictures. Looks like the place I visited! We had the two coldest days of the year this week. Got down to 36 one night and 38 the other. Brrrrrrrr...
I actually started a fire in the wood burning fireplace one night. Right now at 8:46 it is 50 degrees. It will get up to 76 today, clear skies with some fluffy clouds. Pretty tough living.

The only thing exceptional this year is that we have received 26 inches of rain. About 10 more than last year. So the mountain I am on is still leaking water -- the plants that should be brown are still green. It is beautiful but odd. The cobblestones are still wet, which makes for an interesting ride on the motorcycle.
You CAN"T drop it on the cobblestones without major pain so there is some restrained riding on right now. My friend who has the 2 DRZ 400 E's has come down from Texas for the winter and we need to ride. How the hell can it almost be the end of the year?

[Tetge]

You never asked Tetge about the climate before you committed to moving to your new location. But, it should be obvious that it was not the same as even the AV high desert. Although there is a rain shadow between the Pacific Ocean, and the AV, the ocean water mass is still nearby as the crow flies and it still has some influence on the harshness of the weather. As well, and perhaps more importantly, the cold fronts that come down the interior of the western continent from the Arctic, hit Montana and Utah with significant force. So, there is real hard, very cold, northern, winter weather, that tapers off the further south one goes. By the time such fronts get to Mexico, they are not generally an issue, and, they never get to where Walker lives. All that said, real estate prices, and population density, also reflect, to some degree, the climatic conditions of an area, so, as an example, Malibu has better weather than Page, Arizona, in terms of days under freezing or over 100*. And, real estate prices certainly support this fact. Thus, there are always trade offs when it comes to affordable "rent", since people tend to crowd around the spots with the best living conditions, which drives the rent up. But, with crowds and growth, come both opportunities combined with sundry social ills and issues related to crowding and dense population. In some ways, you pick your poison, since harsh weather can be quite difficult itself to deal with, especially when one gets old and banged up.

[jhwalker]

You never asked Tetge about the climate before you committed to moving to your new location. But, it should be obvious that it was not the same as even the AV high desert. Although there is a rain shadow between the Pacific Ocean, and the AV, the ocean water mass is still nearby as the crow flies and it still has some influence on the harshness of the weather. As well, and perhaps more importantly, the cold fronts that come down the interior of the western continent from the Arctic, hit Montana and Utah with significant force. So, there is real hard, very cold, northern, winter weather, that tapers off the further south one goes. By the time such fronts get to Mexico, they are not generally an issue, and, they never get to where Walker lives. All that said, real estate prices, and population density, also reflect, to some degree, the climatic conditions of an area, so, as an example, Malibu has better weather than Page, Arizona, in terms of days under freezing or over 100*. And, real estate prices certainly support this fact. Thus, there are always trade offs when it comes to affordable "rent", since people tend to crowd around the spots with the best living conditions, which drives the rent up. But, with crowds and growth, come both opportunities combined with sundry social ills and issues related to crowding and dense population. In some ways, you pick your poison, since harsh weather can be quite difficult itself to deal with, especially when one gets old and banged up.