The Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast states are having above average temperatures this winter.
Recall that this area, east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the 100th meridian, is formally a high altitude desert. ("The Great American Desert.") It is typically hot (35 C) and dry during summer days, and cold (10 C) during summer nights, and can be pretty warm during winter days and then quite cold at night. Today it was about 17 C, but the prediction for Saturday night is -15 C.
I believe that the climate here is similar to that of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, one of our "sister cities." They're quite a bit lower that us (800 m versus 1900 m) but situated in a similar relationship to nearby mountains...
This morning we had a good inch and keeps snowing steadily in big flakes. The palm tree across the street is drooping white and looks more out of place than usual.
It's a whole, new, world perspective when everything is white, here. Any snow shakes the locals enough to be more social and talkative, so it's almost pleasant.
The north coast and even Barcelona have had snow on the beaches, so it shouldn't surprise us, inlanders. Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.
