As others see it: Winter - it had to arrive sometime

Talk about it

Oh, what a difference 24 hours can make in the weather of west central Minnesota.

Welcome to winter 2012.

The difference between Tuesday and Wednesday was like spring and winter or day and night. The warm weather of Monday and Tuesday only wetted our appetites for spring, which remains only 68 days away, according to the calendar.

Sunday through Tuesday certainly were relatively warm days, with plenty of warm spring-like sunshine and mild temperatures rising to 50 or higher.

People of west central Minnesota took full advantage of mid-winter warmth. People were ice fishing outside their ice houses, just sitting in the sun absorbing some warmth, playing in the sand at a beach, riding a motorcycle or going for a warm walk.

Governments and schools have been enjoying the warm weather as well, saving on heating and snow plowing costs in the month of December until now.

The only ones regretting the no-snow warm weather recently have been snow-related businesses, from snow removal providers to snowmobile and snow blower dealers.

As Wednesday showed, west central Minnesota weather can and does change quickly. Our yards were covered with a layer of snow, which is good insulation for lawns, fall-planted crops, flower gardens and private sewer lines.

We should also count our blessing that we have not suffered significant snowfall or blizzards thus far this winter. It really could be worse.

Consider Cordoba, Alaska, where more than 15 feet of snow has fallen over the past two weeks. The snow fall has collapsed roofs, closed the road to the airport and blocked access to homes and businesses behind huge drifts.

Yes, it is time to count our blessing. Now we just need to get through the next 68 days until we face the late snow weeks of April when we know it may warm up by Memorial Day weekend.

Tags: opinion, editorials, minnesota, weather