Better hope you don't get pulled over.

Yeah, I don't like getting pulled over in those situations. I prefer being pulled in other, more pleasant directions.

Meanwhile, a huge mass of arctic air has been swirled down over Europe and brought remarkable cold. There is sea ice on the Black Sea and in Venice's lagoons.

Yeah, and the Dutch are going to have their famous long distance canal ice skating race for the first time in ages.

Go Hans Brinker!

Snow flurries were hinted at here.
We had a few floating icy drops at lunchtime.

Once you added windchill, our region was supposed to be the coldest in the country.
I had my jacket unzipped in the still air even at 16.00, waiting for the bus.
It just did not feel all that cold. Not warm, but not headline-inducing freeze.

Early warnings issued for significant snowfall on Friday.
Nowhere near me though.
We're just too protected here!

Then again, I remember my fury at the winds in Leicester, and how I couldn't walk anywhere without hair in my face, so I suppose I should be grateful.

Temps still apparently low here, wind from the East (Scandinavia and Russia that way)
We're currently dry with no frost, no snow and no freezing fog. Although the ground is hard frozen, which means I can cut through the churchyard without slipping on the mud.

For those of you watching the US news today, it's nothing but TORNADOS !
At least 96 tornados were reported on Friday, 3/2/12

Mostly, our TV is showing only clips of the devastation in a few hard-hit towns,
but to appreciate what was going on yesterday, maybe this weather map will help...

Here is a link to the Wundermap.com... a customizable website for weather geeks and laymen.

http://www.wunderground.com/wunderma...rtland%2c%20OR

Holy moly. Stay safe, folks.

Tornadoes are scary because they're so sudden. At least with hurricanes and cyclones you get warning. These buggers leap on you with maybe two minutes notice if you're lucky.

I was glad to see Grav post here today, after hearing of the tornado destruction in KY.

Yeah, its been crazy down there.

snowing Tues. 60 deg today.

OMG rain. Rain rain rain.

It has been raining almost nonstop for a week and a half. I mean, yes, we wanted to put a definitive end to the drought, but dammit. My backyard is up to 4 inches deep in some places.

Ahh, Clod, I know that scene. Very familiar one here. We have a pome about it.

http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/author.../hanrahan.html

Happy Vernal Equinox to everyone...

Spring in PDX is the appearance of daffodils and triliums.

Record high temps here in Burlington yesterday and today. Nearly 80, and hardly a cloud in the sky.

April 12 was when the baseball season started. It was also the day that leaves came out on trees.

Well they keep advancing Opening Day. But the weather keeps advancing even faster. Yesterday, the first leaves have sprung from some trees. Baseball is going to have to start their season weeks earlier.