"Dad, you don't have to shovel water," my oldest son, Walt, bragged. We were visiting their home in Seattle. The 50-degree sunshine never felt better.
Minnesota had been transformed into a vast ice skating rink, and I was feeling sorry for myself. "It's only frozen water," I shrugged. "We get more year-round sunshine. No volcanoes or earthquakes, either." Cheap shot?
Minnesotans rationalize during the dark days of winter. It's the snow/ice/cold tax we pay for living in a resort. The next few weeks we'll dodge a bitter bullet.
My maps and models show a consistently mild and moderating Pacific influence into mid-January. A few pops of cold, but no prolonged polar punches. Temperatures in the 30s in mid-January when it could easily be minus 30? Yes, please.
Monday's instant snow globe weather is about as exciting as it's going to get anytime soon. Expect low to mid-30s New Year's Day and Thursday, 10 to 15 degrees above average.
We may yet get hit in late January and February. Yes, it's way too early to let your guard down.
