The inside and outside faucets are a problem. From the HGTV shows I’ve seen in Texas, it isn’t unusual for walls to be minimally insulated, if insulated at all.
When we lived in NC, if the temperature was going to drop below 20 we had to let our faucet drip to make sure the pipes didn't freeze.
Pipes were run in the crawl space and in the attic uninsulated. The crawl space was never an issue as the ground didn't freeze and the house was a decent insulator. It was the pipes in the attic that would freeze. If we'd been long-term residents we'd of had to do something more permanent to fix it.
As of 4-5 years ago, the whole ATL metro area had a total of 8 plows.
Also, as mentioned earlier with insulation, do homes that far south even come with thermostats that can generate that much heat? (yeah, dumb question, but man...)
They literally have little to no clue what to do, because of unfamiliarity.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Can't wait to see this month's heating usage, been running pretty much non-stop for a week. But in terms of cost it's still not as bad as a really hot July when the A/C can be running full stop due to a heat wave. We sure see it all here in the upper Midwest.
As of 4-5 years ago, the whole ATL metro area had a total of 8 plows.
Also, as mentioned earlier with insulation, do homes that far south even come with thermostats that can generate that much heat? (yeah, dumb question, but man...)
They literally have little to no clue what to do, because of unfamiliarity.
Most have electric central AC/Heat. I just had to flip a switch on the thermostat from "Cool" to "Heat".
The neighbor of a friend of mine in Burleson had their pipes burst and he himself has had no power for 18 hours (he went to UND with me so he knows how to handle winter). I have a feeling there is going to be quite a bit of pool damage too.
I learned yesterday that Texas has its own power grid and is not connected to the the rest of the US. Here's an article about it.
NOTE: Please don't let this spin off into a political discussion (it easily could).
City in Texas has to shut down water supply due to weather problems
https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-city-forced-shut-off-water-due-winter/story?id=75916304
Aloha!
I learned yesterday that Texas has its own power grid and is not connected to the the rest of the US. Here's an article about it.
NOTE: Please don't let this spin off into a political discussion (it easily could).
Please note that the Texas grid does have connections to the East and West grids for emergency type use. Unlike in Japan where there are two grids that are not compatible with each other (one runs on 50hz, the other on 60hz)
I have a friend on the DFW area who is going on 30 hours without power. I get what’s going on and why (I read the link last night and a few others) but that’s still beyond ridiculous
Can't wait to see this month's heating usage, been running pretty much non-stop for a week. But in terms of cost it's still not as bad as a really hot July when the A/C can be running full stop due to a heat wave. We sure see it all here in the upper Midwest.
That's funny. We spend twice as much on heating as cooling. I suppose it depends on thermostat settings and efficiency of your furnace and AC.
Can't wait to see this month's heating usage, been running pretty much non-stop for a week. But in terms of cost it's still not as bad as a really hot July when the A/C can be running full stop due to a heat wave. We sure see it all here in the upper Midwest.
That's funny. We spend twice as much on heating as cooling. I suppose it depends on thermostat settings and efficiency of your furnace and AC.
I would also guess the type of fuel.
Electric, even off peak, is spendy. Up at ML a buddy has an off peak boiler and is amazed at how expensive it is compared to at his home place in Blooming Prairie.
Propane is more expensive than NG & has price swings that can be very seasonal. As a farmer you sure see that [mention]Norm[/mention] .
Fuel oil? Used it in one place I rented. It was an exterior tank so it was #2 & seemed expensive.
Natural Gas sure is nice, but I do like my wood stove in these temps.? Toasty toasty.
Can't wait to see this month's heating usage, been running pretty much non-stop for a week. But in terms of cost it's still not as bad as a really hot July when the A/C can be running full stop due to a heat wave. We sure see it all here in the upper Midwest.
That's funny. We spend twice as much on heating as cooling. I suppose it depends on thermostat settings and efficiency of your furnace and AC.
I would also guess the type of fuel.
Electric, even off peak, is spendy. Up at ML a buddy has an off peak boiler and is amazed at how expensive it is compared to at his home place in Blooming Prairie.
Propane is more expensive than NG & has price swings that can be very seasonal. As a farmer you sure see that @Norm .
Fuel oil? Used it in one place I rented. It was an exterior tank so it was #2 & seemed expensive.
Natural Gas sure is nice, but I do like my wood stove in these temps.? Toasty toasty.
Yes, we use propane.
And we just got a call from our REA urging members to reduce their usage or they will have to go to rolling blackouts.
So GPL's resident meteorologist works for a company called MISO, they play a significant role in the allocation of power within our region. She mentioned this morning the entire power grid the help manage is operating at full power and apparently this is not common. She mentioned this has been going on since the 14th and was extended to tomorrow night. Interestingly she also mentioned the tidbit [mention]Zwak[/mention] brought up earlier today about Texas being on its own grid and there are a couple other states - NY and FL - who also follow that model. Those particular regions don't have the ability to share power (in & out) as other regions do.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Can't wait to see this month's heating usage, been running pretty much non-stop for a week. But in terms of cost it's still not as bad as a really hot July when the A/C can be running full stop due to a heat wave. We sure see it all here in the upper Midwest.
That's funny. We spend twice as much on heating as cooling. I suppose it depends on thermostat settings and efficiency of your furnace and AC.
I would also guess the type of fuel.
Electric, even off peak, is spendy. Up at ML a buddy has an off peak boiler and is amazed at how expensive it is compared to at his home place in Blooming Prairie.
Propane is more expensive than NG & has price swings that can be very seasonal. As a farmer you sure see that @Norm .
Fuel oil? Used it in one place I rented. It was an exterior tank so it was #2 & seemed expensive.
Natural Gas sure is nice, but I do like my wood stove in these temps.? Toasty toasty.
Yes, we use propane.
And we just got a call from our REA urging members to reduce their usage or they will have to go to rolling blackouts.
So GPL's resident meteorologist works for a company called MISO, they play a significant role in the allocation of power within our region. She mentioned this morning the entire power grid the help manage is operating at full power and apparently this is not common. She mentioned this has been going on since the 14th and was extended to tomorrow night. Interestingly she also mentioned the tidbit @Zwak brought up earlier today about Texas being on its own grid and there are a couple other states - NY and FL - who also follow that model. Those particular regions don't have the ability to share power (in & out) as other regions do.
I wondered where some local legislators have been getting their information about the levels of each type of power source for the grid. Thanks GE for posting that link!
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
My power has gone out twice since 5:30. One was a couple seconds and the other only 10 minutes but it’s still annoying
My power has gone out twice since 5:30. One was a couple seconds and the other only 10 minutes but it’s still annoying
No interruptions here. I'm in Plymouth also, with Wright Hennepin Electric Co-op.
My sister lives in Dallas she told my this am the lose power for about 5-6 hrs a day then get it back for 1-2 hrs a day
Aloha!
My power has gone out twice since 5:30. One was a couple seconds and the other only 10 minutes but it’s still annoying
No interruptions here. I'm in Plymouth also, with Wright Hennepin Electric Co-op.
I may have to look into this. I swear we lose it a couple times a year and I'm just on the other side of Larch from you.
There is SOME good news about our recent cold spell. From the DNR:
The recent bitter cold has benefits for ash trees.
At 30-below zero, 98% of emerald ash borer’s larvae die.
Even at a measly minus 10-below, 34% perish!!
The cold won't eliminate 'em, but it really slows 'em down.
Yeah cold!!
There is SOME good news about our recent cold spell. From the DNR:
The recent bitter cold has benefits for ash trees.
At 30-below zero, 98% of emerald ash borer’s larvae die.
Even at a measly minus 10-below, 34% perish!!
The cold won't eliminate 'em, but it really slows 'em down.
Yeah cold!!
It doesn't change my life at all to go from -10 to -40. I'd be fine with -40 temps for a few days for that result.
Also big snow events don't happen @ -40.
Probably something that a lot of people here know, but yes, it can be too cold to snow.
Tomorrow's news: The recent cold snap had now created a super resistant stain of ash borer. These murder borers as the DNR calls them are taking over. 
Probably something that a lot of people here know, but yes, it can be too cold to snow.
Yep. The trouble is, I don't mind snow. I hate the past two weeks' temps.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Tomorrow's news: The recent cold snap had now created a super resistant stain of ash borer. These murder borers as the DNR calls them are taking over.
Survival of the fittest. The only Ash Borers left are all 5 star recruits. We're Effed!!!
The temperature might drop to 69 by the time I go home this morning. That's almost jacket weather.
The temperature might drop to 69 by the time I go home this morning. That's almost jacket weather.
In 2004 we went on our honeymoon to St. Lucia. One day it was in the 70's and our boat guide was freezing. He said the coldest it have ever been in St. Lucia was 69.
The temperature might drop to 69 by the time I go home this morning. That's almost jacket weather.
In 2004 we went on our honeymoon to St. Lucia. One day it was in the 70's and our boat guide was freezing. He said the coldest it have ever been in St. Lucia was 69.
It can get into low 60's here where the elevation is higher, but even in those places it is pretty rare.
The temperature might drop to 69 by the time I go home this morning. That's almost jacket weather.
In 2004 we went on our honeymoon to St. Lucia. One day it was in the 70's and our boat guide was freezing. He said the coldest it have ever been in St. Lucia was 69.
This reminds me of our first trip to Belize many years ago. It was in March. We’re getting our sailboat and the marina manager is wearing a polar fleece and a stocking cap. I’m in shorts and a tank top. She’s pissing and moaning about the cold, mid-70s, and I’m laughing. When we told her the temperature back in MN she thought we were messing with her.
Dorothy: Who’s that?
Scarecrow: A man with an axe and a can of lube. I’ll ask if he wants to join us.
The temperature might drop to 69 by the time I go home this morning. That's almost jacket weather.
In 2004 we went on our honeymoon to St. Lucia. One day it was in the 70's and our boat guide was freezing. He said the coldest it have ever been in St. Lucia was 69.
This reminds me of our first trip to Belize many years ago. It was in March. We’re getting our sailboat and the marina manager is wearing a polar fleece and a stocking cap. I’m in shorts and a tank top. She’s pissing and moaning about the cold, mid-70s, and I’m laughing. When we told her the temperature back in MN she thought we were messing with her.
We were in Naples in June 2018 with our son waiting for permission leave Florida (needed state approvals since it was an adoption). I got talking to this woman and told her we were from Minneapolis...for 10 minutes she was concerned that we’d be heading home with him and not have a parka and mittens for him
She had no clue that in June in MN that temps are in the 70s and 80s.
A couple of years ago we visited my wife's relatives in Florida. At bedtime B-I-L said he was going out to the garage to plug in his car overnite as they were predicting temps in the 40's.
My parents retired to Naples, Florida some years ago. They had neighbors who decided to move to Sarasota, about 120 miles north. Less than two years later they moved back to Naples because they thought Sarasota was too cold. 
One of my fave anecdotes is from college. Was in a service frat (required community service hours per month) while at tUMD. Nat'l convention down in Dallas, the week between Christmas and New Year's. It was about 45-50 down there. We're wearing shorts, t-shirts, etc.
They honestly thought we were nuts. They were in heavy jackets and such. They really didn't believe the stories they had heard, until they met us.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I work for a company that has big offices in Bloomington, and manufacturing facilities in Chippewa Falls. A couple of years ago a new guy got hired in my group and got scheduled for training in Chippewa Falls in February. When he got onto his plane in Melbourne Australia it was 112F. He changed planes in LA but when he got off the plane at MSP it was -18 or something.
I still laugh at that story every time he brings it up. He says his friends and family in Australia think he's lying every time he tells the tale.
One of my fave anecdotes is from college. Was in a service frat (required community service hours per month) while at tUMD. Nat'l convention down in Dallas, the week between Christmas and New Year's. It was about 45-50 down there. We're wearing shorts, t-shirts, etc.
They honestly thought we were nuts. They were in heavy jackets and such. They really didn't believe the stories they had heard, until they met us.
My wife and I vacationed in Scottsdale a number of years ago, and played golf on a beautiful, sunny, 70 degree day right around Christmas. We were shocked to discover that we were the only golfers on the course wearing shorts and short-sleeve golf shirts. No doubt everyone we came across wearing pants and sweaters thought we were the nutty ones!
One of my fave anecdotes is from college. Was in a service frat (required community service hours per month) while at tUMD. Nat'l convention down in Dallas, the week between Christmas and New Year's. It was about 45-50 down there. We're wearing shorts, t-shirts, etc.
They honestly thought we were nuts. They were in heavy jackets and such. They really didn't believe the stories they had heard, until they met us.
My wife and I vacationed in Scottsdale a number of years ago, and played golf on a beautiful, sunny, 70 degree day right around Christmas. We were shocked to discover that we were the only golfers on the course wearing shorts and short-sleeve golf shirts. No doubt everyone we came across wearing pants and sweaters thought we were the nutty ones!
This same weekend in Vegas several years ago. Stepped outside a casino in Jeans, Polo Shirt and had a denim jacket.
Lots of other people had full on winter jackets, zipped up and shivering while I was standing there taking my jacket off because I was starting to sweat.
I'd guess it was about 60-65.
We went to either Baton Rouge or Fayetteville, AR for Thanksgiving every year for nearly 20 years depending upon the location of the Boot game between LSU and UA the Friday of. It was not unheard of for temps to reach low 50's and parts of our group might have shorts on, but if not never a jacket. Locals thought we were crazy, but it always made for good conversation.
The same B-I-L from Florida had a question for me: "When we hear on the news that it's 20 below in MN, don't they really mean that it's 20 degrees below freezing? So it's really 12 degrees, right?"
The same B-I-L from Florida had a question for me: "When we hear on the news that it's 20 below in MN, don't they really mean that it's 20 degrees below freezing? So it's really 12 degrees, right?"
"As far as you know".
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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On my drive home from work I had to turn the heat down for once. The roads were clear and melting on the sides. Felt like it had to be 40 degrees outside. Checked the temp and it was 20. I guess 20 feels like 40 when we have had negatives for two weeks.
On my drive home from work I had to turn the heat down for once. The roads were clear and melting on the sides. Felt like it had to be 40 degrees outside. Checked the temp and it was 20. I guess 20 feels like 40 when we have had negatives for two weeks.
I had about a half inch of snow in the driveway that was packed down from all the driving on it the past couple days. My driveway faces south so I didn't bother doing anything with it knowing it's supposed to be pretty warm on Sunday, but 80% of it melted today already.
Good to see the power in the sun.
Sure is different than Dec & Jan.
On my drive home from work I had to turn the heat down for once. The roads were clear and melting on the sides. Felt like it had to be 40 degrees outside. Checked the temp and it was 20. I guess 20 feels like 40 when we have had negatives for two weeks.
A couple of days ago I was running one of the kids to practice and didn’t feel it was necessary to put on a jacket. It was 9 degrees.
30 degrees is going to feel so nice!
On my drive home from work I had to turn the heat down for once. The roads were clear and melting on the sides. Felt like it had to be 40 degrees outside. Checked the temp and it was 20. I guess 20 feels like 40 when we have had negatives for two weeks.
A couple of days ago I was running one of the kids to practice and didn’t feel it was necessary to put on a jacket. It was 9 degrees.
30 degrees is going to feel so nice!
I took the dog for her after-dinner walk in shorts and a hoodie on Thursday because it felt so warm. My phone weather app had the temp at 11 ??
Winter Weather Advisory issued with 3"-4" heavy wet snow expected, starting at around midnight to 10:00 am.
<img class="go2wpf-bbcode" src=" https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1366029824536571913/z7SRLKQe?format=jpg&name=smal l" alt="">
Snowfall reports as of 10 a.m. included 8.5 inches near St. Augusta, south of St. Cloud, and 7.5 inches from spotters near Willmar and Kimball per MPR.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
We got a few rain and snow showers and that was it. It's now sunny and 33, so I have no complaints.
We got a few rain and snow showers and that was it. It's now sunny and 33, so I have no complaints.
We had an inch and a half of snow plus whatever the plow pushed into the driveway. It's all entirely melted.
We took the kids to the park and it was a little cold when the wind picked up but overall a nice day to get outside.
I think we got an inch? It was so wet and dense I’m not sure. Had to shovel it as the plow threw it all in our driveway. But easy cleanup.
Snowfall reports as of 10 a.m. included 8.5 inches near St. Augusta, south of St. Cloud, and 7.5 inches from spotters near Willmar and Kimball per MPR.
My youngest slid off the highway on 12 near Big Lake around 9AM. He has AAA and got pulled out around 10. No issues with him or the car.