Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

shiver shiver, brrr brrr

Outside, the sky is clear and vibrantly blue, and it looks like a beautiful day. Only the fast walking pace and bundled layers of warmth of the pedestrians downstairs gives a hint to the reality of what it’s like outside: teeth-chatteringly, bone-shatteringly, “get me a hot cocoa, stat!” cold.

As Dari might say, it’s Jack London, “Need to rest. It’s so warm … must sleep,” die of hypothermia on your way to work kind of cold.

Cold.

An “arctic cold front” swept in last night, displacing the unseasonably warm temperatures with biting cold wind and rain, followed by light snow and even colder wind. This first snowfall of the season came a bit late this year, dusting the area about two weeks later than it did last year.

The snow didn’t stick, but the wind and cold temperatures did. The wind chill this morning hovered just above 0, and the high today isn’t supposed to go above the 20s. (Washington Post: “Metro Area Feeling the Chill of Winter” - 12/20/04) It’s quite a shock after weeks of temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

There’s talk of snow on Friday, which could mean a white Christmas for folks in this area. By that time, I’ll be happily enjoying sunny, 60-degree temperatures in Tucson.

Current conditions in Arlington, Va. (per Weather.com):

Fair, 21°F (Feels like 6°F)
Humidity: 25%
Visibility: 10.0 miles
Pressure: 30.06 inches and falling
Wind: From the Northwest at 18 gusting to 26 mph