Last week we drove from Southern California to Minnesota, accompanied by the wet welcome of Tropical Storm Norbert. While I did not anticipate writing about weather this early in the season, my native California ignorance definitely played a factor in our trip. We started out on September 7th on a beautiful San Diego morning. By the time we reached Las Vegas, we were happy to not be driving farther that day as rain was threatening. In fact, as we traveled north on HWY 15 on the 8th, Norbert wreaked havoc in front of us, blowing over a big rig, and behind us, actually washing out the freeway, which is still being repaired.
Given that we were traveling in September, a particularly mild weather season in our collective experience, we left San Diego wearing little more than shorts and t-shirts. It was quite warm in Vegas so out came the sun dress. But there was so much rain by the time we stopped for lunch on the 8th that we were running from the car to the restaurant. As we pulled off the freeway for the night, the rain was so heavy, it was difficult to see the lines on the road. None of us had any clothing more substantial than a vest. The next day, in Yellowstone National Park, we got a good, dry viewing of Old Faithful, though we did learn that Old Faithful's water tastes like sulfur, and then planned to stop at the Artist's Paint Pots. We out ran the rain to get there and knew we had only a little time before it caught up with us. Here is where the silly Californian comes in. By this time the temperature was dropping. It was somewhere in the low 40's or high 30's. The kid and I wrapped our newly gifted prayer shawls around us for extra warmth. We walked the .3 miles to the trail and about 3/4 of the 1 mile trail before the rain started, but when it started, it was heavy. Our prayer shawls were soaked and provided no warmth when wet. The last 1/4 mile to the car was pretty miserable. The whole rest of the day we had a hard time keeping warm.
When we arrived in Cody, WY, where we were staying for the night, my daughter put on her long-sleeved PJ top and asked if we thought anyone would notice she was wearing PJ's. We advised her to put her vest on top and it would be fine. It was cold that night and the next day. In fact as we were driving into North Dakota the weather forecast was for frost, and possible a light dusting of snow over night. Every person I told that I was moving from California to Minnesota asked me if I had snow gear. "Oh, I don't need that yet. We'll get it when we get there." And here I was, barely into North Dakota and there was snow in the forecast, like the climate was saying, "Welcome to the Northern Plains."
Since, we have had days of light jackets, sweaters, and scarves. My daughter even wore 2 pairs of pants to go for a walk one day. Probably more clothes than native Minnesotans have been wearing, but I can say that when I left home for church on Sunday it was 46 degrees and my first thought was, "I don't need a jacket." I guess I have already acclimated to the beginning of fall. Hopefully every incremental drop in temperature will go as smoothly for me.
Thank you for joining me for my 1st winter on the Northern Plains.
Given that we were traveling in September, a particularly mild weather season in our collective experience, we left San Diego wearing little more than shorts and t-shirts. It was quite warm in Vegas so out came the sun dress. But there was so much rain by the time we stopped for lunch on the 8th that we were running from the car to the restaurant. As we pulled off the freeway for the night, the rain was so heavy, it was difficult to see the lines on the road. None of us had any clothing more substantial than a vest. The next day, in Yellowstone National Park, we got a good, dry viewing of Old Faithful, though we did learn that Old Faithful's water tastes like sulfur, and then planned to stop at the Artist's Paint Pots. We out ran the rain to get there and knew we had only a little time before it caught up with us. Here is where the silly Californian comes in. By this time the temperature was dropping. It was somewhere in the low 40's or high 30's. The kid and I wrapped our newly gifted prayer shawls around us for extra warmth. We walked the .3 miles to the trail and about 3/4 of the 1 mile trail before the rain started, but when it started, it was heavy. Our prayer shawls were soaked and provided no warmth when wet. The last 1/4 mile to the car was pretty miserable. The whole rest of the day we had a hard time keeping warm.
When we arrived in Cody, WY, where we were staying for the night, my daughter put on her long-sleeved PJ top and asked if we thought anyone would notice she was wearing PJ's. We advised her to put her vest on top and it would be fine. It was cold that night and the next day. In fact as we were driving into North Dakota the weather forecast was for frost, and possible a light dusting of snow over night. Every person I told that I was moving from California to Minnesota asked me if I had snow gear. "Oh, I don't need that yet. We'll get it when we get there." And here I was, barely into North Dakota and there was snow in the forecast, like the climate was saying, "Welcome to the Northern Plains."
Since, we have had days of light jackets, sweaters, and scarves. My daughter even wore 2 pairs of pants to go for a walk one day. Probably more clothes than native Minnesotans have been wearing, but I can say that when I left home for church on Sunday it was 46 degrees and my first thought was, "I don't need a jacket." I guess I have already acclimated to the beginning of fall. Hopefully every incremental drop in temperature will go as smoothly for me.
Thank you for joining me for my 1st winter on the Northern Plains.