California Deep Freeze: 15 degrees here

[Cudedog]

We are bracing for the Wrath of God here in Northern California this weekend. I live near Sacramento, and have always kept an outside thermometer so that I can check it "just for fun". The NOAA website has good temp info, but it can vary quite a bit from where their installation is to what the temp actually is on my front porch.

Just went out to check the thermometer (7:30 a.m.) and it is reading an unbelievable 15 (yes, fifteen!!) degrees. I have lived in this area for the past 35 years, and I cannot remember it ever getting this cold. Snow (snow?!?) is predicted tonight and tomorrow at my house. This is an area of the Central Valley where snow is only something you see in a picture book. Or maybe in an issue of Vermont Life magazine.

This cold snap started a few days ago, wasn't supposed to last, but I went out and wrapped all of my exposed water pipes anyway. A major job for after work - think pitch dark, holding a flashlight in your mouth while your fingers get frostbite as you kneel on the ground wrapping the pipes. Not fun. Really glad that I did,though - the night I wrapped the pipes the temp went down to about 29 degrees, next night 19 degrees, last night (or rather this morning) 15 degrees.

Kinda gives a person a taste of what the midwest sisters go through each year.

Was going to take a quick day-trip in the van, planning to get back before the storm hits late afternoon. Changed my mind! With 15 degree temps there is bound to be ice on the roads everywhere, and California rarely (if ever!) does the sand/salt thing. This makes the roads a real candidate for a fender-bender. I'm going to stay put.

Unfortunately, generally what first hits California will then progress slowly across the rest of the U.S.

Sisters, hold onto your socks.

Anne

[SoCalGalcas]

I talked with my daughter this morning on Skype and she is freezing in Healdsburg!!! I even got cold on my walk this morning as it was only 48* here?!?!?!?! lyn

[Anniepoo]

It's FREEZING here in Oregon!

Well, literally it's been under 32 since roughly monday, but this morning we have snow.

http://www.pathwayslms.com/rv/winterwonderland.png

It's been an 'adventure' in a new-to-me RV, that's for sure!

I've got my little heater turned way up, I'm wearing a hoodie and sweat pants indoors, and I'm *STILL* frozen.

I was seriously considering punting for somewhere warmer. Glad I didn't drive back south without looking -
amazingly, this extends all the way down the coast! Weather underground says it's 33 in Paso Robles!

Glad you're in a safe place!

[Securit24]

Not to be a whiney baby…but i'm cold!!!

[Redetotry]

15 in California!!! I know it must feel even worse in areas where you don't normally have cold, I hope you can find a way to get warm and safe. I think you made the right decision to not get out on the road Anne!

It is 20 degrees here at 1:00 in the afternoon, supposed to get to single digits tonight. It is still lightly snowing, we had 12 inches this AM don't know what it's up to now, unusual for here. I haven't seen this much snow since the late seventies early eighties. Weather that prompted my move to San Diego in '84. Still wonder at my decision to return...

I better remember to let the sink in the bathroom drip tonight it did freeze one time when it got this cold.

[JudyJB]

I am in Death Valley and it is freezing here!!! It dropped to a very cold 25. This meant I had to unhook my water hose and rely on jugs of water overnight. High today is supposed to be a very chilly 44.

Guy at the visitor center said if it was that cold here, must be really bad elsewhere!

[Bethers]

Judy that's almost exactly my temps here in Tracy overnight last night and today. brrrrrr. But we might get lucky and hit 50 today. it's already up to 47. Anybody want to walk a dog?

[Aokay]

Interesting weather everywhere!

Heatwave of 28 degrees here in McMinnville, OR. It's been down to 17. We had a little snow but not like elsewhere in OR. I am renting a car for the weekend so hopefully no more snow as it has been 20 plus years since I have driven in it. I could say I wish I was back in TX but its cold there too!

I woke up yesterday morning with no water as the hose froze. I thawed it out, put insulation around it and left my faucets inside dripping all night last night. It worked. I am discovering RVing is a continual learning process. Just when I get cocky and think I have it down....some new problem appears.

JudyJB, I have learned a lot of what to expect by reading your posts. Since we have the same rigs, its very beneficial information for me so keep posting....better than any manual.

Judy

[Rufflesgurl]

It is 57 right now and 37 low at the Central Coast of CA. Very cold for being 5 min. from the ocean. Local weatherman said we might have snow on the mountains in the next day or so. Brrrrrrrrrr

Beth, my daughter lives in Mountain House and said it is freezing cold there!! Us Californians aren't used to this cold.

Linda

[judi]

It's 28 degrees here in Portland, windy and snowing. Was 17 last night. 19 predicted for tonight. I am staying in my house today - I pushed my dog out into the backyard and she lasted for about 2 minutes. And this is a dog who loves to go snowshoeing! I built a fire in the fireplace, making soup, and since I didn't make Thanksgiving dinner this year, I'm making a pumpkin pie. I have never winterized an RV so I took my Roadtrek to the dealer on Tues and had it done. i have to use it in about 10 days to go to Silver Falls State Park where I volunteer at a Christmas festival so I guess I'll have to tote water.

[Excel]

Here in San Jose it is cold, cold, cold !!! In the 20's & during the warmest part of the day it's gone up to 49-50*... I remember years ago when I lived in Glenwood in the Santa Cruz mts., we had probably 2 to 3 inches of snow....Coming from Chicago, I know how to drive (a car) in that so thought I'd try to get down the 'hill' ( what we called our mountain area) and go to work....Found out driving on snow in flatlands is not the same as mountain roads....Got to hwy. 17 somehow, but didn't dare try to go across to get to my lane, it was terrible.... ended up having to be towed up the slope that led to the highway so I could get back onto Glenwood Dr. in order to go back home. Never forgot that ... however, it was absolutely beautiful with the Redwoods & Oaks (& everything else) covered with snow. Like a picture postcard.... Loved it but realized looking & enjoying the beauty was far better than driving in it.......

[BarbaraRose]

-2 below right now in Central MN with a low of -10 with a possible -30 windchill tonight! Never got above zero today. Will stay this way for the next week or so . This is typical mid January weather! Not sure what this means for the rest of the winter!

**I wrote about my morning ordeal with my Jeep on the MC thread...

Bundle up everyone!!!

[Cudedog]

38 degrees here now, with rain. Might turn to snow later. . .

Anne

[JudyJB]

The difference is that homes in the places where they usually get snow, like Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio, are MUCH better insulated than homes in "warm" places like California. They stay warmer when heated with fewer drafts. Also, we keep our cars in garages, so we don't have to go outside to get into a freezing car, and the car is warmer in the garage anyway.

RVs in general leak warm air like crazy, so I am much, much colder here in 25 degree temps than I would be in Michigan in 10 degree temps! Also, we are lucky in that most snowy places are relatively flat, so driving is a lot easier, and we have good snowplows and trucks that salt so roads are better. I am a good driver on snow and ice but I would not dream of driving up and down hills or mountains in the snow!

Brrrr, is my comment for the week!

[BarbaraRose]

Good points! Homes in the south are not well insulated or equipped to deal with cold temps. Also cities/towns are not equipped to deal with snow and ice on the roads. And no one knows how to drive on snow covered roads (unless they are from the Midwest). Up here at least, we have big plows and most people have experience on bad roads, (altho they usually need a couple of snowstorms to remember how to drive in it again!) Most homes and apartments here have garages (except me ) but not so much down south, other than occasional carports which probably can't handle much snow on them without collapsing.

Nothing handles snow on hills unless you have 4WD or chains (which are not legal in MN). And ice is impossible no matter what. I even had my Jeep in 4WD to work and back the other day in the storm and that is all flat (except for my driveway - two big hills ).

Personally, I would rather have the snow than the subzero temps. Unfortunately, we got both this week