Lake Harriet Kite Festival 01/18/2014
In recent years Minnesotans have been feeling a little under appreciated. Climate change has moderated Minnesota winters during the last 10 years. Yes, we have an ongoing drought but we share that distinction with about one-third of the nation, with California by far the worst. No distinction there.
However, 2014 has started off a little better.
According to homeowner insurance studies Minnesota is the state with greatest amount of weather related damage. This implies that our weather is highly changeable with extremes of temperature and temperament. But it isn’t the kind of thing that makes the nation sit up and pay attention.
And there was the report that said that the Twin Cities is the healthiest place in the country. No thanks to me. That’s nice too but who pays attention to that kind of news?
Enter the winter of 2013/14. Periodically during the last two months Minnesota has been front and center on the national weather report. There we are the darkest blue of all states. (Oh yeah, North Dakota often gets the weather we do but nobody lives in North Dakota permanently so it doesn’t count.)
Every time Al Roker or whomever mentions Minnesota or Minneapolis and the arctic weather I get a warm feeling of pride under my four layers of clothes. Currently in Minneapolis the temperature is -10 F with a windchill of -28 F. We’re colder than:
- Anchorage, Ak. 32 F
- Barrow, Ak. 4 F with windchill -16 F
- Valdez, Ak. 36 F with windchill 32 F
- Qaanaaq, Greenland, 0 F with windchill -18 F.
- Reykjavik, Iceland, 37 F with windchill 28 F
- Bouvet Island, Antarctica, 33 F
- Casey Station,Antarctica, 29 F
- Fossil Bluff Station, Antarctica, 20 F
You see what I mean: Bragging rights.
On my favorite HBO series, Game of Thrones, they warn, “Winter Is Coming!”
Hell, Winter Is Here!
The picture is of a kite flyer at this year’s Lake Harriet Kite Festival. She was getting the hang of her new kite before bringing her grandchildren to the lake to fly it.