The Wow I Can't Believe That News Story Thread

[OccultHawk]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

What is this due to? Is the weather so hot and dry there, even now in the depths of winter? Or is there some human agency at work?

Global warming and encroaching human population. Pre-endless-urban-sprawl periodic lightning strikes would burn portions of the forests enriching the soil with nutrients like nitrogen. Now people try to contain wild fires while maintaining the ecosystem with controlled burns. But it's not nice to try to fool Mother Nature.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I guess you have to live in Ireland, to see the rain pissing down and how cold and miserable it is, to feel like you're in winter already. DST at the end of this month will plunge us into darkest night by 6:30 pm. Sure feels like winter to me!

"Rain" is not a word I associate with winter. Where I grew up, winter meant ice and snow or occasionally being so frigid that it would no longer snow.

According to the internet it's 59F (15C) in Dublin right now. That sounds prefect to me actually.

[OccultHawk]

Also California winters are pretty tame

I know it's your territory and tame is a relative word and this is anecdotal but one time I was driving from Portland to Palo Alto and bumped into some ****ing crazy snow in N. Cal. The cops wouldn't let you pass without chains on your tires. They had people selling chains on the spot. I didn't have a clue how to put snow chains on my tires but I finally worked it out.

[OccultHawk]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

"Rain" is not a word I associate with winter. Where I grew up, winter meant ice and snow or occasionally being so frigid that it would no longer snow.

According to the internet it's 59F (15C) in Dublin right now. That sounds prefect to me actually.

Delicious. It's been hot for so long here the whole state is on suicide watch.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I know it's your territory and tame is a relative word and this is anecdotal but one time I was driving from Portland to Palo Alto and bumped into some ****ing crazy snow in N. Cal. The cops wouldn't let you pass without chains on your tires. They had people selling chains on the spot. I didn't have a clue how to put snow chains on my tires but I finally worked it out.

A few times when I was living in San Jose I had put on a light jacket when I went out in the evening. It was crazy.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I know it's your territory and tame is a relative word and this is anecdotal but one time I was driving from Portland to Palo Alto and bumped into some ****ing crazy snow in N. Cal. The cops wouldn't let you pass without chains on your tires. They had people selling chains on the spot. I didn't have a clue how to put snow chains on my tires but I finally worked it out.

Ja mountainous Norcal gets some winters. So do the Sierra Nevadas. The other ~80% of California just gets a bit chiller than normal.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

It is fall. It is fall all around the northern hemisphere. It will not be winter until December 21.

That would be autumn then, over here. ****ing feels like winter, and will feel more so when yer wan arrives tomorrow! Not looking forward to that!

Originally Posted by Frownland

We had a lot of rains at the end of last year and the beginning of this year which caused an increase in vegetation. Drought conditions made that all dry out and die. Then we had the fast and dry Santa Ana winds come through and it was a recipe for disaster. I had a friend in Eureka whose wife couldn't leave the house because the winds literally knocked her down when the Santa Anas started a couple of weeks ago.

It's too early to tell if it's arson. My money is on natural causes/accidents.

Also California winters are pretty tame.

I see. Thanks for the explanation. Wow.

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Global warming and encroaching human population. Pre-endless-urban-sprawl periodic lightning strikes would burn portions of the forests enriching the soil with nutrients like nitrogen. Now people try to contain wild fires while maintaining the ecosystem with controlled burns. But it's not nice to try to fool Mother Nature.

Indeed. A lot of factors then.

Originally Posted by Janszoon

"Rain" is not a word I associate with winter. Where I grew up, winter meant ice and snow or occasionally being so frigid that it would no longer snow.

According to the internet it's 59F (15C) in Dublin right now. That sounds prefect to me actually.

Ah, what does the internet know? Let the internet come and try to live in Dublin, see how smart it is then! Yeah, it's actually not cold but the rain makes it seem so, and tomorrow we're all gonna be ****ed anyway.

[OccultHawk]

I know Philly is cold.

Never been there but the wet winds funneling down between the buildings on a street in NYC will rip right through you.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Ah, what does the internet know? Let the internet come and try to live in Dublin, see how smart it is then! Yeah, it's actually not cold but the rain makes it seem so, and tomorrow we're all gonna be ****ed anyway.

I would love to come and try to live in Dublin, honestly. I'm convinced that Ireland or the Pacific Northwest over here is pretty much my ideal climate. I love cool weather with overcast skies and rain.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I know Philly is cold.

Never been there but the wet winds funneling down between the buildings on a street in NYC will rip right through you.

Philly can get pretty cold, but it also can get pretty hot. This summer was miserably hot and seemed like it wouldn't end.