Let's Talk About...Warm Front Rolling In

Ok. What is on your mind these days? If you are like me, your mind has become a little numb during the recent deep freeze. Below-zero weather snaps happen every year, yet they always seem to take everyone by surprise. I hear, "It is so cold out there. It has never been this cold."

It has. And it will be again next year.

I am not a meteorologist, but I think we are probably about done with this year's deep-freezes.

"Whew!" Right?

Not so fast. Don't wish it all away.

Do you remember Admiral Boom in "Mary Poppins?" He is the guy who sits on the roof of his house watching the wind and weather change.

He warns that "a bit of heavy weather is brewing."

In fact, Bert (Dick Van Dyke) says in the movie, "Winds in the east, mist coming in, / Like something is brewing and about to begin. / Can't put me finger on what lies in store, / But I fear what's to happen all happened before."

So true. What happened before is happening again.

I have experience with the atmospheric river of change the seasons bring. And the current rise in temperature (by about 60 degrees) these past few days is a red flag warning. The winds of change are blowing.

In other words, we are about to have our current complacent daily pattern crushed by its own icy weight.

Here is what I mean.

We have just about completed the post-holiday doldrums. You know, the traditionally dull January, punctuated by icy, stay-at-home cold snaps that force us indoors. We like to call those kinds of days "cozy" but in reality, we are just bored at home.

"Thank goodness, winter is almost over" I hear you saying.

Just a reminder that warmer weather is the harbinger of turbulence, and a convergence of precipitating chores, and endless activity. What was upstream quickly becomes downstream.

And when I say "warmer" I mean the balmy temperatures of 40 degrees which will soon be 50 and then 60. Last summer those temperatures sounded frigid. Now, we can't wait to put on shorts and tank tops, put away our sweaters, and hit the trail. (That is for those of you that put your shorts and tank tops away at all last fall).

But with warmer temperatures, a jet stream of activity soon follows. Crocuses will pop up, the grass turns green, lawns need watering, mulch needs replacing, sprinklers need fixing and the whole house needs airing out.

That pressure center of spring cleaning looms. Then comes the downpour of vacation planning, end of school activities, summer camp enrollments, baseball, and giving that side-eye to your bathing suit.

Believe me, it is on its way. And in a flash, it will all come flooding over you.

So, enjoy this lull before the storm. Cuddle up one more time in front of the fire. Finish the Netflix series you have been watching. Because, before you know it, spring will have sprung with the tsunami it brings with it.