There is really no getting around it: it’s pretty cold outside. I’m the type who generally likes a brisk winter morning. It tends to wake you up in ways that other weather patterns cannot. But, right now, this ain’t fun.
News and media organizations have initiated a discussion regarding weather patterns in recent days, and the age old question regarding what exactly is going on with our weather systems has extended into various corners of life and society.
All 50 state have dipped below 32 degrees at some point this week, including Hawaii. The temperatures this week have been drastic to say the least, and talk of a “polar vortex,” has been recently identified as the primary culprit.
Apparently, the polar vortex is the cyclonic circulation within the Polar Regions which produces, generally speaking, cold air. It’s not rare for such air and winds to break off the vortex and extend to other continents, but the degree and extent to which it is happening has people wondering.
When I grew up, it basically snowed from November through January. By mid March the weather warmed up and people would be playing sports again outdoors with regularity. Nowadays, in addition to record-breaking cold streaks in the USA, it has been warm through the November month, with snow not really coming down significantly until the January-March/April time frames.
I’m no meteorologist, but its pretty obvious that things are not the way they always were. This weather is aggressively changing at a more drastic level than ever before. While our grandfathers would probably laugh off the complaining we are currently doing over it, the truth of the matter is that change is here and it’s not only a legitimate conversation topic; it’s also beginning to be a critical factor in our way of life.
17 deaths have been attributed to the bitter cold in recent days, and those less fortunate have been seriously affected the most. Many parts of the midwest and, in particular, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois, have mandated that citizens stay indoors unless they absolutely need to leave their domicile for one reason or another.
You wouldn’t think holiday travel issues would seep into the middle of January, but airports have had massive issues in dealing with the current landscape. Airlines are suffering as a result, and that’s already a business that is floundering in America.
Electrical power plants and other industrial facilities have been shut down in areas such as Texas, and the ability to live normally within these circumstances has been seriously questioned. People and business alike are feeling the effects, and while we may get a break over the next few days, these patterns at a broad level seem to be here to stay.
I don’t know enough to say what will or could happen next, but the economic impact of the situation is a factor that cannot be understated. We have seen natural disasters rip parts of this great nation to shreds at times. While the devastation of a winter storm would in no way be on the same level as something like a serious hurricane or tornado, it is still a factor that will be considered by coaches and investment analysts alike.
America is a tough nation with a lot of grit and firepower. We haven’t backed down to many things over the course of time, and I seriously doubt people will start to do it now. But folks in numerous cities seem willing to shut it down much quicker than prior generations would have.
Weather can offer up a helping hand at times to our mood. The summertime often means easy living and happiness on many levels as the beaches open and booze sales increase. But the winter months seem to be offering a different sort of vibe these days.
We’ll see how things progress in the coming weeks, but it wouldn’t be far fetched to see new trends emerge regarding how people within certain towns and regions deal with such circumstances. Just remember, there is no real answer to mother nature.
