I read that the concern was that the shifts would possibly throw Europe into an ice-age. Speculation that the Atlantic stream could stop. Never read a general increase in temperature there. The only definite to be predicted is the undefined, that is being that extremes and records would be more prevalent. The analogy of the plate spinning on the stick at the circus. It will just wobble more and more dramatically as the global average continues to climb. Parts will warm quicker, like the arctic, which then effects the interaction with the rest of the planet, which has been the case. We have had just a few years of "normal" here in Tucson, since 1989. Record droughts, record
smashing highs and lows, extended monsoons lasting several months longer and every so often things get to "I remember back when" condition.
I have personally noticed that when we are having pleasant sunny weather, you all up north and east have been reporting suffering records of crap and visa versa. That has been pretty consistent all the time...until this month.
So, Tucson has had an extreme drought since is time last year. The monsoon came in late and broke a record in only three weeks and stopped. It hadn't rained since except a pretty good rain in December. There has always been one good winter rain in December and one in January. Didn't get one in January this year. So, this has meant lots of blue skies and warm pleasant weather for a year, not much over 100F. I was concerned because the desert is drying up dramatically and February usually is beginning springtime and a period of less rain, but so far, it has been like the winter weather that we misssed. We just got a wonderful couple of winter rains.
I went to work yesterday in sleet. I had difficulty defining that it was sleet, because I haven't seen sleet in decades. It was like soft hail, little tiny snowballs. "What is this?," I pondered. Then a few minutes down the road it hit me, a word that had fallen into disuse over the years, "Is this sleet." I had to think back jogging distant memories and associations. A friend that has been up north more recently confirmed it.
There is snow on the mountains soaking into the ground and the springs will probably be running when it gets hot and I want to hang around up there in May, instead of the fear of the place burning down. Now, if that holds out and we can get it all to coincide with DF's work schedule, we will have some great trip reports.
Global averages are creeping up, which causes chaos, records, extremes and unpredictability. I've been thinking that Europe is due for some extremes of wonderful naturist weather for years, but it hasn't done that....You all complain about rain, cold, more rain and now snow. I don't remember much great weather when I lived in Paris. I remember 300 days of cold drizzle each year and being told that was what to expect, buy a fur lined raincoat.
Jbee
