(AP) Unusually warm weather this winter, 10-20 degrees above normal

[StrictlyRockers]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16457787/

Golfing in Chicago, in January?
Unusually warm winter in Midwest, East makes for strange sights

Updated: 5:22 a.m. PT Jan 5, 2007

CHICAGO - Crocuses are pushing out of the ground in New Jersey. Ice fishing tournaments in Minnesota are being canceled for lack of ice. And golfers are hitting the links in Chicago in January.

Much of the Midwest and the East Coast are going through a remarkably warm winter, with temperatures running 10 and 20 degrees higher than normal in many places.

“I’m not complaining. I can take this,” said Rudolph Williams, a doorman in New York City who normally wears a hat this time of year but stood outside in 50-degree weather with his shaved head uncovered. “The Earth is recalibrating itself: Last year, we had a cold winter, and it’s balancing itself out now. In January, it feels like the middle of April.”

New York City saw a November and December without snow for the first time since 1877. And New Jersey had its warmest December since records started being kept 111 years ago.

Maria Freitas said that not only are crocus bulbs blooming in her Rahway, N.J., backyard, but the asparagus is 3 inches high.

“They think it’s spring. They’re so confused,” she said.

<...>
(There is a video.)

I think the global warming deniers are confused. When I combine this story with the story last month about the warmest winter EVER in Europe, I start to wonder how anyone can still deny that the climate is rapidly changing.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=74585

How long can you tread water?

SR

[aquaman]

1. It's been in the 70's here most of the week

And I had to cut the grass today because it is still growing. Some of the trees are about to bloom. I also got bit by a mosquito yesterday, in January. Yea, that's normal. :sarcasm:

[leftchick]

2. Brian Williams (GE Whore) did a great job denying last night

He had an "expert" from the NOA on to deny it is Global warming to blame. He said it is all el-nino. No mention of broken ice shelves or melting glaciers or the warmest winter EVERY FUCKING PLACE AROUND THE GLOBE.

:grr:

[Canuckistanian]

10. What? No snowstorms while Al Gore is giving his Global Warming speech?

Why, how can that be?

Hmm, suddenly, all the snickering has gone silent.

[aquart]

3. No snow in the mountains this winter means no run-off in spring.

Which means drought in summer. If it happens too many years in a row, we can turn to desert.

Happy Global Warming, Y'All.

[GenDem]

4. We're seeing news coverage locally

about the economic impact in our area. Ski slopes are closed, no snowmobiling, no ice fishing (tournaments being canceled), no sledding or cross country skiing. The snowmobiler's go on long runs and frequent bars along their routes...those businesses are suffering. Many landscapers and other seasonally employed rely on snow plowing in winter...their business is a bust. Sporting goods retailers are not selling anything winter related...no boots, gloves, and outdoor clothing. Heard that the ice wine can't be harvested, because the grapes are picked after they have frozen and they haven't frozen and may be rotting. I'm unsure how the maple syrup will be effected, but I think that it takes cold weather to make the sap flow. If this keeps up the impact could be devastating to many in our area that depend on winter.

On the other hand some area golf courses have re-opened.:shrug:

[Mist]

5. Yep, balmy here too--67 degrees--at the library today, people were

wearing shorts and t-shirts. I've had the fan on a few evenings last week. Saw a couple of ants in the kitchen last night.

[meow mix]

6. yah now the skeptics can just look outside..

theres your global warming right in your backyard, not hidden up in alaska or on a tall mountain glacier.

and thier statements like "owell a little warming will be great!"
..the next delusion to be shattered.

[StrictlyRockers]

7. Some local news reports on this:

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-10/116806175246970.xml&coll=1

Season swings from skis to tees
During this extended warm spell, business wilts at snow resorts, while golf courses rake in unexpected revenues
Saturday, January 06, 2007
BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN AND LAURA JOHNSTON
Star-Ledger Staff
The folks at Mountain Creek are praying to the snow gods.

The chief of snowmaking shaved his head. Employees joke about sending trucks to Colorado to haul snow back to Vernon. And they're toying with the idea of a sacrificial bonfire, said spokeswoman Shannon McSweeney.

<...>

[Recursion]

8. There probably won't be cherry blossoms in DC this spring

They are already opening down by the tidal basin, which means they will all freeze when the winter comes. C'est la vie, but it's still sad and is going to be a problem for tourism right when Fenty needs some money.

[Boomer]

11. IF winter comes

Who knows whether it will or not? This is uncharted territory and all bets are off.

Perhaps the hard cold spell of about one week that we had back in November WAS winter. Could be winter is over already, and what we're seeing is indeed Spring.

Or not.

Maybe we could all end up under four feet of snow in April.

Any predictions for what surprises will happen during summer?

THIS is what makes climate change so dangerous. We lose the ability to predict seasons, and plants and animals are thrown completely out of their natural rhythms. Which means we could have some serious drops in agricultural yield within the next few years.

[Canuckistanian]

9. "The Earth is recalibrating itself"

Give yerself a shake, man! When was the last time you remember NYC at 70 degrees in January? Huh?

Lord, give me strength...