Highs, lows, and everything in between
Aubrey Herbst
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Columns
- Page 1 of 1
Unpredictable, swinging, erratic, irregular, and fickle are just a few of the words that come to my mind when I think about Ohio weather. How does one even begin to attempt to explain the irregularities of Ohio's weather? There's no way to be prepared. There's no way to know for sure just what will happen on a particular day. And there is no way to fully understand until you have lived in it. There's really no better way to try and explain Ohio's weather than with a story.
One morning in the early spring of Columbus, Ohio, I could barely pay attention to my school work because of the glorious weather. It was the first considerably warmer day of the season. I'm not sure what the exact temperature was, but it was warm enough for me to throw on shorts and a t-shirt and ride my bike down to my best friend's house after school. Thrilled with the warm weather, we spent the entire afternoon on our bikes.
The next morning I awoke to the lovely sound of plastic screeching on cement. I rolled over and peeked out the window. To my absolute amazement, there was snow on the ground. Not just a little snow, but enough that my dad had to shovel the driveway before he left for work. I looked over at my chair where I had discarded my shorts and t-shirt from the day before and shrugged.
That day, since school was canceled, I zipped up my snowsuit, grabbed my sled, and trudged down the street to make a snow fort with my best friend.
I know some of you might think I'm crazy, but those of you who have lived in Ohio your entire life are probably nodding your heads or rolling your eyes in agreement as you think about that time when the weather threw a curve ball at you.
This winter has been anything but normal. But what is a normal Ohio winter anyways?
This December we hit 64 degrees. In January we hit 57 degrees. I was comfortably walking around in flip flops during the months that are supposed to be the coldest. Now, however, it's still January, and we're bundling up to our eyebrows in order to make the journey up the hill to class.
As a Weather Channel regular, I'm up to date daily on the week's weather reports. But, as I have learned, meteorologist can never precisely predict Mother Nature's behavior in Ohio. So, how does one prepare for this crazy Ohio weather? Prepare for anything and everything.
When I was packing to come back to school after summer vacation, my mom asked me if I wanted to leave my winter stuff behind until I needed it. No way. I know that as soon as I leave my coat behind I'll need it. That's just how Ohio is.
Ohio hits its highs, its lows, and everything in between. So is the glass half empty or is it half full? Ohio weather is good because we get to experience all sorts of weather not dependent on the season but it also sucks because you never know what to expect. Sometimes I enjoy it, and sometimes I just get annoyed. My only advice to anyone coming to Ohio is to be prepared, and buy your sled in the summer.
One morning in the early spring of Columbus, Ohio, I could barely pay attention to my school work because of the glorious weather. It was the first considerably warmer day of the season. I'm not sure what the exact temperature was, but it was warm enough for me to throw on shorts and a t-shirt and ride my bike down to my best friend's house after school. Thrilled with the warm weather, we spent the entire afternoon on our bikes.
The next morning I awoke to the lovely sound of plastic screeching on cement. I rolled over and peeked out the window. To my absolute amazement, there was snow on the ground. Not just a little snow, but enough that my dad had to shovel the driveway before he left for work. I looked over at my chair where I had discarded my shorts and t-shirt from the day before and shrugged.
That day, since school was canceled, I zipped up my snowsuit, grabbed my sled, and trudged down the street to make a snow fort with my best friend.
I know some of you might think I'm crazy, but those of you who have lived in Ohio your entire life are probably nodding your heads or rolling your eyes in agreement as you think about that time when the weather threw a curve ball at you.
This winter has been anything but normal. But what is a normal Ohio winter anyways?
This December we hit 64 degrees. In January we hit 57 degrees. I was comfortably walking around in flip flops during the months that are supposed to be the coldest. Now, however, it's still January, and we're bundling up to our eyebrows in order to make the journey up the hill to class.
As a Weather Channel regular, I'm up to date daily on the week's weather reports. But, as I have learned, meteorologist can never precisely predict Mother Nature's behavior in Ohio. So, how does one prepare for this crazy Ohio weather? Prepare for anything and everything.
When I was packing to come back to school after summer vacation, my mom asked me if I wanted to leave my winter stuff behind until I needed it. No way. I know that as soon as I leave my coat behind I'll need it. That's just how Ohio is.
Ohio hits its highs, its lows, and everything in between. So is the glass half empty or is it half full? Ohio weather is good because we get to experience all sorts of weather not dependent on the season but it also sucks because you never know what to expect. Sometimes I enjoy it, and sometimes I just get annoyed. My only advice to anyone coming to Ohio is to be prepared, and buy your sled in the summer.
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