If you are in Minnesota right now or have been watching the news you have heard all about how we are heading into the deep freeze for a few days. I have to say that all the fuss about some sub zero weather is starting to get on my nerves. The weather is what it is and it can’t be changed. Years ago there would be some cold weather warnings but nothing like the hype there is now. We are in Minnesota where the nation has always made fun of us and our cold weather. Sub zero days are part of living here just as blizzards or tornadoes, etc. I started to wonder why it is such a big deal all of the sudden and I came up with 3 answers to my question.
First, I think that, unfortunately, the climate is changing. It may be global warming or it may just be a weather cycle but our weather is changing. It used to be that around Thanksgiving it got cold and snowy and stayed that way until some time in March, but now we have all these days above freezing, not a lot of snow and lots of ice because of the temps going up and down melting and refreezing everything. January has always been a seriously cold month with the most sub zero weather, so this is really normal. If you live here, you just deal with it.
Second, I think our population has changed. Minnesota used to be mainly Scandinavians and some Europeans that either immigrated here or were born and raised here but now we have a lot of people from other parts of the world that haven’t experienced winter. Some have immigrated here and some have just been transferred from other parts of the country, but these people have never experienced such cold and snow and I think are a bit shocked by it.
Third, the media is a big culprit. If there are no big news stories they need something to talk about and get the population all excited so they use the weather…too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, whatever the weather, it is a sensation.
Point of this blog? If you are in Minnesota in the winter, expect cold and snow, dress for it, prepare for it and follow the advice of people that are from here. It is really not that bad as the sun shines, it is a dry cold and it is usually beautiful when it is cold out!
