The Lion of March Attacks!

Are you ready? It's about to reach you, actually. Weather patterns in the arctic are warmer than usual, and that's pushing arctic air southward, right into the heart of the United States.

As usual, Minnesota is one of the first to feel the results. Yesterday, we had about 5" of snow fall, and temperatures will drop overnight to -12 degrees F. I just finished clearing my driveway and walks, while temps are still above zero.

So, it's going to be unseasonably cold this week, and it's going to affect the entire Midwest, southwest and eastern regions through the week. In some places, there will be torrential rains. In others, it will just be damned cold. There will be some tornadoes, too, if your area is prone to those.

Why? Because weather patterns are continuing to shift, due to global climate change. You might think it's cold, but the warmth is where it shouldn't be, and that's driving the cold to you. The planet is warming, but that doesn't mean you can toss your winter gear. Climate and weather are not the same thing.

Anyhow, as you shiver, wade through flood waters, or lean into some high winds, it's not just you. It's a new, unfamiliar weather pattern. Will these changes last? They just might, or they might shift again and produce a new drought and record in some places soon. Weather models are not predicting things as accurately as usual. More weird stuff could be just around the corner.

In the meantime, keep your chair and whip handy. You may need to to ward off that lion.