El Nino vs. High Temperature in January in Albany
A strong El Nino in Albany generally means somewhat warmer high temperatures in January.
Winter
Ichabod Crane School District
You could be forgiven for thinking that Ichabod Crane School District must be located in remote country, high up in the mountains or down-wind of the Great Lakes due to the high number of snow days it has. But actually, Ichabod Crane School District is the business name for the Kinderhook Public School District, who buildings are in Valatie, the flatlands above the Hudson River known for apple orchards.
Urban Dictionary describes Ichabod Crane as "to cancel something because of weather, even if the weather conditions aren't that severe. Expression originated in a school district just outside Albany, NY called Ichabod Crane Central School District ,which would cancel school for snow, even if there were two flurries, or better yet, even if there was no snow. Everybody in the Albany area wished they went to Ichabod Crane in the winter."
Reddit on "Why is Ichabod Crane Always Closed?"
When Is the First Day of Winter? What Is the Winter Solstice? | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Wood energy consumed by the residential sector, New York
Nor’Easters, El Niño and a Warm Atlantic Ocean
One thing not getting a lot of coverage this year is how warm the Atlantic Ocean still is going into December. But a weather video on YouTube mentions this.
While the winter is likely going to be dominated by mild conditions due to El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, and right now the polar jet stream is well north of us and for the most part the subtropical jet stream is below us. That means dry, fairly stable conditions. But one thing to watch is when the jet stream inevitably gets wavier as winter progresses, and we get one of those classic arctic blasts as the polar jet stream dips north. All that energy embedded in the warm Atlantic Ocean could make for one hell of a Nor’Easter.
That is all. Do watch this video.
Snow Branches
Ten degrees winter camping threshold ❄
I find my winter camping gear is good down to roughly about ten degrees. Colder then that things get potentially dicey.
- My stacks of sleeping bags are comfortable down to around ten degrees, any colder and my feet and hands start to feel cold at night.
- It seems like my truck’s starting battery and load from thick oil increases at below ten degrees, leading to somewhat sluggish starting after a night of opening and closing doors.
- My propane heater throws off less heat below ten degrees, the camp stove cooks slower and the lantern is dimmer due to propane and condensate starting to conjeal in the lines and regulators.
- House / Accessory Battery voltages drop leading to them tripping out due to under voltage much more quickly.
- Much greater risk of the propane heater or stove malfunctioning due to conjealed lines from condensate and jelled propane, plugging up regulators and propane lines.
I’ve camped a few degrees below ten degrees but it’s not pleasant and leads to more headaches then it’s often worth. But above ten degrees generally things are smooth sailing with the gear and set up I have.