I have to admit that one of my favorite things about writing is that it gives me the opportunity to learn new things. In fact, while I was researching this week’s blog post, I learned that the amount of snow that a particular location will get during a storm is closely tied to the temperature. Now, I know that some of you are already thinking to yourselves “No Duh Sherlock” (or a less politically correct version of that particular statement.) However, I’m not talking about whether it’s above 32 degrees Fahrenheit and we get rain or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and we get snow. I’m talking about how much snow we actually get when there is a storm.
You see, slight differences in the temperature actually play a key role in how much snow a particular location gets because the temperature affects the size and shape of the snowflakes. For example, if the temperature is 28°F in a particular location and that location is expected to receive the equivalent of an inch of water (or, in other words, an inch of rain if the temperature was above 32 degrees), that location will end up with approximately 12 inches of snow. An area with a slightly lower temperature, however, say 23°F, would actually end up with approximately 15 inches of snow.
If, after reading this, you’re wondering why any of this actually matters, the truth is that, unless you’re a meteorologist or someone who is truly obsessed with the weather, it really doesn’t. However, it is one of the reasons why two neighboring towns can end up with two drastically different snow totals, and it does prove that if the Northeast is supposed to get buried by snow, it must be pretty friggin’ cold. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to enjoy your weekend without becoming an ice sculpture with a tasty human filling, look no further.
First, if you’re a big fan of figure skating and/or you always wanted to see someone actually get into the Olympics, Boston is the place to be this weekend. This is because the TD Bank Garden and the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is hosting the 2014 Prudential US Figure Skating Championships from Sunday, January 4th to the following Sunday, January 12th. This event will feature juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior, and champion skaters competing for national titles in both individual and pair competitions. It will also feature a number of well-known skaters and some not-so-well known skaters competing for the right to qualify for the Olympics as a member of Team USA. And, for those of us who think single digit temperatures are a little too cold to be wandering around in, they have wisely made sure that all of the events are indoors. For more information on the 2014 Prudential US Figure Skating Championships and/or to order tickets, please visit the Official 2014 US Figure Skating Championships website.
If, on the other hand, you’ve decided it is entirely too cold to go out this weekend and you have no interest in leaving your house at all (which I completely understand), you can always make your own movie marathon. I know it may sound lame, but grab some microwave popcorn, make some hot chocolate, and toss in your favorite movie or a movie that you’ve never taken out of the package. Sitting on the couch watching movies can be a lot more fun than it seems, especially when walking outside may result in your extremities falling off.
Don’t have a copy of your favorite movie or you’ve already watched everything you own nine thousand times? Don’t worry. You can always rent or purchase a movie from Amazon if you have a computer or a streaming device or On Demand if you’re an Xfinity subscriber. You can also watch movies for free online with Amazon Prime, Netflix, or another movie streaming service as long as you have a membership.
Photo credit: kennymatic / Foter.com / CC BY