Winter time in Winston Salem North Carolina

[TSTRM]

For those who do not know, I have lived in Flroida for the past 27 years. The company I work for Usairways closed our Orlando office where I have been based out of since 1987. My choices were I could accept the furlough which I would have gotten 15 weeks of pay or accept a transfer to either Pittsburgh or Winston Salem NC. Well the office was closing 10th of January so needless to say Pittsburgh was eliminated rather quickly. Getting our info pack for Winston Salem and reading through it caused me to laugh out loud. Here is the weather foklore part. It stated that this area did not have to worry winter weather due to the mountains to the west that block the cold air intrusions. This is what caused me to laugh out loud. Some others asked me what was so funny. I read that line out loud and told them this was half true. Yes the mountains to our west would block the cold air, but if the cold air intrustion was from the north happens, the opposite happens. The cold air is trapped by the mountains over this area and other sections of North Carolina. The December storm proved that!!! They thought I was off my rocker. Well lets see.....been up here in Winston Salem since 13 January and have experianced a little over 4 inches of snow, a little over 2 inches of sleet and about an inch coating of ice. This is what happens when you have an El Nino pattern with and active polar jet. Well had a few of my fellow transfer co workers tell me that I was correct. Just smiled and said "In Florida we love an El Nino pattern because it does have an effect on the tropics. Up here we will more than likely hate El Nino especially when the polar jet is active since that does increase the chance of winter type weather. The one thing that I will miss is the seabreeze collision thunderstorms in Florida. Here it appears that there is going to be a slightly better chance of supercells which are rare for Florida the last time we had them down there was Feb 1998 and we all know what happened then. It also seems people here have a different opinion when it comes to a heavy thunderstorm. Guess you get use to it when you are down in Florida. Not that I am complaining about up here, at least I will not have to unplug my computer and tv prior to going to work on a daily basis!!!!!

[ColdFront77]

Good points, TSTRM.

As for Florida seabreeze collision thunderstorms from June to mid-October... they are something to look forward to; however the couple months have been abnormally wet here in central Florida. Leesburg (about 1 hour north of Orlando) has over 5 inches of rain so far this month.

[deb_in_nc]

TSTRM. I lived in Greensboro all my life until I moved to S FL in 1993. Wait till you get 12" of snow on top of the ice. No work for you for a few days.
That's why I moved down here.

Debbie

[Rainband]

I love florida weather. I haven't really ever had to unplug the puter because I have several surge protectors..but it does rock and roll here once and a while. Although since I have lived here we haven't had too much in the way of Severe weather?? Maybe because I live on the coast??


Johnathan

[TSTRM]

Johnathan, there is another bit of lore. Surge protecters = false sense of security. Nothing will protect your computer or other electrical stuff if lightning makes a direct hit at your residence. God forbid that it happens to you. Took an indirect hit last Oct while having just to look at the satellite pics on the tropics. Yes I should of know better but thought I had a few moments even though it was lightning to my south. It is so true that lightning can strike far away from the parent cell. Got one heck of a static shock since my hand was on the computer mouse, and blew out my printer. Computer survived the indirect hit and yes I did have a surge protecter that also was not operating after the lightning strike. Ask any good electriction and he/she will tell you surge protecters are nothing but a false sense of security..............Paul

[TSTRM]

Deb....I hope that I will never ever have to see 12 inches of ice and snow while I am here. But after what I have experianced this winter here nothing else can surprise me.......Paul