Cold snap a winter preview
First flakes fly
By KEVIN WISER
Express Staff Writer
The first snow—albeit a few flakes—of a still distant winter
drifted from the skies of the Wood River Valley Monday afternoon as winter and summer
mingled.
Residents, spoiled by September’s summery weather, bundled up in
coats and sweaters. Smoke billowed from chimneys as fireplaces, dormant since last winter
past, were fired up once again.
Skiers reminisced, warmed by the chill running down their backs and
memories of white mountains and deep powder, hoping that the early snow might be an omen
for the winter to come.
Warm weather people, alarmed by the cold, wondered if it was time to
move back to their mild winter havens.
For farmers and ranchers the change ushered in the end of another
growing season in the Wood River Valley and signaled time to prepare for winter by mending
stables and barns and moving herds of cattle down to winter ranges.
Long time locals and high country old timers are hardly surprised by
Mother Nature’s whims, knowing that it’s much too early for her to make up her
mind, that the seasons blend at the beginning and end and that Indian Summer is still to
come before winter sets in for good.
According to the National Weather Service, the change may have seemed
drastic to some due to the warmer than normal temperatures that have persisted through
September and the fact that near record highs of late cooled down abruptly to near record
lows.
Following winter’s brief flurry on Monday, temperatures dipped
into the low 20s in the Wood River Valley early Tuesday morning. Near record lows were
forecast for Tuesday night.
Roller coaster temperatures, which are common this time of year, are
expected to continue through the week with highs warming up into the 60s Thursday and
Friday, then dropping to the 40s along with cloudy skies on Saturday.
