July 10, 2004
"warm rain" sounds so bizarre...
My son writes about North Dakota weather...
...I had to weather my stage 15 flight today, (I'll take it on Wednesday) because of thunderstorms, as well as a tornado warning, and possible winds gusting to 69 knots until 9 this evening. My flight instructor and I will fly in the evenings to get two lessons done per flight to get me caught up...Around here, "bad weather" means earthquakes.......In San Francisco, rain means cold. Unfortunately here in Grand Forks, ND, right now rain means 73 degrees F. and 85% humidity. It was very odd watching people walk down the street holding both an umbrella to keep the rain off, and wearing shorts because of the heat.
Another thing that seemed strange to us San Franciscans when we were in ND, is that it's all white people! The maids cleaning our hotel rooms were blondes. I felt kind of at home when I went into a WalMart, because the clerks were Filipino. Oooops, wrong. Besides white folks, there's Injuns! Plenty. Rob also wrote:
... At dinner this evening, I was surrounded by Native Americans, there were A LOT! It was some kind of summer camp program I think. It took a lot of my energy NOT to look the right, and then to the left, and then to inform the person sitting in front of me "We're in deep trouble, Tonto") I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing...Another curiosity: Alan Sullivan mentioned that if ND were a separate country, it would be the world's third-largest nuclear power... Posted by John Weidner at July 10, 2004 09:39 AM | TrackBack
Is your son in school at Grand Forks, John?
Posted by: Francis W. Porretto at July 10, 2004 12:37 PMHe's studying aviation in the Aerospace Dept of the University of North Dakota. He's just started, he's taking the basic flying class plus an air traffic control class this summer.
Posted by: John Weidner at July 10, 2004 05:18 PMHe should be in Florida. Here when it rains it means 93 degrees temps and 95% humidity. We don't even bother going outside unless we absolutely have to.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at July 10, 2004 08:50 PMTell your son to just be patient! He will REALLY think the weather is odd in ND come winter. I was raised in southern MN but never knew that such a thing as a "Snirt" existed. You ask what Snirt is? It is a combination of snow and dirt. He will find Snirt storms to be stranger. Have him imagine 50 knot winds NOT gusts whipping across the No Dak plains picking up dirt while it is snowing. He will learn even the warmest coat will NOT stop those winds coming out of Canada! I guess that is why it is a state law that if you pass a car on the road that is stranded you are required to stop and help.
When we arrived at GFAFB in 81 we were told that if ND seceded from the USA it would be the worlds 3rd largest nuclear power! Amazing but true!
Posted by: ordi at July 10, 2004 10:21 PMFascinating. Rob and my wife Charlene did visit GF last January, so he knows about the cold. But snirts? Wow.
Posted by: John Weidner at July 11, 2004 08:58 AM
