Saturday, January 12, 2013

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!!



 Salt Lake has been experiencing a drought for the last several years, just like much of the country. If you have never been here, Salt Lake City is in the high desert. There are mountains all around can help and hinder the climate. The Rocky Mountain to the east and northeast of the state block frigid air from coming into the valley and so the temps are milder than you would think for an area that is at 4300 ft and also so far north. Really cold air that does reach the area comes from the north and western Canada. Temperatures seldom get below 0 °F.
    Temperature inversions sometimes move into the area and create a real mess. An inversion is when cool air, moisture, and pollutants are trapped in the valley by surrounding mountains. The air quality becomes very nasty. There has been an inversion for about the last ten days. When I look straight up the air is clear with beautiful skies but as I look forward all I see is thick, brownish, green smoggy air. The temps stay very cold. Lately the highs have been in the teens and in the single digits at night. The weird thing is that when an inversion happens the areas around the city that are on the sides of the mountains and also the ski areas are much warmer—in the 30’s during the day!! They can look down into the valley and see the thick gunk hanging over the city!!! Kind of weird.
    We finally got a storm strong enough to blow all the pollutants away and in the meantime dumped a massive amount of snow. I think our downtown area got about a foot of snow in 24 hours. Many of the areas around us got around 24 inches of snow and the mountains and ski resorts got several feet. It has been quite a punch but a welcome relief for the drought conditions.
     We still need lots more. I just googled to see how much snow it takes to make 1 inch of water. It depends on the temperature and kind of snow. If the temperature is really cold the snow is light and fluffy and it can take 20 inches to make an inch of water. If the temperature is warmer, the snow will be wet and it can take just 3-4 inches on snow per inch of water. The average is about 10 inches of snow for 1 inch of water. Utah is known for its “powder”, so it is going to take more snow to add more water.
     Even though I am not used to all the snow I am not hating it. It is very beautiful and we have a nice warm and dry place to live. We came prepared with coats, gloves, scarfs and even boots although my snuggly and warm Ug kind of boots has blown a hole in the side where the boot meets the sole. NOT GOOD!! We live just 2 blocks from where we work, so life is good.
    Yesterday, Friday, 11 Jan, they closed all the buildings on Temple Square at 1:30pm and sent everyone home. There weather was getting worse and worse and so were the roads. They don’t do that very often.
    The Church Office building that is on Temple Square is 28 stories high and I am sure there are hundreds and hundreds if not thousands who work there.
     Below I have posted a picture of the Salt Lake Temple as we saw it out the window of my office. Another missionary, Scarlet Holman, took the picture with her iPad. Thanks Sister Holman for an awesome picture!!! BTW, it was even more beautiful seeing it in person!!!!!!!

 They are telling us the inversion will be back this week! I am NOT fond of the gunky air.

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