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My poor spiders

I’m up early, I look out the window, and what do I see? Snow.

It has been warm and pleasant, except for the last few days, which have been chilly and windy. I was starting to see spiders around the yard again, but now — they’re probably huddled deep in crevices and whatever shelter they can find, waiting out this doggedly persistent winter.

They won’t have long to wait. The forecast is for 31°C on Wednesday.

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Comments

  1. flex says

    I know!

    The hummingbirds are starting to arrive, but it’s supposed to be -4C tonight and I don’t want to chance my glass feeder shattering.

    I am really ready for some warmth.

  2. cheerfulcharlie says

    It has been rainy and cool here in Houston, Texas. Definitely not spider friendly weather. In nearby Webster, Texas, my sister and her daughter have been taking early morning hikes on the hiking trail along a nearby bayou. They have seen a number of cute baby alligators.

  3. fishy says

    I was reading something recently about snow storage or farming. It was a way for ski resorts to have snow on hand to lengthen the ever shorter winters. It was basically a huge pile of snow under a blanket.
    Maybe there will be a commercial market for snow in the future.

  4. raven says

    Here on the west coast, in a lot of places the snow pack in all but nonexistent.
    Rainfall has been normal and the reservoirs are mostly full.
    The snowpack is near a record low though. It was a warm winter.

    As of April 2026, California is experiencing a “snow drought” where, despite near-normal precipitation, the statewide snowpack is at an alarming 18% of the April 1 average. This discrepancy, driven by high temperatures, means less stored water for the summer, a rapid melt-out, and heightened wildfire risks, marking one of the lowest snowpacks on record.

    Key Details on California Snowpack (April 2026)
    Extremely Low Snowpack: The statewide snow water equivalent is just 18% of the April 1 average, making it one of the lowest on record, trailing only 2015.

    Regional Differences: The Northern Sierra/Southern Cascades are hardest hit at 6% of average, while the Central Sierra is at 21% and the Southern Sierra at 32% of average.

    Warmth over Water: Although rainfall was near normal, high temperatures caused precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow, and triggered early melting.

    Impact on Water Supply & Fire Risk: The lack of snowpack significantly impacts the state’s water supply, as the Sierra snowpack usually provides 30% of California’s water. Experts are anticipating a long, busy fire season, with current mountain conditions resembling June rather than March.

    One area in the mountains that I’m familiar with has a snowpack of 6% of normal for this time of year.
    A remote camera shows a few inches of snow when sometimes this time of year the snow is 5 feet deep.

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