An Icy Farewell Kiss!
By Catherine
@bluesa (15023)
Johannesburg, South Africa
August 17, 2017 8:01am CST
Now, isn't it typical! Our temperature yesterday was 24C ( 75.2F )and we thought we were heading for an early spring. But nope, last night the wind started howling outside. And as I told my family, "yep, here it comes, the icy farewell kiss from winter!" And it's true, today is 11C ( 51.8F ) with a polar wind howling and it's slicing through clothing and hats and mittens! Sneaking through spaces in doors and windows!
I heard the words polar wind and I immediately thought of the Arctic and Antarctic (my mind works in mysterious ways, lol). And then I remembered some info I found out about the Arctic and Antarctic and I thought I would share it with you all.
For instance, the Arctic (North Pole) gets around about 8 inches of rain in a year. I was not sure the Arctic gets rain, I thought maybe wind storms with snow. It is also effected by solar radiation in summer and winter. And best of all, what I did know, but am going to share in any case, because I think they are gorgeous, is the Arctic is the only natural home of the Polar bear.
In the case of Antarctica (South Pole) apparently more fish live along its edges than anywhere else, and I think best of all, It is home to penguins! It is also the colder of the two Poles, which surprises me. But, I can tell you, with the polar wind howling outside, I will leave the Poles to those who are built for it, or have the guts to live there! Have a terrific Thursday, all!
Photo is of outside by me now, the cold clouds rolling in!
Some information from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia/ Climate of the Arctic/ Antarctic
11 people like this
11 responses
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
19 Aug 17
Haha 11c is positively balmy for us in the UK. That would be the equivalent of high summer for @Asylum. To think 24C is the temperature in your Winter/Spring would be the same as our summer here! Anything above 25C is far too hot for us!
2 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
19 Aug 17
Lol! We don't usually have 24C temps for winter, we usually have 14C or 15C, this was an unusually mild winter for us. Now the last three days are actually our first proper winter temps. I can understand you being used to lower temps. I am not looking forward to summer at all I hope we don't hit 38C again!
@silvermist (19702)
• India
17 Aug 17
Those are some interesting facts.I would have liked to have the taste of that polar wind.It is hot here.
2 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
17 Aug 17
@silvermist , yes, it is like someone turned the air conditioner on full blast. I hope you'll get cooler weather soon.
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Aug 17
It's so hot here that I wish you could send some of that polar wind my way!
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
21 Aug 17
@moffittjc , I will see what I can do about that! I just have to check in with mother nature! ;)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Aug 17
@bluesa Well, I could do without the howling wind, but I would gladly accept the icy cold part!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
17 Aug 17
I love your photo, cold or not! It's lovely! I taught about the differences in the poles when I taught geography. Both are too cold, if you ask me, but my dream is to visit Antarctica some day. lol. Stay warm and toasty. Here, early spring can be chilly, too.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
18 Aug 17
Thank you 
! You must've been a wonderful teacher. Oh, my, I am not sure I would have the guts to visit Antarctica, you're brave! Thank you I am wrapping up warm. It's nice in a very strange way that even though oceans apart our spring temps can be similar. 
! You must've been a wonderful teacher. Oh, my, I am not sure I would have the guts to visit Antarctica, you're brave! Thank you I am wrapping up warm. It's nice in a very strange way that even though oceans apart our spring temps can be similar. 1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
18 Aug 17
we also have a term here when our temperatures drop to 10 degrees. courtesy of my late father, the winds so cold are called Siberian wind.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
19 Aug 17
@ridingbet , yes, I am worried about climate change too, it is scary how our weather patterns are changing.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
20 Aug 17
@bluesa true. this day, it was not so very hot, but the weather bureau announced of a tropical storm that is entering our country, particularly in the northern part where i live. it is in the extreme north though, but we can still feel the winds like now.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
18 Aug 17
In the spring when the temps hit 50 F, you'll find people walking in shorts and short sleeved shirts. The windows are open in the homes. There are many driving around in their convertible cars with the tops down. We are a hardy bunch here.
I hope your spring comes soon!
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Aug 17
I learned a few new things today, thanks! I hope you can stay warm. It's going to be high 90's here today, I wish it would cool down.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Aug 17
@bluesa Yes it's too hot here.
Thank you, I can't wait until October!
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
17 Aug 17
Ooo that is making me shiver just thinking of it Catherine.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
17 Aug 17
@bluesa The weather is very nice here at the moment..it is the end of summer and it is in the low 80s, but tomorrow hotter near 90F.
Thanks dear friend, stay warm
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
17 Aug 17
Ah lucky you heading into spring. We're heading in to fall here. It's been unusually chilly here too... maybe a world wide thing...
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