“We have thousands of opportunities every day to be grateful: for having good weather … to be healthy, to have enough to eat. … There’s opportunity upon opportunity to be grateful; that’s what life is.”
~ David Steindl-Rast

Thanksgiving Day 2020 – a time when dinner conversation may drift from gratefulness to politics, pandemics and PPE. Casual greetings and conversations are begun by the mention of weather. Who can resist stuffing a dreaded lull or contentious debate with current or upcoming weather conditions? Go beyond the basic “nice weather we are having” and try adding these to the topic stuffing…

First weather measuring and the oldest device is the rain gauge: It was first used around 500 B.C. in Greece and 400 B.C. in India.

The least sunny place on earth is the South Pole: The South Pole receives sunshine on about 182 days of the year. This means for half a year the South Pole does not receive any sunshine, making it the least sunny place on earth.

Lightning strikes more men than women: 85% of strike victims are reportedly men. Additionally, 90% of lightning strike victims survive.

The largest hailstone recorded in the U.S. was in South Dakota. On July 23, 2010, it landed measuring 8.0” in diameter, weighing two pounds.

Pink snow: In California’s Sierra Mountains it’s real. It is caused by reddish-tinged algae in cold regions and it can magically create a Winter Wonderland.

Heaviest Rainfall: It occurred in Unionville, Maryland on April 7, 1956. On that day, 1.23 inches of rain fell in 60 seconds.

Greatest temperature change in a 24-hour period in the U.S.: In Montana, on Jan. 14, 1972 NWS measured a temperature of -54°F in the morning and +49°F by evening. Warm and powerful Chinook winds were responsible.

Longest Storm: A 43-day storm hit in December 1861 putting areas of central and Southern California under water for up to six months.

The Great Blizzard of 1888: Considered one of the most severe blizzards in American history 50 inches of snow fell across the U.S. Midwest states. Millions of cattle were lost. It was the beginning of the end to the iconic days of roving cowboys and the western wilderness.

Thanksgiving Day brings gusty northeast winds and temperatures around 70 degrees. A warm-up is likely over the upcoming weekend. A blessing of rain is being whispered for next week.