The Time Has Come

It's October 16. Historically, the first frost should've happened 10 days ago. Most of Eastern Iowa is likely to take care of three seasonal firsts, all on the same night.

The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning from 11 tonight through 9 o'clock Saturday morning. Apparently Mother Nature has decided not to ease into the cold. Nope, let's skip mid-30's and go right for the freeze with lows tonight in the 20's. She's gonna kill off our vegetation in one fell swoop. You can't really complain, though, right?. After all, it is October 16. The graphic below indicates tonight's cold will be very widespread.

It's been a beautiful year overall, as far as the weather's concerned. Wet enough when needed the most, but not too wet. Great harvests and an absolutely beautiful fall.

Tonight will also likely be the first time we've fired up the furnace at our house, inspection day notwithstanding. The sun has been warming things up nicely during the day, but I think tonight's the night to slide the programmable thermostat from the "Off" position to "Heat." Maybe we'll only have to turn it on for a day or so. Next week looks great again with temperatures around 70 for highs most of the week. I know it won't be long 'til I'm turning it back to that "Heat" position. I just look forward to the day we'll be able to turn it off for good when spring of 2016 arrives. I'm betting you feel the same way.

Frost... check. Freeze... check. Furnace... check. Sure signs that my least favorite season of the year is beginning to knock, even if the sound is faint right now.