Tuesday, 12/6

 I wonder which it will be this year--white, or brown?

Here we are, less than three weeks before Christmas, and with just a smattering of flakes on the ground in a few select portions of Marquette we've started to settle into one of our new favorite holiday traditions--will it be a White Christmas, or a Brown Christmas?

Now, in the days before we wrecked the planet, that was never a question.  It would always be a White Christmas.  The only question was just exactly HOW white it would be.  But in the past ten or fifteen years, as climate changed has affected our weather in ways we never could have imagined, the big question has become whether or not we'll actually have snow leading up to the holidays.

Lest you think I'm joking, let me share a couple of pictures I've taken over the past couple of years, including one last December 19th--

One on December 13th, 2016 (and yes, those ARE sailboats out in the harbor)

And one on Christmas Day, 2015--

When you think of Christmas--specifically, when you think of Christmas in Marquette--you think of snow...lots and lots of snow.  But not these days.  These days, you're more likely to have green grass and sailboats on the lake than you are lots and lots of snow.

But that's life in the 21st century.

So like I said, the question is now White or Brown.  While it is cold out as I write this, there isn't much precipitation in the forecast the next few days.  And by the weekend, temperatures are looking to be in the upper 30s to around 40.

So which color will it be this year?  I know that if I had to put money on it that money would be on brown.  Whether or not that would be a misplaced bet...well, we'll find out in just a couple of weeks.

(jim@wmqt.com)