Since the title of this thread includes the word anecdotal:
There is no doubt in my mind that winters in the midwest USA have been getting warmer. I recall winters where the current temperatures persisted over weeks. We gonna be at 40F in a couple days. I have lived winters when we didnt see freezing for months on end.
This winter and the last have been colder than the three previous, when the ground didnt freeze even once. Hence the ash borer problem but i see estimates that 80% of the ash borers will be dead after this cold snap. Hurrah!
A lady of my acquaintance was born during one of the worst cold snaps in memory in the fifties in a remote farm. I knew her mother, who told me once, that the birth was difficult and they were unsure either mother or child would survive. Electric was out, they were running out of coal and firewood and water was freezing inside the house. So they put the child in a turkey baster in the oven (coal fired ... kept the door open so the baby would not asphyxiate) to keep her warm. They did not think the mother would make it, didnt trust that she had enuf body heat to keep the child warm enuf to survive.
But they both did. By comparison, we are wimps. I went out today (-6F for the high without counting the wind chill) swept some snow, shovelled a bit, walked around the neighbourhood, picked up some beer, chocolate, and assorted provisions, brought in some firewood, talked to a neighbours cat who seemed unfazed by the cold but wanted to supervise me ...
This is a walk in the park. Just got to dress for it. Cat had his winter coat going. I had many layers.
sidd