I think it started earlier than ever! Let's hope it ends early, too! We're returning to CT at the end of March, and the friend who keeps an eye on our house doesn't think the driveway will melt till August!
Week before last, in Tucson, we had record-setting freezes - which froze many city water pipes. Many houses have water pipes on the OUTSIDE of the houses - cheaper and faster to build, and 'the temps are NEVER below 32 long enough to freeze them.'
To top that off, many people were without gas for heat or cooking and had to move in with friends or to shelters. The plumbers answer machines filled up pretty doggone fast!
We were lucky - no frozen pipes. Several years ago, DH built a box around the water pipes where they come out of the ground, and he triple-insulated them 'just in case.' Our next-door neighbor, is originally from Buffalo, NY, but he thought frozen pipes were in his PAST - yup, he has leaky pipes. By the time he got to the plumbing supply store, the parts he needed were sold out. Fortunately, his leaks were not too bad, so he and DH got to work with Duct Tape - and it worked! The parts he needs should be here in a day or 2.