OT - Winter Storm

[jimmcg]

No doubt this monster winter storm has affected many of you. It has covered many square miles through the southern U. S. from west to east. I hope all are safe.

Here in NW Arkansas we had a short period of freezing rain Thursday night, then sleet for awhile putting about half an inch or so of stuff on the ground. Then it snowed all day Friday, so there is about 5 or 6 inches of snow cover. It was foggy through the night last night, and still is, so there is freezing fog adding on. Fortunately, we have not lost electrical power through any of it. Had enough of that last year.

I have two brothers who live near Mtn. Home, Arkansas, 125 miles east of here. They have almost a foot of snow there.

[Colorado Cardinal]

WOW! sounds like you have really gotten hit. Haven't heard from my niece and nephews in Mtn Home. Maybe there is good reason. Weather isn't too bad here in Rocky Mtn foothills. Been a pretty bad winter all in all tho.

CC

[Dwain]

We just missed that last one. But there is another expected Monday through Thursday, so can't get too awful excited.

[Migratory Redbird]

The snowfall on the East Coast was primarily South of where we live just North of the Mason-Dixon line.

On Saturday, it began snowing just about the time my wife and I were getting ready to head up to my younger daughter's to see the grandkids. My wife was a little nervous about it (she's getting to be an "old lady" when it comes to traveling on snow), but I checked the forecasts and assured her we wouldn't get much. It had snowed enough to just cover the pavement and make it a little slick, but we ran out of the snow before we got to York.

I kept checking with my older daughter (who lives with us) and she kept dutifully reporting that it continued to snow. When we returned Saturday evening, we ran into snow covered roads just a couple of miles from home. Accumulation at our house -- just 6 miles North of Maryland -- was about 2 inches.

I think that's the first time that I recall being right on the fringe of a major snowfall. 6-8 inches were reported in Richmond, VA; I haven't checked to see what they got in Maryland.

[Dwain]

Originally Posted by Migratory Redbird

6-8 inches were reported in Richmond, VA

Having been there during larger snow falls, Richmond is probably a mess. They don't handle snow, period.

[jimmcg]

Some areas of Virginia apparently had up to 10 inches, and Raleigh, North Carolina had several inches. I lived in Raleigh from 1958-61. It came a 5-6 inch snow there one of those winters, and as Dwain said about Virginia, it was a mess. Noone knew how to drive on it. And, of course, they don't have equipment to get it off the roads very well.

Our temperature here today is about 40 degrees, so the snow is melting and all well travelled roads and streets are clear. My wife and I were out for awhile--first time since Thursday.

[Jmodene]

Thanks, Jimm - I've got nowhere to go but *up*!

[Colorado Cardinal]

hang in there Jerry, it takes time.

CC

[jimmcg]

Can you see over the top of the snow, Migs?

We are getting ready to get hit again. About 2 inches now, but roads are basically clear. Up to a mere 10 inches forecast.

[GOOCH]

I got stuck in Philadelphia at the APSA Teaching & Learning Conference. Didn't make it out until today. 28.5 inches of snow...definately a personal record! D.GOOCH

[jimmcg]

Welcome home, Don. Found some at home too, didn't you? What a pile of snow the Mid-Atlantic and New England are suffering through, though.

[Migratory Redbird]

Originally Posted by jimmcg

Can you see over the top of the snow, Migs?

I'm in Los Angeles as I type this, but we got around 2 feet last Friday/Saturday. I shoveled Saturday afternoon and Sunday, but wouldn't have been able to get to the airport Monday morning if my neighbor across the street hadn't brought his snow blower over and plowed my driveway. All that was left was digging out the 3 cars parked in front of the garage and I only got 2 of those done before I left.

My wife says we had 4 more inches by 7 PM this evening, with lots more in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. The Lancaster TV station is forecasting 8"-18" more tomorrow.

My flight back on Thursday is scheduled into Baltimore just before midnight, so it's possible I may be stranded out here in LA for an extra day or two. If I do make it back early Friday morning, I may need to shovel my driveway just to get to bed.

If we get the worst predicted, that will essentially make 3 "storms of the century" just this winter -- 16" on December 19th, 24" on February 5-6, topped off by this storm on February 9-10. If I buy a new snow blower this summer, that will probably guarantee we'll not get more than an inch at a time for the rest of the decade!

[jimmcg]

That's lots of snow, Harry. Reminds me of the winter of 1961-62 when I lived in Brookings, South Dakota. We had a total of about 7 feet of snow, including one event of something like 27 inches, as I recall. We didn't see the ground from late December to late April. That is the worst I ever experienced before or since.

I read yesterday that Baltimore had had a total of 60 inches. That is before this latest storm.

I also read in the paper here this morning that Little Rock, AR has the first snow cover in 7 years.

You are right about the unpredictability. Snow blower could sit unused much at your house for several winters.