Snow, Three Days After

Well, miracle of miracles, the snow from Thursday is still on the ground on Sunday afternoon. Granted, this was aided by sub arctic temperatures that arrived yesterday. A second snow event whimped out due to the cold. And tonight, when it dips below 0 degrees F, I will indulge in serious contemplation of racial inequality and how we have finally made it to the point where a man of color can make a serious bid for the White House. Long live government holidays that keep me from having to drive to work in that.

Anyway, the snow was about three inches thick in my backyard, but that is approximate. See, the sleet and a little bit of rain kicked in after the snow, so the measurement was not accurate. But still, a nice snow storm.

First Snowfall

Well, we had the first snowfall of the season here. Right at about the same time as everyone else, I guess. I wouldn't know. See, the snow happened while I was off on a cruise. Ha-ha! What timing! Granted, there was that low pressure weather maker in San Diego that gave us a few worries on landing. Which lead to a surprise landing in LA, before finally touching down in San Diego. But it was sunny and warm in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Beautiful too. Spent a lot of time in the pool on the ship, because it was open and I didn't feel like a shore exursion. I did set foot in Mexico to buy Chrismas presents/souveiners, though.

A rough front moved through and gave the boat a lot of chop. The sea was so rough, they closed the port of Enscanada, Mexico. Oops. And because it was so rough, they kept a cover on the pool. Now of course the funny part is that back on land in San Diego, we went to see the famous San Diego Zoo. Beautiful tropical plants all over the place. But it was so cool there, that they put the tortoises inside under their heat lamps. Booo! I missed Zeppe's relations. But still, it was rather impressive that they looked after their animals like that.

So, I'm back home to melting snow. The leaves need cleaned up, but it's too wet to go out with my mower. Fortunately, there are supposed to be some high fifty degree days this coming week, so I won't freeze too much getting that done.

T'pence a Bag

Well, Friday we had our Nor'easter. The frozen stuff started tinking off of windows fairly early in the day, but thankfully, the snow held off until I got safely home. I fed the birds two extra times Friday evening. Saturday morning, they got a lot of extra food, primarily since all the normal food sources were under half an inch of snow. Of course, seeing a red-wing blackbird feeding on my deck railing was awesome. Even got a nuthatch and three juncos, in addition to all the doves, cardinals and brown sparrows.

Daffodil buds are up, they'll be opening this week. The crocus are still holding on. The hydrangea is developing leaf buds. The rhodadendrons are perking up, although, I think a few of the leaves suffered frost burn. And the hostas look ready to start leafing up.

Pictures of Lily

Well, another day, another snow storm, another icy artic blast. Yesterday's snow was probably about 1-2 inches, but it didn't lay very well at my place. Only got a dusting on the grass. Howevever, the Alberta Clipper was in front of an artic air mass, and the mercury in some points in the area was lower than the snow total this morning. Yikes! And double yikes to icy fog! Meaning you pass through a fog bank, and get covered in ice. However, temperatures should return to normal this weekend.

The Cherry Blossom forecast is coming out later this morning. And that's always good news.

Rosebud

Well, it has been an interesting winter. One kids will be lusting after for years to come. Snow was on the ground for nearly a week. Meaningful snow. Great sledding snow. A firmly packed base, with a hard crust that is really fast. Good for getting out the sled and waxing up the runners. Oh, wait, the kids around here are used to catch as you can snow that disappears within a day or two, so they only have plastic saucers. Not good sleds with runners. But really, this is the kind of snow I remember from winters further north where my dad would get on the sled with us kids and stear down hill. And we'd put the straps on the dog so he could play sled dog and pull it back up the hill for us. Good times.

Of course, with all the ice up top, it has been trecherous to walk on and a huge pain to shovel. First you have to break the ice, then move it. Grr. And to add insult to injury, we got a dusting on Sunday which looks prettier, but just hides the ice.

But fortunately, this morning, it is warmer than it was all last week. The melting/flooding is here! 40 degrees this morning going up to 50! Whee! Even if that means having to shovel slush.

At What Point

So, I'm sitting at home, burning my vacation leave, because despite heavy icing and uncleared roads other than the interstates, the federal government continued its masichistic policy of not telling people to stay home and stay safe. I realize that the DC metro region is huge and generally weather is different at one end than the other. But given that a lot of feds come down out of West Virginia, you'd think they were a little more cautious. I'm not a fed, but our boss doesn't close the office and give us paid time off, unless the feds call it.

Anyway, on to the storm report. What was supposed to be a big snow event fizzled, since the temperatures aloft were too warm. So, we got about an inch of snow here, then some freezing drizzle with the first storm through the area. The second storm arrived with ice pellets pinging off my screens over night. I'd say about on inch of ice pellets out there. Still, that's not as bad as the sleet, so I'll take my blessings. Even if I do have to go out and shovel.

A snow plow with a landscape contractor just went past, the first snow plow through the development. Not that it helps people who went out yesterday and are now parked on ice. Neighbor with one of those big fancy trucks is out there spinning his tires right now. At least, I can push my little car past those spots if I had to. I can drive in snow. I even trust the idiots around here to manage well enough in snow. But ice is a time to stay in.

Cold and Powdery

Well, yesterday we got our inch of powder. And by the afternoon, it had evaporated in the sun because it is just that dry here. It certainly wasn't because 29 degrees is warm. Driving conditions yesterday were hazardous, not because of the snow, but because of the unusually cold temperatures froze a lot of people's windshield wiper fluid and they couldn't clean the salt spray off of their windows. (I'm still trying to figure out why the dealer or the person before me followed directions on the bottle and did this, because I didn't use enough to replace any.)

Still way below average temperatures. I guess Mother Nature is trying to prove that DC is not going to be zone 8 any time soon.

On the other hand, my orange hibiscus is thanking me for the repotting by putting out at least 5 buds. One bloomed on Sunday.

Snowy Weather

Well, snow finally made an appearance after two flurries and an out to sea. Yesterday a fine snow/wet powder fell from about 1 pm to 6 pm. I went out to shovel/sweep the snow around 6:45 before bed. It had switched over to ice pellets at that time, but they were already frozen when they landed, so no uberslick spots. The ice was crunchy underfoot and provided good traction. Even if it was a pain to scrape off the car. There was about an inch of snow with ice overtop.

Only problem driving in was the salt spray. Yuck.


Yesterday's precipitation: 1 inch snow, glazing of ice

Flurries

Well, it seems that the first snowfall of the season here in the DC region will arrived yesterday. But only in the form of flurries. That is really nice. Or would be if our temperatures were not stuck in the low 40s and 30s, with windchill dogpiled on top. I know it isn't as bad as it could be, but my poor circulation still wants better.

But at least yesterday it was good cloudwatching weather.