Snow - a wrap-up

It took so long to get here and even longer to stick and now it's nearly gone. The snow has been replaced with wicked cold artic air. At noon it is 27 degrees with a 16 degree windchill. Nice! (Paul just called to let me know it was 4 degrees in Kansas City this morning and now a balmy 16!)

Here's some 'morning after' snow pictures (I did sleep in a little past 9, so some was already melted)



The frozen fountain


Looking up the street


Across the street (notice the salt on my car! we drove right behind the salt brine sprayers on Friday night, ack!)


The house



(Lu - see the little green shoots? those are my iris bulbs already coming up - ack!)

Here's the 'rents house in Atlanta - they got WAY more snow than we did!


And see, this is where my bird feeding obsession comes from (their backyard)

Snow - before bed

One last look at the snow "accumulation" before bed



Snow in the street light

(had I learned how to properly use my new camera, I may have gotten much better pictures)

Update: SNOW is on the GROUND!

Wow. So in about 60 minutes time we went from barely any snow falling to snow on the ground. I am a happy, happy girl!

Thankfully Mom & Dad called (on Skype, with video and sound most of the time) to distract me while I waited for the snow to stick. They've gotten a good 1/4 inch on the ground at their house just south of Atlanta (I was so jealous to see the snow covered ground!).

(M&D say "hi!")

Here's some pictures (like I promised!)

Snow just after 4pm (not terribly impressive)


Snow just after 6pm



(the car! which is finally home, long story!)




More to come! Hopefully...

4pm update

Yes ladies & gentlemen, your OCD snow loving blogger is updating yet again!

We have SNOW. Very little rain mixed in, just SNOW! It is sticking to the wood bridge, but nothing else, YET.

Pictures will follow. I've got to eat something first!

See, I'm not the only impatient one!

(headline on WRAL)

Another update

Yes, I am this bored

Time: 3:12pm

Weather status: rain mixed with SNOW!

Snow: reports of heavier snow fall near RDU (Paul called from the tarmac)

Mood: improving! yet still hungry.

Snow? An update

Time: 2:13pm

Weather status: light rain, 40ish degrees

Snow: none sighted in immediate area

Mood: grouchy! yet hungry.

Forecast:

More snow?

Here we go again - another forecast with snow in our immediate future. If you're a loyal reader of the blog you know that I blog more about the weather than I do about our life. It is an illness, I know. I would have seriously studied atmospheric science had it not been for the requirements of organic chemistry and lots of calculus! So instead, now I just blog out interesting impending weather. I really hope we see something pretty tomorrow - I want to take my new camera out and blog pictures (they're more fun than reading I'm sure)!

WRAL's headline, "Measurable snow possible"

Here's the latest advisory from the NWS:
"The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Winter Storm
Watch... which is in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday
afternoon.

Precipitation is expected to overspread central North Carolina
during the day on Saturday. As it does so... much colder air will
spread into the area from the west. The airmass appears to be cold
enough at the onset of the event Saturday morning for most of the
precipitation to fall as snow across the western Piedmont. Further
east toward the northern Piedmont and northeast coastal plain... the
precipitation will likely start out as a cold rain Saturday morning
but should change over to snow during the late morning or early
afternoon.

Snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible... which could
cause significant impacts to travel.

Some uncertainty still exists with this event. The exact track of
the surface low and the timing of the colder air will ultimately
determine the snowfall accumulation potential.

A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant
snow... sleet... or ice accumulations that may impact travel."

Snow from last January... (1/18/06)

Today's headline, "Snow turns to rain across the Triangle"

Boo. We got like 3 seconds of snow, 30 minutes of sleet and hours of rain. Well, not exactly "boo" on the rain; we need it, like really, really need it. It's been hovering around 35 degrees ALL day with a persistent drizzle. Seriously, why couldn't we get a little more snow!? I was looking forward to a snow day at home where I could take pictures and blog them from the comfort of my living room and in my PJs. I shouldn't complain too much, work was delayed 2 hours!

This was about the extent of it (photo from WRAL):

Snow? Is coming?

My office has already been delayed until 10am - wooooooooo! Come on snow! The 'rents in Atlanta have already seen some of the white stuff :)

Current advisory (emphasis my own):

... Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 4 am to 12 PM
EST Thursday...

Confidence continues to increase that there will be a period of
mixed light snow and sleet over the region late tonight... before
changing to freezing rain around daybreak... then to all rain by
noon. This could lead to a light accumulation of snow... sleet and
freezing rain before the change- over to all rain. Surface
temperatures near or slightly below freezing around daybreak should
slowly warm above freezing by late morning... then into the mid to
upper 30s during the afternoon.

Since the precipitation is expected to arrive just before the
morning rush hour... any light accumulation of snow... sleet... or
freezing rain would increase the potential for a significant
impact during the morning commute. This includes the northeast Piedmont
and western sandhills regions... extending roughly along and west
of a line from near Rockingham to Sanford... Raleigh... Louisburg...
and Warrenton. It appears that bridges and overpasses will pose
the greatest problem for icing.

A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow... sleet... or
freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery roads and limited visibilities... and use caution while
driving. Allow extra time and plan for travel delays.

An update - forthcoming ?

I can't say that we've been too busy to blog, but life has just been "out of whack" since Christmas. I've got lots of pictures to post and a few items I want to blog about, but just can't seem to get my act together.

So for now, here's 2 photos of a hawk (coopers? sharp shinned? chicken?) in our backyard. Needless to say, our bird feeders have been vacant since his arrival...