It has been several years since we had a substantial snowfall in our area. Last winter we had a total accumulation of 5.4 inches (14 cm) of snow and the year before that we had a total of only 0.6 inches (15 mm). This storm started as rain at night and then turned into a steady snowfall of wet snow throughout the morning and early afternoon. One of my neighbors measured the total amount of snow we received at 10 inches (25 cm).
Not surprisingly, schools were closed for the day as were the federal and local governments—the road crews in this area are simply not equipped to removed this large a quantity of snow. Eventually people emerged from their cozy homes to dig themselves out. I live in densely-packed a townhouse community and one of our biggest challenges when it snows is finding a place to pile the snow.
About half of the cars in the neighborhood are now cleared and the roads have been plowed—the first photo shows my little KIA Soul with its blanket of snow that I have removed. However, temperatures overnight dipped to 19 degrees (minus 7 degrees C) and the roads are an icy mess this morning. Schools have another snow day and recovery will continue.
Unlike in some areas, we were fortunate not to lose power. However, the weight of the heavy snow caused numerous tree branches to fall—several large branches from pine trees fell into my back yard, but did not cause any damage. Additional, a large pine tree toppled over behind my townhouse as shown in the final photo. Luckily it fell away from the houses and managed not to hit any fences or cars, though it is now blocking a sidewalk.
I think I am going to stay put most of today and not venture out on the icy roads with my car. The temperatures are forecast to rise to the freezing point around noon and I may try to venture out with my camera and see if any of the neighborhood wildlife creatures are active. I’m be careful, though, because I am very conscious of the fact that the winter snow can be dangerous as well as being beautiful.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Beautiful photos but I’m glad we don’t have that snow. Take care if you go out with your camera.
Wow this is nice❤️💙
That’s a big storm by any measure, more so for your area. Stay safe… hope it melts soon.
Gorgeous! We had 2 flakes that melted immediately. Maybe we will have snow on Thursday?
I am glad that you are safe and sound and that none of your property was damaged.
The snow is so beautiful and we are slowly recovering, but in this area it takes a while to do so. Schools are still closed and most local governments are providing only limited services. The major roads are clear, but most neighborhoods are still messy, due in part to refreezing of snow melt at night, which makes morning driving especially treacherous.
I hope your area recovers quickly and that there was not much awful damage done.
Stay safe Mike. I agree that venturing out in such weather is not always wise.
Thanks, Suzette. I am staying put for the moment, though I have been walking about the neighborhood. Even then, I am trying to be careful, because there are lots of icy patches. I have lots of warm clothes and insulate boots, so I enjoy being outdoors even when it is cold. I feel a lot less confident, though, driving in these conditions and prefer to keep my car parked for now.
All very wise plans Mike. Cheers. Stay safe.😊
Wonderful photos and of course I’m very glad and relieved the trees/branches didn’t do actual harm. Great the power actually stayed on! The car looks surprised! Look after yourself 🙂
Thanks, Liz. My car has been cleared of snow and is shining again in all of its coppery glory. Clean-up efforts continue, but most schools remain closed because the long bus routes for students take them into neighborhoods that are still icy and dangerous. We may get some melting today as temperatures are finally going to be above freezing, getting to 44 degrees (7 degrees C). However, there is a chance of some additional snow on Thursday night, though “only” an additional one to three inches (3 to 7 cm).
LOVE your gorgeous photos and Benjamin would love the choice of color for your car! I must admit to having had a wee bit of envy about the snowfall forecast (less than was actually received) as ours was only for snow showers with no accumulation. I was wishing for more and received not a single flake! That did lessen to appreciation instead as the humongous snow caused so much devastation and hardship for many people in several states. I suppose I would be wise to remember Aesop’s Fable : “Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
Thanks, Ellen. My KIA Soul is Ignition Orange in color, at least that is what KIA called it. It is a coppery orange that I really like and it is really easy to find in a parking lot. There are lots of horror stories of people who were stranded on I-95 south of where I live for 15 hours by the snowstorm and people who lost their power. The beauty of the snow is undeniable, but it can also be dangerous. For that reason, I am super cautious when snow is forecast and do my best to stay off of the roads. Even now I am reluctant to venture out in my car, especially in the early morning when the ice melt from the previous day has often refrozen. Aesop was a wise man–I used to love to read his fables.
It looks so pretty!
The snow, I find, is especially pretty when it first falls, when it is pure and white and covers everything with a simple beauty.
That is so true. A friend told me about someone who came to Canada in early spring and asked why we had “all that rubble” piled up on the side of all our roads. LOL That “rubble” was pure white snow at one point.
Wow, serious amount of snow.
For us, it is a lot and the snow is hanging on as temperatures stay close to the freezing mark. We have had some melting occur during the day, but then it freezes up overnight, making early morning driving especially treacherous.
When I see photos like this I can get pretty darned nostalgic for the snow I lived in the midst of for years. Then I remember: shoveling, frozen door locks, driveways blocked by the snowplows… None of that mattered when I was a kid, of course!
I grew up in Massachusetts and was used to lots of snow. Somehow it didn’t seem to be a problem–I remember having fun in the snow building snowmen and sledding. As an adult, it is harder for me to think of snow as fun–it usually means extra work. I am careful, though, to take breaks when shoveling, because I remember every year hearing of people who overexerted themselves and brought on heart attacks. Now that I am retired and don’t have to worry about commuting, however, there is a whole lot less stress associated with snow. So yesterday, I was able to have my own kind of fun, trudging through the snow, looking for birds to photograph. I may be a little old for sledding, but I can still have fun. 🙂
Nice. I want snow in NYC.
The snow is really pretty and I too love it, but it makes for some pretty hazardous going if you have to be out in it.
Wonderful photos, Mike. I’m glad you got out before it was cleared, although your car looks like it’s waiting for you to get busy. We’ve been reading about the horrible traffic near DC.
Thanks, Dan. I am one of those guys who likes to shovel multiple times as the snow is falling. I like to get a headstart on it, especially when the initial snow is as wet and heavy as it was this time around. So I was out shoveling my stairs and sidewalk three or four separate times. As for my car, I waited for the snow to stop before tackling it. It is now completely clear, but I probably will hold off on going anywhere for another day or two. The neighborhood roads are still a bit icy and I figure that I don’t need to take any unnecessary risks. There was a huge problem on part of I-95 south of where I live that stranded folks for 15 hours or more. People in the DC area are not used to driving in the snow and we don’t enough snow removal equipment to handle it, so I tend to be super cautious when we do have snow, which has been a rare occurrence the last few years.
My wife drives a Soul. I’ve always wondered about those low-profile tires in the snow. I don’t think she’s ever had it out in the snow – she usually makes me drive at that point.
I have driven it in the snow before and it does ok, though I do recall a fun time when I gave it a little too much gas when going around a traffic circle and ended up fishtailing like crazy. Fortunately there was not much traffic.
Up here in Gaithersburg, we got only a fraction of what you got–maybe 2 inches? I’m jealous!
You may get yours on Thursday night when the next storm hits. From what I have seen this time the larger accumulations will be north of the city. 🙂
On verra bien!
Oui. On ne sait jamais ce qui va se passer, surtout quand il s’agit de la neige dan notre région. 🙂