Back in 1994, January, when we had snow then two days later ice - Houston was shut down. We had an INCH of snow. All the Texan's thought we northerners were stupid and risking a terrible death driving around in an inch of snow. I remember the flash rain storms that would wet down the streets in an instant then be gone. The roads were covered with mud and oil that was not washed off the streets. Having driven on ice, nothing could scare me. Nothing except those flash rain storms and slick roads that you COULDN'T stop and COULDN'T go. I'll take the ice over the oily mud any day.

 

I blame the Canadians. Every weather map I look at shows me another "Arctic Blast" coming down from where? Where's Max Headroom?

Winter was not all that bad till late December. Around here we have seen very little sunlight, everything is shades of grey. My neighbor just plowed our drive. His motorcycle is beside mine in my garage so he always plows for us. Last year I wired his house and we brought in new service.

Ron

Maybe Trump got a hold of a marking pen again?

 

A lot of people are without power and natural gas is being rationed. I thought this is a good time to remind everyone to have a carbon monoxide detector on and working.

My furnace heat exchanger opened up over Christmas and my single, 20+ year old CO detector saved my life. My daughter and I were starting a movie when it went off. I didn’t believe it at first and thankfully had another one still in the package to fire up for verification. We saw numbers around 200ppm, which are very serious and might have killed us overnight! Had to shut off the furnace and sleep elsewhere that night, and then tough out a couple cold days before the repair could be made.

Make sure your detector is working and don’t do something stupid to warm your house.

I'm so blessed here. Guess I shouldn't be complaining we haven't seen enough snow. I'm one of the lucky ones it seems.

 

We had a once in forever snow back in 87 I think it was. A good 8" of the good fluffy stuff. Bubba and the boys got all kinda excited never having seen such a thing before and tried to go as fast as they could before spinning the steering wheel and see how many times they could spin the pickup truck around before it went into the ditch. All the roads except I-95 were closed for 4 days but I had a 4WD Bronco with big mud tires that didn't mind the snow a bit so I just drove around the barricades and kept going wherever I wanted to. 17 miles of pristine untouched snow-covered roads and the only one who could drive in it.

 

A lot of people are without power and natural gas is being rationed. I thought this is a good time to remind everyone to have a carbon monoxide detector on and working.

My furnace heat exchanger opened up over Christmas and my single, 20+ year old CO detector saved my life. My daughter and I were starting a movie when it went off. I didn’t believe it at first and thankfully had another one still in the package to fire up for verification. We saw numbers around 200ppm, which are very serious and might have killed us overnight! Had to shut off the furnace and sleep elsewhere that night, and then tough out a couple cold days before the repair could be made.

Make sure your detector is working and don’t do something stupid to warm your house.

Very good time. Every year we read about families found dead as a result of trying to improvise heat. Open flames in closed spaces. Can't say enough about carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

Wow, rationing natural gas? We heat with natural gas and it fuels my main generator which I can easily switch to propane but I would hate to lose my natural gas supply. Worst case I have my old gasoline powered generator.

Ron

 

Woke to 2 + inches this morning, expecting tomorrow and it lightens up on Thurs, then more for the rest of the week. I knew it might hit us eventually, good for the snow pack and water levels, driving not so much, the wife drives to work at her school, she has an opportunity to work closer about a 1/2 mile away it’s not on the bench where it gets hit hard, she has a good SUV Lexus 330 that is good in snow if you have good tires, luckily their new. I’m good here a work from home, today and yesterday was and will be calls from Customers without Power or experiencing rolling black outs that don’t understand why their control panels batteries aren’t lasting more than 2 to 5 hrs. Stay safe ya’ll.


kv

 

About 50 miles north of @killivolt got about 3 to 4 inches overnight. BIG storm!

 

Woke this morning at about 8:00 AM and nowhere near what was expected. Apparently the bulk of it shifted west so the west side got the foot or so we were expecting. Looks to be getting brighter outside. All in all only two maybe 3 inches of new snow. The roads look good and the outside air temp is about 18 F.

Ron

 

lol, somebody stole my waders, purchased them to do concrete adding to my driveway, went to brush the wife’s car off no where to be found inside or outside, I only have 3 default locations. Poof, I hope the person that stole them gets more use out of them than I did, I really didn’t like them the cheap Wallmart boot the steel toe wasn’t comfortable. I’ll get some later to muck in the mud when I begin my yard in spring.

kv

 

Meanwhile in Florida.

 

I should be in the Caribbean about now.

Ron

 

I blame the Canadians. Every weather map I look at shows me another "Arctic Blast" coming down from where? Where's Max Headroom?
Winter was not all that bad till late December. Around here we have seen very little sunlight, everything is shades of grey.
Ron

One consolation here is we have the most hours a day of sunshine than any other major Canadian city, average 316 days/yr.

 

I am sorry about the Arctic outflow

Here we had an unbelievable week with record low temperatures of up to -10 celcius with windchill to -20. You have to remember I live on a coast where we are sheltered from brutal cold by mountains that trap ocean moisture. Winter is generally above 0. It snowed a little and I have never seen snow this dry in my life. It is not normal on the coast. Real fine powder.

Ski hill was closed for 3 days - 2 days due to cold weather and then due to the wind.

Further inland it is brutal cold and there have been a few instances of people freezing to death.

For myself, it was a welcome reprieve from eternal rain...

 

Overcast and about 55 degrees. I have been out on my bicycle, a bit cool but If I wear my tights it’s fine. Now sitting in the park watching the disc golfers. I had to write this to make all the Californians who moved to Texas feel bad. Lot’s of Californians moving that way or so I’ve heard. I don’t think there’s any safe place. Just take care of yourself wherever you are.

 

Sad local storm story.

Divers find car, body in river at Glenn Jackson Bridge | kgw.com

 

Pretty sad, you have to feel for them.

Ron

 

Snowing lightly, here. Snow is forecast for the next 36 hours. Light until noon on Friday.

We’re expected to get 6-8” overall.

 

Pretty sad, you have to feel for them.

Ron

These are the guys that actually searched and found the car for the family.

The Sheriff dive team recovered the body.

 

I had considered wintering in TX in my motorhome, but the forecast in December looked rather chilly, so I opted for the Tampa Bay, FL area. I'm certainly glad that I am here!

My motorhome is not rated for the low temperatures that Texas is currently experiencing. I would have my water, grey and black tanks frozen solid, which would be a disaster, as the expansion during freezing would destroy them.

I feel terrible for all of the suffering being experienced by those in the unexpectedly cold conditions, and without power, heat or water.

I see that Wendy hasn't posted since February 2nd. Has anyone been in contact with her? I am concerned for her health and welfare.

[Edited to add]
Briefly spoke with Wendy; so she is indeed alive but occupied with a project at the moment. I was relieved that she sounded chipper!

 

False Spring here in Coastal GA. Temp has climbed into the 90's Dogwood trees and Azaleas about to bloom. Still some cold snaps to come but thoughts start to look forward to offshore trolling for Kingfish once the seawater temp climbs into the 70s. Currently 57F @ Gray's Reef Buoy so still a while off, maybe by May.