Winter Storms in the South -- Ready?

[JewelFreak]

Snow already on the ground, predictions here (waaaayy southern NC) anywhere from 2" to 6", which is a big fat laugh to a girl who grew up in Rochester NY, but worse to come: ice. Supposed to have sleet & freezing rain this afternoon & overnight, at least 1/4" of ice. 8 yrs ago they were without power for 5 days in an ice storm. No heat, no water, ack! We would be able to cook at least on our gas stove.

Temps all week predicted to be 20 at night & low 30s daytime, gonna put on the snowsuit! Of course, one dog MUST go to the vet this a.m. & 2 million errands for stuff we forgot, like batteries & firewood.

Will fill both bathtubs & laundry sink so we have water to flush toilets, just in case. Gallons of drinking water in the garage -- if we keep electricity, we'll be drinking it forever!

I am most concerned about bursting pipes. Insulation in southern houses is not equal to cold like this on an extended basis. The only ones who will love this are my Siberians -- some 2-dog nights comin' up!

Who else is in the freezer down here???

--- Laurie

 

[April20]

I'm in ATL. I'm not sure how much snow we got, but it's a bit. I'm right in the city, so usually I end up missing out on accumulation, but not this time. I woke earlier this morning to the sound of freezing rain. Lovely. It's supposed to keep that up most of today. The news website said it's not supposed to get above freezing until noon tomorrow- 40 for the high, I think, but then it's back down to a high of 29 on Wednesday. I just hope enough melts Tuesday afternoon to not keep us like this all week.

 

[yennyfire]

I'm in the suburbs of ATL and I'd say we got about 3-4 inches, plus the layer of sleet. Thank goodness I listened to the forecast and bought snow gear for the kids so that they can go outside and play. Last year, I had to wrap their shoes and mittens in plastic grocery bags to keep them from getting wet!

Laurie, I lived in Rochester (Fairport and Irondequoit) for 9 years! The snow is definitely a different experience up there, lol!

We do a lot of the same stuff you do...we keep all of our faucets on a dribble just to keep them from freezing....

 

[ksinger]

LOL! You guys are making us here in Oklahoma, look like laid-back snow experts, and that's saying something. You'd think it was an impending ice-age coming down there.

I wish we'd get some of that snow. But I DO NOT envy anyone the ice. We get those more than snow, and they can be a total thrash.

Stay warm guys!! And stay OFF that ice!

 

[dragonfly411]

The rain literally DROPPED in here in FL. I went into class, and it was mildly overcast. 15 mins later lightning hit the school. No joke.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Schools are closed where I live in NC today. The snow has actually gotten heavier than this morning. Wonder what tomorrow will bring. DD can't wait to get out there and play.

 

[princesss]

Schools are closed where I live in NC today. The snow has actually gotten heavier than this morning. Wonder what tomorrow will bring. DD can't wait to get out there and play.

T, I'm sitting in my office watching the snow and swearing. All I wanted to do was have a snow day. This is what I get for working with a bunch of Northerners.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

P, I can't believe they didn't close your office today! Are they closing early? I think they are worried about all the ice that is suppose to come as it gets colder.

 

[princesss]

I think since my department can work remotely we might be able to leave at lunch and work from home today and tomorrow. *crosses fingers*

 

[JewelFreak]

Yeah, we do make you Oklahomans look like pros. I get a chuckle out of the panic at an inch of snow. But driving around an hour ago was spooky -- roads aren't plowed or sanded, I think this city has one plow to its name. Also -- cars have only summer tires. Which I discovered when I hit an icy spot at 35 & suddenly had no control, almost went into a gully in the woods. No builder in the north would put in a driveway on the hill mine is; of course usually it's no problem. Couldn't get the car up when I got home.

Yenny -- no kidding! I grew up in Pittsford. Lived in a wonderful 150-yr-old house in the village. I'm going back for a high school reunion this summer. I miss northern NY state fall very much every year. But not winter!!! How about you?

Hope you Atlantans get home ok. I'm surprised you're open too. Most stores & businesses here are closed. Hang onto your electricity!!

--- Laurie

 

[yennyfire]

What a small world! I did my counseling internship at Pittsford Sutherland HS and then worked at Irondequoit HS for a couple of years before moving closer to my family (here in Atlanta). Well, we have just spent the past 3 hours sledding down our neighbor's driveway (it is really steep, which for that purpose, is perfect...not so much for them being able to get out of their driveway anytime soon!)....the kids had a blast, as it was the first time they've ever sledded in their short little lives (they are 4 and 6)...now we're inside having soup and hot cocoa for lunch! It has been such a fun day, though I'm sure it will be old by the time they go back to school and I'm running out of milk (I bought two gallons on Saturday, btw!)....

Have fun, stay warm and be safe!

 

[JewelFreak]

Small world is right! I went to Sutherland -- our house was on Monroe, just across from the end of Sutherland St. I knew some kids from Irondequoit; we used to play them in basketball. When I was there, Sutherland was the only high school in town.

Sounds like a terrific kid day! One they'll remember all their lives. We're taking my Siberians out to play; they're in heaven. Stay warm & dry, all.

--- Laurie

 

[autumngems]

Well I am right on the coast of NC and it started snowing at 6 this morning and really hasn't stopped. Schools closed and we didn't dare go to work for all the fools not used to snow would be out, (HUbby is from UP of Michigan and I am from Ohio so we are used to it), but here you SAY snow and people swerve off the road. We expect sleet and freezing rain tonight so I imagine no school or work tomorrow either.

 

[autumngems]

JewelFreak and Tacori, where in NC are you?

 

[JewelFreak]

I'm not far from Charlotte, Autumngems. You're in a more fun place. In general, booooring here imho. It started this morning here too & snowed until about an hour ago -- has shifted to light drizzle, which is suppposed to become sleet & freezing rain tonight. Plenty of firewood stored up, yummy leftovers in the fridge to nuke...life's ok as long as the heat holds out. We have about 6" of powder on the ground, great fun for dogs, kids & ME.

Right, idiots on the road. This a.m a nitwit followed me about 3 ft. from my bumper; wanted to stop & ask him if getting there 2 seconds quicker was worth his insurance bill for my potential inuries. It was really slippery. Oh well, inside now. Enjoy!

--- Laurie

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ha! This is funny to have so many NC people on one thread! We live less than an hour NW of Charlotte. We have 5-6 inches of snow. My husband has no fear of snow and went to work this morning..normally a 40 min drive but took him about an hour. We are from the south but lived an hour from Chicago the first few years we were married, so we have seen real snow. But here is dangerous because you just don't buy snow tires and snow plows for the little bit of snow we get here. So it can be dangerous. I've enjoyed it all day from the warmth of my house looking out the windows!!!

 

[zoebartlett]

Tacori -- I hope T. got to play in the snow today.

Princesss -- Will you work from home tomorrow?

Whatever snow you have today must be moving north. We're supposed to get anywhere from 6-12" up here on Wednesday. Snow day!

 

[princesss]

JewelFreak, you should come to our next Charlotte GTG!

Zoe, I'm working from home tomorrow. Hooray for being snuggled in bed enjoying myself. Oh, and working, I guess.

I'm going to take a break from work around sunset and take some pictures. It's gorgeous outside!

 

[Lauren8211]

Why is EVERYONE getting snow but me? I'm in Michigan, and we barely have any!

Good luck with your storm, southerners! Stay safe!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Autumn, I live in Charlotte.

Zoe, oh she did! She loved it. We borrowed a sled from neighbors.

I am hoping for another snow day tomorrow.

 

[yennyfire]

Laurie, you didn't happen to know Leslie McGuidwin did you (she was one of the school counselors there from the mid 80's through at least 1997)? She was my mentor and I love her to pieces! I've lost touch with her over the years, but she remains fondly in my heart!

 

[AGBF]

Tacori -- I hope T. got to play in the snow today.

Princesss -- Will you work from home tomorrow?

Whatever snow you have today must be moving north. We're supposed to get anywhere from 6-12" up here on Wednesday. Snow day!

Time to start our thread!

Deb

 

[Tmissy]

Here in Beantown, the snow machines are gearing up. I am just south of Boston, predictions are 9-12+ All day Wednesday. I work at a college so hoping for a snow day for sure.....

 

[Arkteia]

I wish you all good luck. It is scary to have winterstorms in areas that are not prepared for them. I bet there are now snow movers, no warm coats. On a positive note - kids probably enjoy it, since they have no school and they do not see the snow too often! But jokes aside, I hope that you and your houses will be fine.

I also hope that you do not live in hilly areas - black ice is awful in the hills and mountains.

 

[iluvcarats]

Yennyfire and jewelfreak - You both have more snow than we do here! I'm in Rochester

 

[April20]

I'm still stuck at home here in ATL. The roads are completely iced over and they keep re-freezing. There are only 45 salt trucks/plows for the entire metro area. It's a freaking mess here.

 

[yennyfire]

We're stuck in the suburbs of Atlanta and I'm starting to get concerned that with the weather forecast, we won't have school all week! I don't know if I can stand one more game of Jr. Monopoly or Operation! Aarghhh!! Not to mention that I don't have enough food for more than another day or so...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Oh no Yenny. Looks like it will be sunny here the next few days so hopefully all of our ice will melt. We braved it to the store last night before the temps dropped and turned the slush into ice to stock up just in case. Hope the weather lightens up down there VERY soon.

 

[dragonfly411]

We're prepping up for hard freezes here in FL. I'm seriously considering getting one of those tank heaters for my water troughs. Breaking up the ice hasn't been pleasant this year.

 

[yennyfire]

Thanks Tacori! I'm considering walking to the store (which I hear is open and is only about 2 miles away)...the concern here is that we've been having freezing rain and the temp just got above freezing and the snow is melting, but will turn into ice as the temp drops overnight and the high tomorrow is only supposed to be about 31...the school buses just can't safely get in/out of the neighborhoods right now, so that's why I don't see up having school in the next day or so....however, we have heat and we won't starve, so I'm not complaining!

OK, off to bake some cookies with the kids...they've had about enough of the snow for the day!