Winter's Last Stand: Round 1

WHEN: February 5-6, 2010 WHERE: Virginia It's the beginning of February. It's the dead of winter. It should be no surprise, then, that snow would be in the forecast. And yes, I hate to beat the drum of another "all-about-winter post" but this weather is out of control and I feel like I need to call it out - because we all know that sulking in our meteorological miseries will cause the winter guilt and the snow to stop falling. Lately, our weekends (especially areas north) have become a guessing game of "how much snow will fall?" and a test on local stores and governments ability to prepare for the unexpected; the uncommon; the unwelcomed. Stace said she heard this past week that The state's $79 million budget for snow removal was expended last weekend - on one snow storm!the state's $79 million budget for snow removal was expended last weekend - on one snow storm! While that can be interpreted many ways, one thing is for sure; not many Virginians were expecting another (worse) round just 7 days later. And what makes it worse is not only the amount of snow but the fact that the last of last weekend's snow had just melted in the rain Friday here in Virginia Beach, RIGHT before the snow came again on Saturday. Recall last Sunday,

Then yesterday,1:30p.m.

5:30p.m.

I admit, I have not paid close attention to this most recent storm that has blanketed Virginia and much of the mid-Atlantic. Ninety-nine percent of my attention this weekend has been devoted to setting up my ("our") brand new computer that was delivered Thursday. In fact, as I type, our internet connection is currently unavailable so any amount of research on this storm is not happening. But I am getting to use "our" new computer (I am typing in Word), so I am still happy. What I do know is that somewhere between 3-4ft. of snow has fallen in the mountains of West Virginia and nearly 30" in most of northern Virginia, Maryland, and the DC area. Friday morning I began hearing the reports that this could be "The Storm of the Century". I was skeptical. But as I have been out of the loop this weekend, I don't know how bad it actually was. Leta and Jay got nearly 24" up in Fredericksburg, VA, which is barely 100 miles north of us. Here, we only got a dusting. The snow didn't even stick to the pavement and less than an inch accumulated on the grass and roofs. By 6p.m. Saturday the snow had finished falling in Virginia Beach. If that is "The Storm of the Century" then I am unimpressed. But I am also thankful. I have no desire to see snow outside the window of my place of residence. If it's not December and I'm not home in Iowa, snow need not exist.

US snow cover as of February 7

Mid Atlantic snow cover as of February 7

So, even though we have escaped relatively unscathed this weekend, I am not holding my breath for a snow-free season for the remainder of winter here. The past two weekends have shown just how ugly winter can be and how awful the months of January and February are. The 10-day forecast still does not have us above 45° here, football season is over (in about 15 minutes), and roses are about $80/dozen just in time for Valentine's Day! Someone please tell me what the redeeming qualities are of this time of year. I really do owe Stace a floral arrangement though, but she's gonna have to wait at least another week :) Whether this is winter's last stand this season remains to be seen. I am hoping there is no Round 2. I am hoping it is 80° next weekend. I am hoping that the Colts turn around this imminent loss. But all that isn't going to happen. I will just continue to wet the fibers of my seasonal Kleenex with the tears of sorrow that so assuredly come with winter. This is life. This is winter. PS-My next blog will NOT be about weather. I hope.