Wednesday, January 16, 2008

What's this white stuff?


Guess what, ya'll? We're getting some snow here in the deep south! This is a rare event in Atlanta. Yup, last week it was in the mid-70s and now it is 33F and snowing. Those Adirondack chairs now have a nice even coating of about a quarter of an inch. I went ahead and took the picture earlier because it was getting dark and there is no guarantee it will still be there tomorrow. We're pretty close to the snow/sleet line and they say we will get freezing rain overnight. Joy.

I predict an outbreak of widespread panic and general freakoutery, both tonight in the grocery stores and tomorrow during the morning commute.

19 comments:

LL said...

I expect pictures of all the carnage.

fermicat said...

I'll try to oblige, but I hope it isn't my crunched up car I have to post.

Jeni said...

Oh ho! That beautiful, fluffy, puffy white stuff that wreaks havoc when just threatening to arrive! I'm thanking my lucky stars here for many things so far this winter that we have had very little snow or freezing rain for openers and then too because even if we do, I don't HAVE to get up, go out and shovel and then try to drive 35-40 miles over two obnoxious mountains to go to work! Yay, yay! About the only real benefit to aging!

fermicat said...

I had my share of snow when I lived in New England. It was pretty, but you still had to go to work and it was a lot of extra trouble.

Our snow has turned to freezing rain. It will probably be an icy mess tomorrow morning. Can't wait. :rolleyes:

fermicat said...

Now it's just rain. But we'll take it.

LL said...

Hey... water's water.

Natalie said...

It must be frustrating for you as a former New Englander to deal with the widespread panic associated with 1/4" of snow. I think I'd go postal.

Minnesotablue said...

I love it! Coming from Minnesota, I would just love that wee bit of snow. I do know that folks that aren't familiar with snow tend to panic. Drive safely

tiff said...

We had a dusting last night. By morning it was alllll rain.

Daggone it.

fermicat said...

ll - that's true. We need it in whatever form it decides to be.

magnetbabe - I grew up in Atlanta, so I am southerner. Those years I lived in New England taught me about snow, but none of it feels natural to me.

minnesotablue - the panic, especially in the grocery stores, cracks me up! You'd think people were anticipating being stuck for days without being able to leave their homes. Driving is more dangerous here. We don't get much accumulation, but we also don't have the resources to get the streets taken care of so many of them remain slick. Pair that up with thousands of inexperienced winter drivers and you have a recipe for one helluva mess.

tiff - same here. I was sorry to see the rain take over. It would have been nice to get a snow day! Plus, you know, it's just pretty.

Kathleen said...

LOL! I love how the South freaks out over a quarter inch of snow, buying up bread and eggs and water. I don't think we even stress over a foot in that way. I hate driving in it, but it certainly doesn't get me to the grocery store.

You won't crunch your car, you lived in MA for awhile. You know how to drive in it.

Kathleen said...

But doesn't it all melt the next day for the most part?

The trick to driving in snow is to SLOW down. I know you know it, but perhaps you could have GA DOT put it on the highway signs. Hell, we get that on our signs, which sadly is necessary because everybody in SUVs forget that at some point they need to stop those behemoths and nothing stops on ice.

fermicat said...

The driving was fine this morning. Which is a good thing, because Atlantans do not slow down for any reason, period.

Yeah, southerners freak out over snow and ice in a big way. But I have also seen a laughable amount of panic over very high temp/humidity in New England. Every region has their comfort zone and their unfamiliar extremes.

Dave said...

Don't laugh at us. The flakes last night were big and fluffy and pretty. This morning there was a bit of ice on top of the car and a spot or two on the grass. The best of all worlds.

LL said...

No carnage? Crap. There's always next time...

Kathleen said...

Oh, here in MI we get the best of both worlds - the snow and the excessive heat/humidity.

And I wasn't dissing the South, I'm actually jealous of your snow days. We can get a foot and I still have to go to work.

fermicat said...

dave - very pretty! I didn't mind being stuck in traffic that afternoon because I enjoyed watching the big snowflakes fall.

ll - next time may be as early as Saturday.

kat - yes, having to go into work no matter how much snow there was is one of the things I did not like about New England living. Such a pain...

MJW said...

I used to deliver auto parts here in western Nebraska. Not only did I learn how to drive fast on snow-covered slick roads, I was able to do it safely and efficiently (IMHO ;-). Even worse than that, my 1979 Mustang had wide tires with very subtle "designer" treads (ha). It was like driving an air-hockey puck on an air-hockey table.

Winter driving in town is easy. Driving during winter weather in the country, especially at night, is very nerve wracking.

Debo Blue said...

Snow. Snow. Snow? Being a native Arizonan and never seeing snow fall until my mid thirties, I can only hunch my shoulders.

Now when it gets 115-120, then we can talk weather!

Anyway, I dream of landing in a cottage or cabin surrounded by snow. Maybe one day.

Is it still snowing?