Of Floods and Blizzards

Minneapolis has been shut down by a 20-inch snowfall that collapsed the roof of the Metrodome and forced the Vikings-Giants game to be moved to Monday night in Detroit. (watch the roof collapse from inside the Metrodome here)

Mid-North Indiana was hit by a slightly less dramatic snowstorm, delaying my nephews and niece's school start by two hours tomorrow.

Meanwhile, we are in the midst of flooding here in the Pacific Northwest. After cold, snow & ice during Thanksgiving week that closed schools, temperatures warmed up into the balmy 50s, and the rain started pouring last night. Ramps to highways were flooded, streets in Seattle temporarily closed, rivers are over floodstage and rising, and mudslides (trees included!) are everywhere. (see photos of flooding here)

The big question now of course is: Will there be school tomorrow? I'm sure school officials are hoping the water starts receding quickly, and with just a couple of detours they can have school. Not to mention all the parents who want to not have to worry about arranging day care for their children while they are expected to head off to work. Most of the districts around us will have school as usual. But ours, and at least another, will be watching road reports very carefully tonight.

Snowpocalypse or Merely a Winter Storm?

It's being called a "Snowpocalypse" in Washington state. The snow and cold temperatures that moved in Monday brought 3-12 inches of snow and sub-freezing temperatures that Tuesday night plunged into the low teens, very cold for Washington at any time of the year.

But really, we've seen this before, even if drivers and city & county snow removal people are shocked and unable to deal with it. It was one 20-hr period of snow that produced about half a foot of snow or less in most parts of the county. We had that two years ago, but instead of once, it seemed to happen daily for a couple of weeks. Temperatures have stayed below freezing, and gotten very cold. We had that last year, for a week.

As of Tuesday night, the highways are in pretty good shape, and the secondary roads are starting to get cleared. But even where they haven't been, people in snow tires seem to get along pretty well. Obvously it helped that people pretty much stayed off the roads today unless they had to get out. Wednesday it will start to warm up and by the end of the week temperatures even overnight will be above freezing. And rain will be back.

Eventually, folks around here will stop claiming that "it never gets cold" and "when it snows it's just a couple of inches and it melts right away."

Sure it was a significant storm for us. But a Snowpocoalypse? Hardly. Just a friendly welcome to a La Nina winter.

Of Snow and Puppies

Yes, it finally snowed.

A mere dusting? Perhaps. Quick melting? Of course. But the snow fell often enough to get the kids outside and the snow gear soaking wet from the wet grass.

Oh. And one of our neighbor's dogs had puppies. 11 of them.

11!!

Apparently they are planning on selling them for $800 apiece. (Good luck with that.)

Interesting story. The dog belongs to the son of our neighbors. He and his wife, who just had a baby last summer, are living with the 'rents for now while they save money to buy a house. But that's not the interesting part.

Before they moved in, one of the conditions was supposed to be that they have their female puppy spayed. Looks like that didn't happen, and they're breeding the dog instead. I do know that as long as they live there, the puppies will have a good environment; it's a household of pets all of which are loved and cared for.

But 11? As my husband remarked, "Can you imagine 11 puppies peeing and pooping?"

One thing is for certain: We aren't taking one of them. For now, one dog is plenty!

But the snow is beautiful.

Snow

It's snowing in the pass. I know, because the smell of snow is in the air.

This statement often conjurs up the scene from "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" when the kidnapped girls scream and start an avalanche.

But tonight, La Nina has moved in, and it is snowing in Snoqualmie Pass, causing periodic road closures. This is news, because through the pass is how people get from Seattle to Spokane.

But more importantly, snow is in the forecast for us here in the lowlands for the weekend. Last winter snow was almost non-existent. But this year, since September, dire forecasts have come our way: "Harsh winter! La Nina! Batten down the hatches!" However, things have been quieter than normal. Average rainfall, a nice stretch of 60s in mid-October, and no flooding (yet).

So not only is there the usual excitement and anticipation for snow (boots & snow clothes are selling like hotcakes!), but a little tinge of dread is behind it all: Will we get piles of snow? Will Seattle shut down for the two weeks surround Christmas like it did two years ago? Where did I put my warm gloves?

Only time will tell. But for now, my 11-year-old is excited at the prospect that it will snow on her birthday.