It isn't easy to forecast the weather up here in the mountains. As of this morning, every weather prognosticator said we'd only get a dusting of snow. I took this photo of my friend Bo with her horse at 3 pm. As you can see, it is beginning to flurry and the afternoon sun is barely peeking through diffused clouds. It is now 4:45 pm and we are in a what I would not describe as a blizzard, but it is freaking white outside. I've sent out the mass "I'm a worried mother" text message to my husband and children and instructed them to come up with an acceptable plan to return safely to the fold. I sent them a pix message of our gravel road to show them I wasn't joking that the road is already covered. To flatlanders up north: I realize snow covered roads ain't such a big deal, but we have significant gravity issues (ie- hills) to deal with up here in the mountains. It is like comparing apples to oranges, trust me. I've done had this conversation with yankee relatives who never believe me until they get stuck in our snow. So, gonna go run and take a blizzard photo for you so you can see what I'm talking about....I suspect it'll look just like the White Album.
***Update***
5:50 pm- Blessed husband is stuck in snowy traffic while carting four teenage girls to spend the night at our home. It has already been 45 minutes and he isn't even to Rock Crusher Hill. I'm thinking I should greet him home with a stiff drink and a hot meal. Ahhh....winter.
***Encore Update***
6:24 pm- Husband still in truck with now 5 teenagers (a friend was stranded). Just passed Wendy's intersection. Listening to scanner--many wrecks--slippery roads--bad situation.
**Update**
7:17 pm--Now 6 teenagers and one adult expected to take refuge at house....Storm caught everyone by surprise--rush hour storms are the worst because traffic blocks salt and snow plow vehicles from grooming the roadway. Husband w/his load at top of Rock Crusher Hill. A precarious perch... As reference, normal drivetime from Boone to our home is 7-15 minutes.
7:21 pm.- 10 degrees, gusts up to 45 mph. Madly doing laundry, cleaning baths for guests. Especially since water will probably freeze tonight :-(
8:06: Adult refugee here. She is thankfully drinking chardonnay. Her children are in at the Boone Firestation for the evening. My husband and children still not home. It is a cluster out there. Complete black ice on roadways with whiteout warnings. I have a mess of food ready and waiting for them...
9:24 p.m.- All is well. Sigh. Yo thanx!
