Careful What You Ask For

The 1942 Case Tractor

 

The weather forecasts through December and January kept saying Snow Showers. And on those days we would get an inch or two. I wanted more. I wanted snow up to a Labradoodle's chest.

Magique hunting voles

It would take at least that to keep us from sinking more into the drought and cause us to face another wildfire. And then it appeared in the NOAA forecast: Snow Shower, Snow Shower, and SNOW. Capitals are mine. But we got approximately eight inches combined from the two days of Snow Showers. And 18 on the day it called for SNOW.

Wasn't over yet

That was last week. I figured that was our freak weather event and we would slide back to La Nina weather of Snow Showers. But this Wednesday the Tuesday snow began early and stayed late. Melding into the major winter storm Olive. Unfortunately it was also a severe wind event. And included warnings for another possible Snow Squall like last winter. Snow Squall is the mountain equivalent of a straight wind tornado. With the 50 to 70 mph gusts of wind through the day I cannot say how much snow we got or where the snow we got went. We had periods of extremely heavy snow and complete white outs for hours.

What was left on the Deck

A careful examination would say 6 to 8 inches. But the front walk says ten. Snow SHOWERS today and Sunday. SNOW on Sunday night. It is beginning to look as if La Nina has ebbed and El Nino is taking her place. Which leaves us with the question of "is it enough yet" for the snowpack to ease the drought. I have had enough shoveling to be frank. And I could live the rest of my life without another Severe Wind Event. Once is enough on Snow Squalls.