White Christmas (looking for)

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by shades_of_idaho

LOL Somebody SLAP me!! Did I say I was loving the snow.


Chris

I hear ya Chris. I'm thinking the same thing in our neck of the woods, although we've not caught up with you.

The irony? Farmer's Almanac caled for a drier warmer winter

[shades_of_idaho]

JustinFromBoise,

We are in Cambridge Idaho. Intesection Hwy 95 and Hwy 71 . Come on up and see. You are not all that far.LOL

And YES it is snowing again this morning. Only another inch so far. LOL I am starting to get silly over this. Well we have a snowmobile. Wished we lived in Weippe or Pierce. Up there they let peeps ride their snowmobiles and four wheelers to town and the police look the other way. So cool!!! I Would LOVE that since we have both. Course then Hubby would have to get me my OWN snowmobile and fourwheeler so we would not argue over who gets to to to town for the mail. Heheheh

Well really it is not so bad. Yesterday the wind blew which is unusal for this time of year. The snow was just right to drift in the wind. Consistancy like granulated sugar. COLD granulated sugar. This closed off our drive with crotch deep drifts. If there had not been the wind we would not have had a problem at all. After 8 inches of overnight snow hubby drove right out at 3AM to go plow in Midvale yesterday. He just could not get back in when he got home.

I think I am going to ask for a blade for the four wheeler. Then I can putz around here with it while he is off plowing in Midvale. WE have a LONG driveway. Too much to shovel all by hand. This would turn the job into FUN!!! Heheheh

Bye now I must go shovel off the walks.

Chris

[Mtn. States Resident]

What I find interesting about all of this, is how the La Nina (I can't write that correctly - sorry) effect is being soooooooooooo generous with the snow this year. Eastern Idaho's snow pack is up, same with northern and northeastern UT, as well as other western states (like WY), we all need the water from the snowpack.

Cleosmom is funny about what the F.A. predicted for this year.

Which becomes more scientific, F.A. or the forecast?

Ok, let me rephrase that: How are each of you enjoying finding out your own forecast each day? It seems to me that storms appear out of nowhere and some don't appear as predicted.

As some say, welcome to life in the Rockies. I believe it is a little more extreme this year, but always interesting. But, since I enjoy the green grass, not worrying how farmers will water crops, and the many benefits of clean running water, I look forward to the wonderful reward of this snowpack.

For those not familiar with driving in the area, please make sure to pack some extra supplies in your car (food, blankets, flairs and salt to melt snow - not table salt). Often it isn't you involved in an accident; however, waiting for one to get cleared so you can travel over a road or mountain pass etc. can take hours. I'm not saying it always takes hours, but better to be prepared for the worst case possible and have the time be minimal, from my POV.

If you have little ones, you might want to consider packing some games or at least books/crayons/paper let alone snacks etc. If you have teens - you might just find their homework "hiding" in the vehicle. What a surprise for them. Teens need their own ways to focus on activities and/or homework so a delay isn't more stressful than needed. Time spent waiting is always easier for most of us, if we are able to do something we like. And don't teens always like snacks too?

Rarely do delays like these happen, especially in the metro area. There are a few roads that the probability of a delay is greater. However, a MP3 or CD with earphones is rumored to have saved many friendships let alone family relationships.

What do you think are good supplies to pack for those little delays than can turn into emergencies for those not prepared?

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by Mtn. States Resident

What do you think are good supplies to pack for those little delays than can turn into emergencies for those not prepared?

If you're leaving the city limits at all, havea full tank of gas! Nothing worse than if you were to slide off or be held up and risk running out of gas.

Layered clothing always a must, along with things MSR mentioned; flares, snacks etc. etc. Make certain you also carry gloves if you don't wear them normally and a hat. Heat leaves out of the top of the head and well frost bite is no fun.

The picture we're painting is of course in an extreme situation, not meaning to panic anyone.

To follow the weather I use Idaho news 8 on TV and online I use Weather Underground. They most often seem to be spot on.

[shades_of_idaho]

Heheheh Cleosmom Hope you have your mittens on and staying warm.

Cold over this direction this morning. House feels great and I did not even bother to put on a jacket to go out and take this picture but it is a bit nippy out there. I do not think this is the place for Canine*castle. They are talking snow on the way. Will warm things up.

Chris

Picture taken 8:15 AM 1-24-08

[cleosmom]

LOL Hey Shades, you've got it colder than us and well let's say I'll be polite and let ya keep it

We're supposed to warm up to above zero and get some rain/snow/rain???

[Lacerta]

Originally Posted by shades_of_idaho

LOL Does anyone still have the old McCall Snow Joke that went around several years ago about the couple that moved to McCall and their first lovely snow storm. Progressing into a nightmare.???


Chris

I think this is the one you are looking for

Diary of a Snow Shoveler

or you can google for "Diary of a Snow Shoveler"

[twinprism]

I get perplexed hearing about all the IF people talk about what winter we are having. You have a a lot of snow on the ground, but so far this has only been an average or slightly below average water year. Only difference is it has been colder and the precip. has not melted or come as rain as much. Outside of a few pockets, snowpack is below average this year.

Here's a report for most major basins that back this up.
Idaho SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report

Also, it is mostly always about 5-10 degrees warmer in Pocatello that I.F. that span often falls on opposite sides of the freezing mark which makes for less snow on the roads and in town in Pocatello even though in an average year, we get more snowfall, especially on the benches. For instance I only have 2 inches of snow in my yard and the roads have been melted off even in residential neighborhoods all week. All my IF friends complain about the amount of snow they have piled up and the roads. The trade off? All the times crossing the freezing mark every day really tears up our roads in Pocatello so we have some nasty potholes in the spring.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by twinprism

I get perplexed hearing about all the IF people talk about what winter we are having. You have a a lot of snow on the ground, but so far this has only been an average or slightly below average water year. Only difference is it has been colder and the precip. has not melted or come as rain as much. Outside of a few pockets, snowpack is below average this year.

I could be wrong, I'm thinking the folks from IF that might be alarmed at the amount of snow are the newcomers? I can tell you that we've not seen this amount (that sticks around) in a good number of years. Perhaps we've had the Pokey system in years past, where in town it's snowed and then pretty much melted and we tend to think there's not as much.

[twinprism]

Cleosmom,

I think the main difference this year to the past few years is that it has been colder for a long period of time and the snow has stuck around, as you say. Couple that with a couple good storms and we actually have a winter. I for one wouldn't mind seeing a real winter, but I do like it when it snows in the mountains and rains in the valleys because it make for nice driving. In Poky, we've got a few storms but it mostly melted. It was completely melted yesterday before the new storm this morning. It took me almost half an hour to get my kids to school and get to work today because people seems to have forgotten how to drive on ice. I love my snow tires..