Snow perspective

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Record breaking snowfall and a state of emergency declared in every Oklahoma county? Proof that this is indeed the Snowpocalypse!

Bogart enjoys birdwatching from his bench during a typical snowfall.

Governors in Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri have also declared emergency blizzard conditions. But Oklahoma is unique in that just thirty-six hours ago it was 76 degrees outside. A beautiful springlike day. Playing with the kids outside and watching the rabbits frolic and the chickens wallow in the dirt-bath one would never suspect that on the horizon was a blizzard of epic proportions.

Here is a “sticky” snowfall, with lots of accumulation on top of things. It was still only around 6 inches total.

The rumors began to trickle in. A friend who worked for one of the news agencies overheard the weather guys talking in private. One of them was calling his wife to tell her to stock the pantry for several days, as no one would be able to travel for at least three.

Of course this meant that the stores would be depleted of supplies to a ridiculous degree. A quick perusal of local shelves revealed no biscuits, bread, milk, eggs, frozen dinners, or fruit. Specialty cheeses were all that remained in the dairy section. That, and acidophilus milk.

Here is the same view today. Notice that the bench is no longer visible.

We had a bit of snow a week ago Tuesday, and schools were out Wednesday. They will be out again this Wednesday as well.  The trash was not picked up this morning. The buses can’t run. The paper was not delivered- instead there is an online version offered. My son walked to work, which ironically was easier than digging out his car. There were 2 customers. One had a snowmobile.

The red car was close enough to the house to be blocked from all the snow, which reaches level with the hood of the other vehicle.

Tomorrow morning it is supposed to be 2 degrees. That is a 74 degree differential in just 48 hours.

One of the joys of being in blizzard conditions is having the close company of pets who would normally rather be outdoors.

This cat’s expression expresses disgust and disdain at his forced confinement.

Weeds is none too happy about it either.

During the previous snow, even the naked bellied chihuahua went outside to do his business.

I spent a good couple hours digging paths to the animal coops, cages and barn. The paths were already covered by almost 5 inches of snow by midday.


The total inches of snow in Claremore was 20…so far.  This is only 1 1/2 inches less than Chicago’s record snowfall.

Not a single car, truck, plow, or pedestrian has passed through the intersection out front.

Despite the cold, and the presence of birdseed, no birds have been singing outdoors. It is utterly silent.


We were fortunate that there was not a layer of ice for the snow to stick to this time. (This photo from 2009)

Forecasters predicted winds above 20 mph to continue through Wednesday, with drifts several feet high covering already-plowed roads. They have not been able to start plowing the residential roads yet.

This photo of the backyard was taken during the Christmas snowstorm of 2009; still at least 9 inches less than today’s.

One good thing though, we haven’t had the severe power outages that accompanied the ice storms or even the last bad snow.

All photos by Morgan Williams 2011

Satellite photos of US snowstorm available on HuffPost

Horrific Aussie Hurricane “Yasi” photos at BBC

About Post Author

Morgan Williams

Gardener, designer, mother, and activist, Morgan has taught many subjects from art to history; from religion to yoga. Life would be better for everyone if people had a better sense of humor and would just learn to share.
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13 years ago

Mother Hen, read this article and thought of you shoveling and hurting and/or killing yerself woman:

http://www.slate.com/id/2283412/pagenum/all/#p2

Pay attention!!! 😉

Reply to  Dusty
13 years ago

Thank you for your concern! I have had back surgery before and I definitely know how to lift and shovel properly, as a matter of self preservation. I’ve dug a substantial koi pond, many many flowerbeds and such. This shoveling is wretched, but because I hate cold so much.

Even though I am a fatass, I have great blood pressure and am reasonably fit, considering. I would GLADLY pay someone else to shovel the drive, were anyone likely to come along. No one has even so much as driven up the street we live on, and the snow is thigh deep on the driveway, well over the bumpers (up to the hood) of the car.

Alas we have little liquor, and I don’t relish carrying heavy liquids back from the store. (Just returned from the mile walk there and back. No big deal when there is no snow of course.)

Pretty soon I’ll be concentrating and inhaling chicken poo to get high. Just kidding. If that actually worked I’d be rich.

Reply to  Mother Hen
13 years ago

I can think of something much better than chicken poo to inhale that would get you high..the best of it comes from humbolt county here in Cali m’dear woman. 😉 OMG..your almost out of booze too? Gawd…shall I call in the National Guard?

13 years ago

Nice to see the snow from the distant perspective of sunny NZ, not so nice when you have to live in it.
I recommend a regular intake of whisky, purely as an anti-freeze.

13 years ago

This is going to be a soppy mess when it starts to melt, on Saturday.

13 years ago

Just shoveled off the front porch (which had about 6 1/2 inches despite being covered). Made it to the car, but behind it the snow down the drive is so deep it is up over the top of the shovel’s ferrule. (this kind of shovel- http://www.ldmountaincentre.com/product.aspx?id=1690 )

No plows or vehicles on the street, so even if I shoveled a path there it wouldn’t matter. The street still looks as pristine as it did yesterday morning. I still can’t believe that Saturday I wore shorts.

Reply to  Mother Hen
13 years ago

Well, just sit back and enjoy the tv or get on the intertoobs woman..you ain’t going anywhere for dayz!!!! 😉

Michael John Scott
13 years ago

It was 70 degrees here yesterday and rainy. Today it’s 60 degrees and sunny. Tomorrow more rain. I would love to see some snow.

Jess
13 years ago

This is beautiful MH. I’m going up to the snow this weekend myself for some skiing. The cats look pissed they are having to be indoors though. Oh and remember, when the zombies come and get stuck, just lop off the heads before they manage to get out of the deep snow or you’ll all be goners.

13 years ago

Mamacita! I was worried ’bout you all and I am glad you have posted today. My son, down near McAlester got a covering of ice first then the snow so it sucks for him. But not really as the huge cattle farm he lives on is very prepared for this weather. He isn’t going to his job, a plumber, but is working his ass off on the farm feeding all the cows and shit.

Love your pics too. The poor chihuahua must hate going out w/snow up to his pooper hole. Poor baby!

13 years ago

Last March, the nephew – a meteorologist who had picked out the date a year in advance – got married on the first day of spring in Tulsa. The day before? Gorgeous, sunny, blue sky weather! We were out & about in shirtsleeves. That night, an arctic air mass moved in, the temps dropped about 40 degrees, and there were quite a few inches of snow for the wedding day! My LA husband couldn’t believe it. Having grown up in the mid-west, I knew such things were possible. It WAS pretty amazing though…

Michael John Scott
13 years ago

These are beautiful pictures MH. I love the snow, at least if I don’t have to drive in it, or work in it. When I lived in Missouri I would cross country ski and I loved that. Living in the Heart of Darkness doesn’t provide many snow opportunities.

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