Snow in TN

[John K Jordan]

Growing up in PA I can empathize with those experiencing the excessive snow around the country now - I remember opening the front door to a wall of snow, the school actually canceled when the busses couldn’t run, and helping our dad dig the car out of over 3’ of snow.

Our snow today might seem pretty lame! Snow here is not exactly common and when it comes it’s rarely much and not around for long. We did get a little snow starting late yesterday afternoon, very fine, almost a mist. But enough to cover everything by morning, less than 1” total. All gone, of course, by late morning.

This picture might be a bit unusual. My free-ranging flock of about 15 guineas wandered up past the chicken house, not at all out of character for guineas who have the run of the place. But I thought some of the tracks on the driveway were interesting:

492330

A friend not far from here got 3-4”, enough to make getting off the hills dangerous and keep people from going to work. I’ll bet that makes some laugh! (but many areas around here don’t have what it takes to handle snow and almost no one has snow tires)

How is the snow outside your door?

JKJ

[Dick Strauss]

We have a couple of inches on the ground, but that's it. We had plenty of cold wind over the weekend but not much snow to go with it thankfully!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Saturday, 12/17/22 we drove to Butte, MT. Sunday we drove to West Yellowstone, MT via Bozeman, MT where we met up with 3 grandkids and a DIL. In West Yellowstone, MT it snowed every night to some small or larger amount. We had guided tours of YNP on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday in a snowstorm we took the Old Faithful trip. That evening we got 12" of snow on top of the couple feet that was already on the ground and roads. In all fairness, they do groom the snow to smooth it out for snowmobiles and the snow coaches using equipment similar to the groomers used on ski runs. Wednesday we took the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone tour. The new 12" of snow made it interesting for the driver/guide but we saw all the major sights on that tour. That night the temperature dropped to an official -38º F with a wind chill of -67º F. My 2014 Honda Pilot had the original battery in it and refused to start Thursday morning even though I had warmed the car up the previous evening. The maintenance guys at the lodge we were in, jumped it twice with no success. They called a local auto service place who towed it to their heated garage, removed and tested the old battery, acquired and installed a new battery. The total charge was $254 which I thought was reasonable considering where I was and the conditions. Driving home on Friday the roads were hard packed snow until we got to Missoula. The next morning it was a thick sheet of treacherous ice until we got to the top of Lolo Pass on US-12. God as my witness, at the sign stating "Welcome to the State of Idaho" where the roads became bare and/or wet. It was like someone had drawn the state line on the highway. I was truly amazed! It's winter in the mountains. BTW, I have two sets of chains in my Pilot in the rear storage area and they reside there. And yes, I have test fitted them in good weather on floor of our carport. I take winter driving seriously!

492340 492341

Here's the view outside our hotel room.

[Edward Weber]

Also growing up in PA, I understand completely.
I live in the valley below the Sierras, I got lots of rain, I can look up at the mountains and see the snow they got, but I don't have to deal with it.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

I remember positively arctic storms here in central PA in the winters of the mid 1960's in central PA. Almost every family but mine had a snowmobile and careened wildly around town all night long on the machines. With the exception of an infrequent blizzard winters have certainly been less cold and snowy I think it was the year before last, we had only 6 inches total of snow the whole winter. (I have banana trees growing in the yard and I am told there is a guy 40 miles south who grows olives in a small grove on a southern facing hill., things unimaginable 60 years ago.) But despite that, the back hoe loader is fueled up and ready and the Mahindra 55 hp tractor has FEL and rear scraper blade attached, in readiness for "snowmageddon." So far this season, we had about a half inch of slush.

I was living in Miami Florida in January 1978 and saw flurries. There were traffic jams of people racing wildly to the parts of miami where snow flakes had been sighted. I was living in Washington DC for the October 11, 1987 snow storm that brought 8 inches of snow and ripped the still leafed branches off the trees.

[Brian Tymchak]

I saw a brief report, I think it was on the Weather Channel, that there were snow flurries in Miami, Fla. Wonder if that is a first.

[Jim Becker]

Growing up in NE PA, I experienced a lot of snow including a 54" blizzard when I was quite young. I'm thankful that I live in SE PA now...I'm not fond of the cold nor am I fond of snow, but at least I know how to drive on it. In this area, we've been getting maybe a foot total for a year, or maybe slightly more, but with individual snow events only being small accumulations that go away. We've only have one really bad "shut everything down for days" storm in this area that I can remember since moving to this area in 1979. That was about 30"...in March...maybe 10 year ago or so. I don't recall the actual year.

But in the vein of this thread, when I see on the news that places like Arkansas and other southern areas are getting snow, it's truly interesting and certainly a more unusual event. I suspect we'll see more radical storms and weather events as time goes on as an unfortunate "feature" of climate change. Buckle up... ;)

[Bill Dufour]

Ski resort 75 miles east of me has 14' this season. More then the total for last season. AMybe out drought years will be over.
Bill D

[Aaron Rosenthal]

During the years 1976 through 1985, we lived in Johannesburg, South Africa. One year, in June (southern hemisphere) we got a few inches of snow.
Nothing to me, I'm a Canuck. But my, the drivers on the roads there.... Let's say, comical.
Here, in Vancouver this year (yes, Doug, in New Westminster too), we had 2 major snowfalls so far this year. Chaotic-a.

[Doug Garson]

I grew up in Southern Ontario where it was not uncommon to have snow on the ground continuously from mid December to mid March. Here on the Wet Coast, Metro Vancouver snow rarely last very long. Last week we got about 16" of snow and then it turned mild on Christmas Eve, it is literally all gone except a few piles in parking lots where the plows piled it up. I know how to drive in snow but avoid it as much as possible now because of the comedians Aaron referred to. Being retired helps.

[Kevin Jenness]

Snow is traditional here, but gradually becoming less dependable - later freeze-up, more mixed precipitation and trending lower snowfall totals. This year is following the pattern - first measurable snowfall Dec. 17 of 6", then up to 45*F on the 24th with heavy rain followed by 4" of snow, 10*F and bitter wind. Global weirding for sure. At least we don't expect to become ocean frontage soon.

[Thomas Wilson]

This picture was taken yesterday near Birchwood, TN. There was maybe 1/8” of snow at the time.
492348

[Curt Harms]

Growing up in NE PA, I experienced a lot of snow including a 54" blizzard when I was quite young. I'm thankful that I live in SE PA now...I'm not fond of the cold nor am I fond of snow, but at least I know how to drive on it. In this area, we've been getting maybe a foot total for a year, or maybe slightly more, but with individual snow events only being small accumulations that go away. We've only have one really bad "shut everything down for days" storm in this area that I can remember since moving to this area in 1979. That was about 30"...in March...maybe 10 year ago or so. I don't recall the actual year.



I think it was the mid '90s, 1995-1997ish. I recall a 16" storm followed by 10" a couple weeks later. This part of the world that's a Snowmaggedon. Growing up in Wisconsin there was a stretch during the mid '60s where the daytime highs were -20F, overnight lows -35F or so. That lasted close to a week as I remember.

[Lee Schierer]

I live in NW PA and have been here for over 45 years. We've had plenty of snow during that period of time. We average over 90 inches of snow per season. Sometimes we get most of it at once. Right now we have almost 2" on the ground and we are 90 miles from Buffalo. We could see the band of lake effect snow that was pounding Buffalo. It was a wall of clouds out in the middle of the lake. We do get lake effect snow where my house is and it can accumulate several inches per hour. Five years ago on Christmas Eve We received 60" of snow over night. You just deal with it if you have to go out. If you don't need to go out in it you don't. We've had snow in Erie County PA every month except July.

My trusty snow blower is ready to go.

[Jim Becker]

I think it was the mid '90s, 1995-1997ish. I recall a 16" storm followed by 10" a couple weeks later. This part of the world that's a Snowmaggedon. Growing up in Wisconsin there was a stretch during the mid '60s where the daytime highs were -20F, overnight lows -35F or so. That lasted close to a week as I remember.

The one I'm citing was much more recent...we were already in Buckingham and it was a number of years after we adopted our girls in 2005. Rt 413 was completely closed with about 30" of snow. I had to clear 400' of driveway one bucket at a time with the Big Orange Power Tool once it stopped and it was days before the road was open after that. It was a March Nor'easter that really hit hard!

[Dave Anderson NH]

Kind of bereft of snow so far this year, maybe 4" total in southern NH. We just got our electricity back yesterday after going out on Friday during a windstorm with gusts up to 71mph. Fortunately, we invested in a propane powered 14kw generator about 8 years ago, so it was not a problem. When we first moved up here from MA 33 years ago annual snowfall was higher. I even remember a March here where it snowed every 2nd to 3rd day for 3 weeks and we got a total for the month of over 39". Back when we first got here we always had 100-130" per year.

Just a note. Growing up outside of Rochester NY I remember the blizzard of 1957 when the wind and snow combination was so bad we could walk onto our roof from a bare spot of ground on the front lawn. The Air National Guard was air dropping bales of hay to cattle stranded in the fields.

[Stan Calow]

Three inches here for a rare white Christmas. Below zero temps at night, single digits during the day. Today will be 52℉ and tomorrow 62℉.

Ken, thanks for this report. We had a trip to W Yellowstone via Bozeman booked for February, and I couldn't convince my wife that it would be cold and snowy.


Saturday, 12/17/22 we drove to Butte, MT. Sunday we drove to West Yellowstone, MT via Bozeman, MT where we met up with 3 grandkids and a DIL. In West Yellowstone, MT it snowed every night to some small or larger amount. We had guided tours of YNP on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday in a snowstorm we took the Old Faithful trip. That evening we got 12" of snow on top of the couple feet that was already on the ground and roads. In all fairness, they do groom the snow to smooth it out for snowmobiles and the snow coaches using equipment similar to the groomers used on ski runs. Wednesday we took the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone tour. The new 12" of snow made it interesting for the driver/guide but we saw all the major sights on that tour. That night the temperature dropped to an official 38º F with a wind chill of -67º F. My 2014 Honda Pilot had the original battery in it and refused to start Thursday morning even though I had warmed the car up the previous evening. The maintenance guys at the lodge we were in, jumped it twice with no success. They called a local auto service place who towed it to their heated garage, removed and tested the old battery, acquired and installed a new battery. The total charge was $254 which I thought was reasonable considering where I was and the conditions. Driving home on Friday the roads were hard packed snow until we got to Missoula. The next morning it was a thick sheet of treacherous ice until we got to the top of Lolo Pass on US-12. God as my witness, at the sign stating "Welcome to the State of Idaho" where the roads became bare and/or wet. It was like someone had drawn the state line on the highway. I was truly amazed! It's winter in the mountains. BTW, I have two sets of chains in my Pilot in the rear storage area and they reside there. And yes, I have test fitted them in good weather on floor of our carport. I take winter driving seriously!

Here's the view outside our hotel room.

[John K Jordan]

I…We've had snow in Erie County PA every month except July.
…

We lived south of Pittsburgh out in the sticks on the Monongahela river a couple of miles upstream from lock/dam #3 near Elizabeth. We had relatives in Erie and visited every few years (when it was warm!) I loved the lake.

JKJ

[Lisa Starr]

I remember the storm Jim is speaking of in the 2000's. It was the only time in the 10 years that we lived in that home we couldn't get up the 600' uphill driveway with our AWD vehicle. It was a very wet, heavy snow. I have photos somewhere of us shoveling out around people doors etc the next day in our shirt sleeves when it warmed right up.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Stan, if you watch television weather it's not unusual to see Big Piney, WY (just south of Jackson, WY) or Stanley, ID as the coldest places in the nation. There was a SoCal. family on that 2nd tour to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone who didn't bring snow boots, heavy layers of clothing and made the trip miserable for others sitting around them by their constant complaining. They obviously hadn't researched the area and the tours completely. The wooden walkways in the park are NOT shoveled in the winter but people still use them. Thus, they become uneven, hardpacked and even icy. I am deaf due to Meniere's disease and also have resulting serious balance issues. These were the 3rd time my wife and I have done the winter tours in Yellowstone. I bought us each a pair of walking sticks because of the issues on the wooden walkways. They didn't have appropriate clothing and would sprint on the tours to and from the van. They thought they would see Old Faithful on the tour that day but that wasnt where that tour was scheduled to go. They changed their dinner plans after seeing a Yelp review, so I imagine they probably badmouthed the tour company too on the same platform when in reality it was their lack of completely researching the tours, and possible weather conditions. With my hearing issues I set up front with the driver so I could hear him. My family group of 5 set in the back. My DIL and wife both were irritated by these folks constant complaints! Luckily, I couldn't hear them. :D

BTW, the driver to the snow coach handled the 2' of fresh snow quite well. Later some snowmobilers on the same tour said their snow mobiles had issues getting up the same roads. Have fun. We have done YNP in February twice. The snow is often much more than we saw at Christmas and the temperature just as severe. We have taken tours of YNP 5 times total, 3 winter tours, 1 spring tour and 1 summer tour. The winter tours are SO much more dramatic and that's when we have seen the most animals (bison, elk, swans, geese, American dippers). The snow on the roads isn't as deep as the rest of the terrain so the animals use the road. Enjoy your trip!

[Bill Bukovec]

We got about an inch of snow in Mountain City, TN. Just enough to scare the chickens. They don't like the snow. The snow should all melted today ( Dec 29).

We did have a 90 foot pine tip over due to high winds coupled by some rot within the stump.

Next year, all pines within 100 feet of the house are going to be cut down and sawn into lumber.

[Ronald Blue]

After lots and lots of warnings of a major snow event we ended up with maybe 2 inches last Thursday the 22nd. They did get it right on the temperature forecasts though. I helped get things ready for plowing snow for the township. Everything was fueled, plows mounted and dump beds filled with chips. I didn't even scrape my drive until Monday and it didn't really need it but had a delivery truck coming and I wanted them to be able to tell where the driveway was. We do have a good layer of frost in the ground now. Hit 66 today and no trace of the snow is left unless you go find some piles in parking lots. We don't get as much snow as we used to but we still usually have 2 or 3 decent snow events each winter.

[Edward Weber]

I'm glad everyone got through the strange weather okay.
I'll warn you, more may be coming.

Out here in CA where we get the weather first. We're now on our second straight day of rain and wind, of a 3-day storm. So, after it clears the Sierras Saturday night into Sunday, give it a few days before the rest of the country feels the effects, in one form or another, though I don't think this one has the cold temps with it.
Stay safe everyone.

[Larry Frank]

Not much snow but the wind and temps were very difficult. I saw temps down to -10 F with steady winds of 25 and gusts to over 35 mph. The dogs were very unhappy. My son came up from Texas and they were cold and their dog was very cold.