Winter Storm and Arkansas are just two words that do not go together. Winter weather is rare here in AR, last winter we barely even needed our winter clothes. When we do see winter weather it might be a slight dusting of snow that lasts a day or when we really get a “winter storm” it’s ice… all ice and causes major problems. I clearly still remember the Ice Storm we had several years ago. It did snow back in January of 2011, it was Abby’s first snow. But seriously, predicting snow usually has people rolling their eyes at the weathermen, or for others rushing to the stores to stock up as if we will be buried in ten feet of snow.
When they started predicting snow for Christmas Day I did pay some attention, it would be exciting to have a White Christmas! According to stories I read our last White Christmas was sometime in the 1920’s. I did pay enough attention to all the different models to go ahead and stock up on a few items, to be completely honest I stocked up not so much for the snow but for the people that will freak out and buy up everything. An inch of snow around here sends people to the stores to buy up every last item possible. I made sure we had what we needed for Christmas Dinner, made sure we had water and bread, cereal and a few other food items just in case. I did make sure Abby’s warm clothes were clean as well as hubby’s since he would be the one having to get out in it. Really I prepared but didn’t give it much thought. Come on, I was out shopping in a simple tee shirt on Christmas Eve after all, I even kicked on the AC in the car while out running errands because it got stuffy. What snow they thought we would get surely didn’t stand a chance when it has been so warm recently.
On Christmas Day the predicted weather arrived. First in the form of Thunderstorms (seriously!) then ice mixed into the rain. This is what frustrated me the most, I have ice… it causes the most problems. The sleet was quickly sticking to all the tree branches and by mid afternoon it was indeed looking a bit wintery outside. I kept a close eye on the radar and weather map, we were listed in the Winter Storm Warning all day and I had to laugh when I saw that a small part of the state was under a Blizzard Warning! A Blizzard Warning! For parts of Arkansas! Now I had seen it all, a Blizzard Warning is something you would expect somewhere like NY or something, not around here!
As evening arrived almost the entire state had switched from freezing rain to snow… except for this one little area and yep, you guessed it lol that area was right over us. Our lights flickered several times, I pulled out all my candles (which hubby often teases me about having since I now use Scentsy, he says it’s pointless to have so many candles. Yet when the tornadoes and winter storms arrive and we need the candles he is quite glad I have them) and simply prayed that the snow would arrive instead of the ice.
Oh my did the snow arrive!! As we got ready to eat dinner there was definitely snow accumilating on the ground! Hubby would go outside to smoke and make footprints on the porch only for it to be completely covered up by the time he went back outside. The snow was falling steadily, huge snowflakes and quickly piling up! We let Abby go out real quick just as it started, had to take a picture of her (and our) first White Christmas! She decided it would be fun to throw a snowball at me… while I was in the house! She is just out the door, I’m in the doorway inside holding the door open to take the picture… this was my luck shot as I was nailed by her snowball 🙂
By the time I went to bed that night I knew we had several inches, the huge flakes were still falling fast and thick and several tree limbs were touching the ground. Our little tree out front was half on the ground, my huge bush in the side yard looking like a flattened pancake and several of the huge limbs that hang over the house were basically sitting on the roof. Yes I hate those limbs… branches… whatever. I hate that tree to be honest, always worried it will fall. At one point the lights went off and on several times and I honestly thought that was it but we were lucky and they came back on and stayed on. We were pretty sure hubby would not be going to work in the morning, maybe if his truck was running but no way my mini van was going to tackle all this snow!
By morning we woke up to a winter wonderland! Seriously! In all the times it has actually snowed during my life I do not remember ever getting this much snow! We measured 10.5 inches in some places, almost 12 in other’s. We would not have been able to leave during the night or early morning if we had needed to, there was a huge tree down across the main road just past our house. We watched as people attempted to drive, one car was pretty much pushed down our road to get it home. Stores were closed, some without power, those that were open were shown on the news with completely bare shelves. Generators and heaters were selling out in seconds. We definitely got a Winter Storm! So many across the state were without power and the electric companies were predicting up to two weeks for some to be turned back on. I was thankful I paid enough attention to make sure we had things we needed here at home.
Of course we took Abby out to play in the snow! Here are pictures of her and our yard! The snow was SO deep in some spots, I was definitely wishing for a pair of those tall rain boots I had my eyes on back in the Fall!
Hubby was able to get out and head to work the next day but we remained buried in snow for about a week. No mail, no trash pick up, stores sold out of many things. We simply enjoyed the snow, had fun and enjoyed family time. I am beyond thankful we didn’t lose power, being way out in the country I was sure we would and knew it would take awhile to get it back on.
Arkansas got their White Christmas although now I’m thinking some are regretting having wished for it. I have a list now of things to have on hand for winter weather, just in case because you just never know anymore.
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