Christmas Storm Chronicles, Part 2

• Christmas Storm Chronicles, Part 1

Jennie called awhile ago to say that she’s still at work, waiting for someone to relieve her. I told her the news about it being a record snowfall. It appears that the snow is tapering off, and the bigger concerns will be the cold weather (17 degrees F, -8 degrees C), high winds, and drifting snow.

During the night the precipitation changed from snow to a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain for a time before changing back to snow. I’m wondering if folks are going to have trouble getting car doors open.

Someone just called the radio station. He lives near the border of Clinton and Highland counties. He reported that he’s got about 5 inches of ice that’s keeping him from getting his door open. He’s decided to stay in bed in the meantime and listen to the radio.

Keisha stirs in her bed. I’m in no hurry to wake her. The radio just reports that the high today will be 22 degrees F (-5.6 degrees C).

The meteorologist on TV is talking. Here are some of what he's saying:

• The previous record: 12.2 inches; 12.9 for the total
• The current level is 13.6 and growing.
• Some areas have had as much as 17 inches.
• Now that the snow has ended, there are three big concerns
  1. bitter cold, with wind chills below zero
  2. snow drifts
  3. winds as high as 30 miles per hour
• We have a chance to break the 1983 record low –13 degrees F for Christmas; the forecasted low for this Xmas –15 degrees F.

Okay, I gotta get me a cup of coffee, get dressed, take the dog out. I’ll be back soon.