Well, here we are at Feb. 2nd and good ole Wiarton Willie did not see his shadow, and neither did his fellow ground hog predictors from the States. This means, if you believe in that sort of thing, that we will have an early spring. That contradicts what the weather forecasters have been saying, which is that we will have a longer than usual and colder than usual winter. Hoping the critter is more accurate than the humans!!
Well, Dave and I decided to stay home today rather than try our luck on the roadways to work. When Dave got up at 5 this morning to go to work it was really snowing and blowing. We had talked last night about not risking it by going in, so he made the decision to stay home and went back to bed. I got up at 6 and it wasn't too bad, but since he was still parked behind me and the driveway was full of drifting snow, I e-mailed work and told them I wasn't coming and went back to bed too!
We both have a 45 minute drive, in opposite directions from home. Mine is heading towards the east, or Lake Huron, which is always a 'snow belt' area. They often close the hiways up there, because of drifting and blowing snow. So far the hiways along the lake and some heading inland are closed. The one I take was still open when I last checked at 10, but I bet it will be closed before the day is out. There was really no sense fighting thru the drifts and blowing snow on the way to work in the morning, only to get stuck there and have to pay for a hotel and meals overnight. Work all day to pay for the hotel at night?? Might as well stay home and be safe and comfortable.
When we got up we went out and shoveled and cleaned the cars off. It took us an hour and we have a small driveway. The snow was very dense and heavy and it is quite windy and very cold out. Sure would not want to get stranded on the side of the road somewhere in this weather. I think we are going to be getting another blast - 'ice pellets' are starting to fall and it shows a few more streamers heading our way.
Hope any of you that are getting this storm stay safe and warm inside. Do be careful if you HAVE to go out - and if you are out shoveling and cleaning up, take it easy, we don't want any heart attacks or falls!