Hi everyone,
Mod R here, hope you’re all safe and warm.
Ilona and Gordon are experiencing power cuts at the moment, but they asked me to let you know they are ok and attached a gloriously snowy photo of their yard.
It’s 12 degrees where they are (or for us Europeans -11C). Brrrrrrrrr.
If you have hot chocolate, do not be afraid to use it.
It looks so pretty but I hope the power returns soon! We are on the NC coast and we had rain rain rain and more rain. No floods yet but really hoping for a break in this weather pattern. Very fortunate to not get ice like the interior of the state or snow and power outages.
Good luck and stay warm!
Northeast Florida is the same rain, rain, rain and rain.
We had some water at the threshold to the kitchen and have no idea where it is coming from. The wind must have found a spot to shove some rain through!
I’m in the UK and we are just emerging from similar cold weather. Hunker down and stay cosy!
Hot chocolate, soft thick socks, warm blanket and a good book (your of course) are all I need to ride out the weather. Stay safe!
I totally understand about the power outage. Mine went on and off around 2 am. Then about 5 am, the electricity went off and it’s still out. No time when it will be restored. Oncor wants people to use their website. It’s not working to get the information.
Even though it’s a holiday for some, it’s not for others. I was able to log into work for an hour and a half before I had to get off due to low batteries. Grrr…
Stay safe and warm everyone!
My friends in Austin are having issues with rolling blackouts and freezing temps 🙁 stay safe and warm, please!
Thanks for the update R .
It’s coming here , NYC late tonight. Have to go out and get some food and go to Fedex . Then later in the week 42 !!! Woo hoo!!
Everyone stay safe, keep phone charged and have hot drinks and warm clothes.
I love my wool socks!
I am tired of the cold. It has been single digits (+ and -) Fahrenheit for the highs daily since the 7th here in Nebraska with sub-zero lows. The high today is -6.
It isn’t supposed to be above freezing until Saturday or Sunday. Though it is forecast for teens for the high on Wednesday.
This is a really cold February.
My son is in Norman, OK at the university where they have lost power yesterday, got it back before night, but are looking at 0 degrees right now with wind chill of -24 degrees (F). They have snow, and are getting more tomorrow.
He is safe….
Stay safe and warm!
Hope they have working fireplaces. This record cold is no joke!. The NE is making up for shoeless winters past this year. Stay safe and warm all of you.
Poor trees :/ snow on leafy trees is the worst. I hope the trees recover alright.
So sorry to hear about power outages. We will be getting down to -25° tonight here in Nebraska, yikes! Coldest I’ve seen in a long time. I have my blanket, coffee and a good book. Be safe & stay warm. May God bless you❣????
I’m about 45 minutes away from where they live. The weather here is extremely unusual. There is an ongoing blizzard — there are never blizzards in Central Texas. There is a wind chill warning in effect — super rare here.
The snow is so pretty when it’s fresh! I’m in Alberta and today it’s -25(-13F) with a wind chill of -39(-38.2F) hope you’re keeping warm!
Brrrrr! That’s miserable. Stay safe!
I love when it gets cold enough that it doesn’t matter whether you report in Celsius or Fahrenheit! It feels like an “Achievement Unlocked – BadA Winter Warrior” moment.
This is what it looks like in Memphis right now: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mrgdd29jJmz5b6448
It’s 26 degrees with a winter storm warning here. We’re expecting 8 inches of snow in the next 24 hours.
I live in Portland, OR. For a miracle, the several inches of snow over the last few days did not shut the city down. We do not get enough snow to routinely need snowplows, so there are only a few for the entire metropolitan area. This can make our once in seven years or so blizzard (which this wasn’t) a real adventure.
Right now it feels a lot colder out there than it actually is. The snow and overnight ice are starting to melt. I am really happy I don’t have to do anything more outside today than cross the parking lot to deliver my granddaughter’s birthday present to her.
I live about 650 miles roughly north of them… It’s a sizzling -6 (F) here and snowing. No power outages YET, tho…
Yep once every 20 years we get a real snowfall in central Texas. And since it’s supposed to get to all of 27oF today, it should be around for a bit. Hope everyone affected by this record setting cold is managing to stay warm and safe. And that those with outages get their power back soon!
Oooph. My friend is a TX librarian, and she is also experiencing brown outs in this cold weather. She informs me that she is unimpressed, and if she wanted PA weather she would have stayed in the Northeast. I certainly know what you’re going through – winter power outs are *fun* around here. Enjoy your hot cocoa, I hope you are up and running soon!
I currently have power (in Houston) but can expect to lose it at some points – rolling black outs have been announced. I plan on staying home and wrapping up if needed until the icy roads are gone. The locals have zero idea how to manage ice and/or snow covered streets and I am out of practice myself.
Houston is usually focused on staying cool in the summer. We are not set up for temps in the teens (F). Wind chill was 1 (F) when I got up this morning – not an every year occurrence in this part of the country by any means.
Be safe, folks, and try to stay warm.
1 degree Fahrenheit here (-17 c).
I could have sworn I lived in the South
Stay safe out there. I feel for the areas experiencing this that aren’t used to it. I’m in CT and am grateful that it’s 32 degrees F today. That being said, we still have a ton of snow on the ground up here and we have rain/ice/snow in the forecast.
This is really the time for hot choclate. Wonderfull yard
I’m just south of Omaha, and we have subzero temps and -30F windchills. We will usually get a cold snap like this once every winter, but this one is unusually long. Keeping good thoughts for all those in the Southern US not used to this kind of thing! Hot chocolate, slippers, blankie and a re-read of Hidden Legacy is my current activity. We hit our coldest temperatures tonight, but we should begin to return to seasonal norms Wednesday & Thursday. I can’t wait! =)
But usually it is in January, not February.
I am also in Nebraska but more centrally located.
Unprecedented freezing weather in Central Texas this week! Most of us don’t plan to go outside for any reason!
Brrrr! I’ll pass on the chocolate, though, in lieu of a hot cup of of tea with a teaspoon of sugar and a shot of Buffalo Trace. Stay safe an warm. Hope the power is restored soon.
Lol!! Buffalo Trace is my go to, in coffee or hot chocolate in weather like this. I’m just west of Fort Worth and my sister, a local of 25+ years says she’s never seen it snow like this. We have 4” on the ground with wind chill last night in the -teens. Rolling brown outs. Where it’s really unprecedented is HEB has cancelled all home deliveries in my area today. HEB is the finest grocery store chain in the country, and I’ve lived all over. For them to cancel a service, you know things are bad. Proud of them for keeping their staff and vendors safe though, and they’re known for that, too! Thanks for the update, @ModR, glad to know the Andrews clan is safe. Lifting all those impacted with prayer for heat, health and safety.
Three brothers in TX. Brother in Austin sent a pict that I thought was a cactus covered in ice, but he said it was a grass plant and the ice made it look like a cactus.
Brother in Dallas went from a dusting yesterday to 3-4 inches today, temp drop, and he lost power for 4 hours.
It’s petty, I know, but I love it when they have more snow and are colder than I am. Refreshing change of pace from them telling me about how warm TX is compared to MD. Hah! Not today.
Yes at the moment it seems to be cold everywhere. We got Minus 20 and less in some regions in Germany. Of course this is nothing for our eastern neighbours. But I really wait for Spring 🙂
(fluffy bunnies 🙂 )
Trade ya! I’m in Kansas it’s -3 and with the wind chill it has WARMED up from -30 to -24
We’ve just had the “polar vortex” -30c with windchill up to -50c for almost 2 weeks
By the end of this week, temps going down to -2c yey
I’m in the ‘vortex’ too, and gotta say, the hot chocolate&bourbon & Emerald Blaze reread have made the last fortnight survivable.
At -50, F or C don’t matter much – it’s just crazy cold!
Cold here too in Dallas. The power came back on at 9:30 am (but there are supposed to be more rolling blackouts – some of them purportedly planned). Brrr! Stay warm all of those who are affected.
Not much snow on the ground but enough to make driving bad, and a horrible wind-chill. St. Louis normally doesn’t stay this cold but the next week is definitely flannel shirt in the house next to the radiator with a cat on your lap weather.
I lived south of St. Louis when the last time it got very cold. Trying to drive up and down the hills with snow on them was pretty white knuckle driving. That was even with a front wheel drive, standard shift car.
I told a friend of mine, who is orginally from Louisiana, that I can drive in this stuff if I have to. I also told her this isn’t my first time dealing with this type of weather. ????????
Here’s some salt. 23C where I am. 73 in American. ????
Stay safe people!
Enjoy the warm weather!
This area, the lowest it gets is about 57F. I kind of miss winters sometimes.
My dog decided the little snow (ice) man I made here in Houston could not live longer than two hours. Arty hauled the head inside because the frozen carrot tip was too much of a temptation!
I’m in Colorado, and our view looks similar! Snow all around and below 0 to 15 degree high for today!! I hate the bitter cold, but great weather to stay inside and read a book!! Stay safe hope your power comes back on soon!!
Yay Florida! Of course, come August it will be a different story.
Oh, wow! Another of my very favorite authors – Jenny Lawson – also lives in San Antonio. She’s posted pretty yard pictures, too. That I thoroughly enjoy from 63° So. California. Sending good thoughts for safety and electricity ????
Grateful for my NorCal weather! Wishing everyone safety, warmth and restored power soon! I can’t relate to the weather but the blackouts? Very familiar.
I hope everyone in the cold areas stay warm! Hot drinks recommended for all!
Ugh…I guess that’s not good for Texas…over here* TODAY we went from the last month-and-a-half at around -14/-15 C to +2, but we’ve had plenty of that white stuff as well….*sigh* When not even Texas is safe…ai-ai-ai…
*here being Norway 🙂
Is that an Elkhound ?
Stay warm Ilona and Gordon. It is -1 without wind chill here in frigid Wisconsin.
I was just wondering how they are doing. Lots of power outages all over the Hill Country, and anyone with a fireplace or wood stove is thankful to have it.
Thanks for letting us know!
I lived in Dallas for 45 years, those rolling blackouts forget to roll sometimes, hope they have a functioning fireplace
Knowing Gordon, I’m sure that they are set for heat.
We live a a few hours north of you and it was 3 degrees this morning. Crazy weather for Texas!
That is really cold for TX! The good thing is they have lots of furry critters tohelp keep them warm ????????. Cuddle up and stay warm.
Snowing and cold here too. Blessings on the furnace.
Hope their power returns soon! I’m in the Nashville area. We are in the low 20/upper teens at the moment. Sleet has deposited quite a bit of ice and snow is on the way I’ve heard. I have my disabled, elderly mother with me so praying the electricity stays on! Everyone stay safe and warm!
I’m in the Midwest, but we share the regional power grid with Texas and Oklahoma. We’ve got rolling blackouts up here to help give power down south. It’s currently -2F, however, we’re forecast for an overnight low of -20F. Hopefully we don’t lose power overnight.
I live in the ‘burbs north of Dallas in an apartment. Our fire alarms are going off because of burst pipes. Somebody didn’t open the cabinets and drip the faucets….
Lol. I always have to keep In mind that experiencing cold weather is somewhat relative. Where I am for the last week it has been -35 to -50°C with the wind chill. So right now -20°C without wind feels warm to me.
Hope you return to your regular weather soon!
While I am sorry those south have to deal with the unnatural cold im glad its moving away from us up north. 2 weeks of -40 is enough this winter.
Heh! Here in SoDak, our day started out at minus 22 degrees (F), our high today is 0. However, it’s not windy (a rarity here), the sun is shining & there are much colder spots in other states. I’m staying in today, & keep repeating to myself, “February is half gone, then we just have to suffer through the cold & snow storms of March, then maybe, just maybe we’ll have a few days of Spring in April…”
Stay warm, everyone!
Thank you, Mod R, for the post. I had wondered after weather person said this am that Texas was ground zero for latest record setting inclement severe winter weather.
I am in NC and since Friday my rain gauge has collected over 3 inches in precipitation with more to come. I lost power Saturday in all the ice and that cold breeze. Thankfully I was prepared (it’s a regular thing here due to falling trees etc) and generator kicked in until utility power was restored. Gordon is the type to be prepared and ready for any emergency so I am sure they are fine too.
Hot cocoa sounds great. I like marshmallows in mine but Titan has planted the last three bags I found and bought. ????. So I am drinking hot mint tea instead. Be safe. Be well.
Snow here in Vancouver although turning to the tradtional rain. WE HAD -8C a few days ago. Now a balmy 2C. Just wanted to also say I just bought Blood Heir and Sweep with Me in paperback
That must suck immensely, specially during freezing temps. I feel for you guys and sending you positive energy
Toronto … and waiting for the storm to hit later today/tonight. Keep safe, everyone. Know where your candles are.
Hmmmm, blackouts during a snowstorm. Great way to destress. Snuggling in front of the fireplace, cooking on the grill, more snuggling…
You know its bad when the local news here in Sydney Aus, talks about the Arctic cold snap hitting Texas. We’re heading for 25C today, but its supposed to be summer, where did our summer go “sigh”? But sure glad I’m not in the Mid West or Texas y’all.
Stay safe & warm, with good reading available. And I feel for y’all with the blackouts, we get them too occasionally.
Stay safe, I know how treacherous snow and cold can be
Sending warmth yoru way
Mary Ann (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
I’m in IL and we are currently getting hammered by that same storm. We are also entering week 2 of bitter cold temps (currently 9, but feels like -12). Both my district and my kids’ have already called for snow days tomorrow. Stay safe and warm everyone!
Suburbs north of Chicago: storm coming from southwest, plus lake effect snow off Lake Michigan, also wicked sharp wind-chill from the west. Forecast 4 – 6 inches of snow, between this afternoon and tomorrow night. Glad to be home and no need to go out!!
Stay warm everyone!!
Thank you for the update, Moderator R and House Andrews. I hope you are staying warm, too, Moderator R.
We have freezing rain, sleet, and lots of snow in Ohio. I love snow but I hate any form of ice. It usually results in dangerous driving and electricity outages. Everyone stay safe.
We’re dealing with sub zero temps here. Our three chickens are sharing a habitat with a myriad of other small birds. They’ve flown into the chicken run where we have a heat lamp on all the time. Inside the coop there’s a heated perch and wall heater.
The mourning doves, junkos, cardinals, and starlings are in the run, huddled around the light. There’s water and food and shelter. We provide seed and suet outside, too.
Hubby and I are huddled under blankets, sipping hot chocolate, hoping it warms up soon.
It is colder in Texas than it is in New England. That is unbelievable.
Weird for sure!
Im in manitoba canada its -30 here lol
Thought this picture (found while browsing Zoo pictures) might inspire you.
Appreciate the update. Thank you.
Southern New England here. We’re supposed to get nothing but rain…and 50F. Which will wash away most of last weeks snow dump…
Oh, and good luck with the power. Been there, done that.
Speaking of not snowing, FL temps are in the 70s this week (I’m not there though).
Please share the new FL man news with Ilona:
“Florida man steals ring from girlfriend to give to fiance”
I’ve gained 15 pounds because of the coronavirus and my inactivity. I knew it would be useful for something !! Nothing like a layer of fat to keep you warm lol
Kinda terrible in texas right now good chunk of people in the neighborhood are furious with cps right now. Just was consitent power to warm house
Wow! That’s about the same amount as we got, but for us it’s low to average.
Hot chocolate in use!
Propane on-demand whole house generator. It’s primitive appeasement: spend the $$$, and the power won’t go out.
-52 below wind chill in my area, with -35 temp. Hopefully only four more months of winter.
70°F forcast here today in Arcadia, CA (just outside Los Angeles). Earthquakes, mudslides, and wild fires aside, I’m happy to be here! ☀ ☀
In Iowa, we have 14″ of snow on the ground (of 28″ so far in 2021). It has warmed up to 9 F after a low of – 4 F last night. Which was far better than the -15 F we had a few nights ago. We won’t talk about wind chills …. HEAT IS CRITICAL under these conditions – hope they get their power back soon !!!
That’s freakin’ cold for Texas!!!
I’m happily here in Oregon. Southern Oregon, that is. Out of the Polar Vortex.
Sunny, temps to be close to 50F today. Feeling VERY fortunate.
In the NC triangle, where it’s sunny and mild, hearing stories of terrible weather from all directions. (A little jealous of not being in Seattle for the snow there, TBH? Clearly, I’ve been out of Ohio for a bit…)
Is that the 500 acre wood? Lol
We’re snowboarding, love this weather!
Stay chill ????
Living on the edge of the White Mtns in NH we’d lose power every winter, sometimes it was for a few hours a few times. Other times for a day or two or more. Since we were in a lightly populated area we were low on the list for repairs. So we stayed stocked with food, wood for a nice wood stove, and a small generator to keep the water pump, a couple of lights,and the freezer (there’s an irony) going. To have that happen out of the blue in a place where it is not something anyone would normally plan for is a disaster. I hope they can get that sorted out fast. This isn’t just a difficulty, this is life threatening.
That sounds a mite brisk, but certainly looks pretty. I’m picturing Ilona yarn bombing everything in the house.
No dogs. No cats. Just slightly confused moving piles of knitting.
Well we are enjoying frigid 38 degree temps here in north Florida and we think We are in the midst of a terrible cold front! Our winter generally lasts about a week and then spring marches forward with determination! Hubby did not check the weather report and went to the garden shop and purchased a bunch of plants for the front garden! When he saw the cold weather moving in he got some old clear shower curtains I had and taped them around lawn chairs and made greenhouses for his plants until he can get through the bad weather. Ah, the man is creative! 🙂
Someone I know in California who tried to convince me to get solar panels for power, but in Ohio, it would take about 200 years by the calculator on the web site that is trying to sell them to make up the cost of them in power produced. But he told me that where he lives, any new construction requires solar power. I’m wondering why anyone in Texas doesn’t have that to fall back on, since they normally get sun at least 10 months out of the years. When my power went out for a week in winter a few years back, I got out my kerosene heater, set it up, kept the house warm enough, used a camping gear propane one-burner stove to cook, and heated water in big pans near the heater to wash my hands. The only real trouble I had was that the waterbed heater wasn’t working and it was freezing cold until I put blankets under me as well as over me to sleep. Kerosene lamps for light, a hand-crank gizmo that can charge through a USB port and play a radio, and also has a flashlight to charge up makes it handy, but it’s not fun to crank it for hours on end, that’s for sure.
When I lived in Houston, TX, it froze and I was shocked to find that water pipes are not buried or protected there. They ran the pipes above the ceiling, and many people ended up with collapsed ceilings when they burst. We got lucky (?) in that ours froze outside before it got into the house, so no water pressure was coming in to burst frozen pipes. Of course, we also did not have water in the house!
Right now, it’s about 15° outside, our power is on, but we had sleet on top of snow that made an ice slick across every inch of the yard, which is all on a hill. Feeding animals who live in a building away from the house was fun last night, it will be fun tonight. The big difference between those of us who live with winter every year and those who live in places that rarely get cold is that we are prepared for it. We own long johns, boots, heavy coats and gloves and scarves and hats. But I’m staying home, anyway. The roads are a mess with ice and snow outside the metro area. We don’t have any real plowing done. AWD only goes so well on an ice-covered hill.
I simply cannot wait to read what Ilona has to say about how these days are going at their house. No doubt, she’ll make me laugh. I hope it doesn’t take too long!
Some cold would be nice in Perth, Western Australia. We had almost a month of 35c and above. Thank God it is 28 today but so humid. Hate hate humid. Give me dry heat any day. But I’ve really got nothing to complain about when I see your weather report. Keep safe everyone.
Thank you for posting this. So glad they are ok.
Right now (Wed morning) Finland was at -20C/-2F… after lovely weekend with -7C/19F … Brrrrr
We got a storm up in Ottawa (Canada). But for us, -11 C and 23 cm of snow (12 F / 9 inches) is a nuisance. The snow clearing takes time but it’s something we experience every winter.
But if you’re not accustomed to it, it can be dangerous and frightening.
Bundle up and be cautious with makeshift heating/lighting/cooking. If it’s cold enough, empty your fridge and put things outside.
The longest I was without power was 3 weeks during ’98 ice storm. It’s hard, brutally so during the pandemic, but it can be done. The key thing I learned, if help is offered, accept it.
Hugs and empathy.
In Wisconsin here, so that seems normal but NOT with no electricity!!! I hope everyone has a way to keep warm (fireplace, etc)!
The one time our furnace died in the middle of winter we all hunkered down in the living room next to the obligatory fireplace. It was not pleasant.
Sending warm thoughts their way!!
This is a p.s. to my previous post–my heart goes out to all those w/o power. I hope everyone–especially all those w/o a home– finds shelter & warmth, & that this nasty weather moves on very soon.
I live in Ft. Worth, TX. I was without power for 18 hours. The temp in my apartment dropped over 20 degrees. Power came back on yesterday afternoon, I cooked up some chicken, sausage, rolls and chili while I had power since I was running out of leftover cold meatloaf in a cold apt. Yummy, not.
When I woke up this morning, the power was out again and the apartment was cold. It came on around noon, and I’ve had power since then. Stayed in bed under a stack of blankets until the apartment warmed up. My little cat Punkin is a Devon Rex and only has the inner coat of fur. She has been under the covers with me all day. My normal cat has stuck her head under the blankets long enough to snuggle and give me kisses and get petted, then she gets back out. I’m hoping the heat stays on overnight. I’m south of the boil water alerts, but plan to boil water before I go to bed just in case. Feeling very lucky.
My house in Minnesota was an earth home, which actually stays at a warmer temp than a normal house, had a heatilator system that blew out air warmed by the fireplace thru normal heating vents. With plenty of firewood, power outages not a problem, and water pipes properly insulated. I even could boil water, make coffee, cook hot dogs and even make popcorn due to gadgets picked up in antique stores. Planning for bad weather makes all the difference.
Us Europeans it is 😀