Snow in the Valley

 Woot! It's finally snowing in the Shenandoah Valley....

The temperature has dropped into the upper 20s. The forecast is calling for freezing rain later tonight.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
20 January 2012

One year ago today ... the Blizzard of 2009

Flashback ... December 19-20, 2009:
The picket fence and gate in the back yard were almost covered with more than 2 feet of snow.

One year ago today we had over two feet of snow that fell December 19-20 with three- to four-foot snowdrifts making a winter wonderland less than a week before Christmas. It was beautiful and the second snowfall of the winter. Little did we know there would be much more to come making it one of the snowiest winters on record in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
December 2009

Snow Day ... December 16, 2010

Out the back gate into the yard and woods beyond....

The bird feeder is a busy place in winter while the swing near the woods is idle.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
13 December 2010

Snow day! All local public schools closed today

A mix of below-freezing temperatures for the past week and heavy snow falling this morning have made a winter wonderland in the Shenandoah Valley, resulting in the closing of all local public schools including Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County, and Harrisonburg. Snow began before sunrise and is sticking to frozen road surfaces as well as sidewalks and grassy areas.

The forecast is for a high temperature in the mid-20s and 3-5" of snow. Even Richmond is in the path of this storm. Be safe out there....

We've got the Christmas lights on, the birds are flocking to the feeder, and the woodstove is making it feel toasty. Tonight's dinner plans in Staunton with friends are now canceled so all will be safe ... it's a good day for baking and last-minute prep for out-of-town company coming in for the weekend.

Let it snow!

Snowy rural mail carrier route

"Just another day at the office," is how this rural mail carrier put it as he delivered mail on Friday, February 5, 2010, while an additional 20" of snow were falling in the Shenandoah Valley.







Much appreciation for delivering the mail.

Huge multi-car pile up on I-81 in Shenandoah County

There is a huge multi-car pile up in the southbound lanes of I-81 in Shenandoah County north of Harrisonburg. The area remains under a winter weather storm warning until 11:00 pm.

It's a snowy day...

The bird feeder is busy this morning as cardinals, blue jays, titmouse, and juncos gather in the heavy snow. Juncos sit on fence pickets like yard ornaments. The birds like to gather under the picnic table out of the driving snow so we scatter bird seed there for those who don't want to be in the feeder.

It's a snowy day in the Shenandoah Valley ... 12 degrees out there ... and snow is all over the Commonwealth as a winter storm that had marched across the country zeroes in on the east coast.

The Weather Channel even suspended their Friday afternoon "Storm Stories" to actually cover the weather since so many were affected, and this morning snow is steadily falling in western Augusta County.

I love a snowy day. The world slows down ... outside the only sound is the occasional soft scratchy sound of falling snow and birds at the feeder.

As I look out the window, the back yard is filled with cardinals, blue jays, titmouse, and juncos in the trees as they take turns at the smorgasboard ... snow is falling heavily coming in from the north with about 3" already on the ground.

Richmond is expecting a foot of snow so SWAC Niece will be enjoying her own Snow Day. It sounds as if the brunt of this southern snowstorm will be the southern and eastern parts of Virginia. I'm checking Weather.com for updates and radar. The Weather Channel talked with Andy Doernen from WRVA Radio in Richmond during the 7:00 hour to get the latest conditions there.

Local weather is available from Harrisonburg's WHSV TV-3, Charlottesville's NBC-29, the Waynesboro News-Virginian, Staunton News Leader, and local Weather Channel coverage.

It's a snowy day in the Shenandoah Valley as the winter of 2009-2010 marches on....

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
30 January 2010

Snowy Augusta County on New Year's Day 2010

Dark clouds did not produce any wintry weather on New Year's Day.

A snowy backroad in western Augusta County ... serenity.

Looking east at clouds over Blue Ridge Mountains.

Dark clouds over Appalachian Mountains.

Middlebrook, Virginia.

See also Back Roads of Augusta County ... New Year's Day 2010

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
1 January 2010

Backroads of Augusta County ... New Year's Day 2010

As dark clouds filled the sky, SWAC Husband and I meandered the backroads of western Augusta County on New Year's Day.

Hay bales with Appalachian Mountains in background.

One of the many historic homes in Augusta County.

Awesome view.

Wheatlands ... 1813.

I never tire of riding the backroads of western Virginia.

As I took this photo, we startled a doe who made her way further into the woods, bogging down in the deep snow.

See also Snowy Augusta County on New Year's Day 2010

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
1 January 2010

Plenty of snow while out and about

Many back roads of Augusta County are still snow-covered.

Fishersville ...

... Waynesboro's Target shopping center ...

... Staunton's Richmond Road.

Highway sign on I-64 east at Waynesboro warns, "Accident 9 miles ahead. Use caution."

Traffic was backed up on I-81 southbound Tuesday morning. Photo taken from Rt. 262 overpass at Staunton.

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
22 December 2009

Home ... a refuge in the Blizzard of 2009

Home ... family ... friends. It's almost Christmas.

Photo by SWAC Daughter
19 December 2009

Kitty in the snow

Palmer Kitty hasn't seen this much snow in many years.
Looking for the path of least resistance....

Photos by SWAC Daughter
20 December 2009

Blizzard of 2009 ... walking in a Winter Wonderland

It's a Winter Wonderland after the Blizzard of 2009 dumped more than 2 feet of snow on the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Decorated for Christmas, the snow makes everything look like a Christmas card.

Absolutely beautiful....

The back gate....

Snow is piled on bird feed roof but SWAC Husband kept the birds fed throughout the storm.

Pyracantha berries in the snow.

That's a garden bench under all that white stuff. Deep snow covers the ground in the woods on the ridge behind the house.

SWAC Husband's pickup truck is buried.

That's the heat pump ... the next item on the list to be dug out.

Anyone remember the Cone Heads from early Saturday Night Live days?

Surveying the mounds of snow....

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
20 December 2009

Blizzard of 2009 ... Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

The picket fence and gate were almost covered with more than 2 feet of snow on December 18-19, 2009. (Photo by SWAC Daughter.)

SWAC Husband cleared 2 feet of snow off the deck Saturday afternoon as the snow continued to fall, adding another 3-4" which made the snow totals in western Augusta County 28" with 3- to 4-foot snow drifts.



Knee-deep snow....

SWAC Daughter shoveled a pathway to the driveway.

Dreaming of snowboarding at Massanutten....

As this photo was taken, heavy snow continued to fall.
Photo by SWAC Daughter.

Photo by SWAC Daughter.

Snow drifted against fence in the back yard.

From the dining room table ... the view was a skier's delight.

Snow piled against door to deck.

The yard is a winter wonderland.

Heavy snow continued to fall as 25-30 mph wind gusts caused 3- to 4-foot snow drifts.

Check out fellow Augusta County bloggers for more Valley snow photos:

- Yankee Phil
- Bob K. at The Journey
- Fishersville Mike
- David at the Augusta Conservative
- StrictlyVA

Many, possibly most, churches have canceled services today, the last Sunday before Christmas ... the Staunton Mall will reopen after being closed Saturday ... check NBC 29 and WHSV TV-3 for the latest closings.

All local schools are out for the Christmas break ... Friday was their last day. There will be fun, fun, fun with the biggest snowfall in over a decade and, if the cold temps stick around, the Shenandoah Valley will have a White Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
19 December 2009