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Monday, January 8, 2018
Snow Curls
This extraordinary extended cold snap and heavy snowfall we've been having has left us with deep snowbanks, white fields, and snow curls off every roof. I don't know how the snow maintains the structural integrity to hang 2 or 3 feet over the eavestrough, but it does!
As you can tell, my auto-focus has completely stopped working and my manual focus isn't any better! I may have to bite the bullet and buy a new lens.
Yes, there's an eavestrough someplace under there.
The last is a snow cap on a stone post I saw today. The weather has broken now, with the temperature just above freezing. These snow curls are going to disappear fast in the next few days, the lost ephemeral beauty of snowstorms.
I came out to clear the walk after our snowblowing guy had left (he just does the driveway), and found this parked on the drive. I've always wanted one of these to play with! It meant the crew was back to work on the house under construction next door. It took them all day just to shovel the snow off and take it away with a big front-end loader. By tomorrow morning we'll be wakened again by the sound of hammers and saws. They sure timed it right avoiding the bitter cold snap; today felt downright mild.
Before all the snow subsides on itself, I thought I'd better measure it. It's already gone down some, but this is the yardstick I put in the snow beside the front walk. There's a lot of wind here too, so in places the snow is only a foot deep, and in other places it's over 3 feet. And the snowbanks are 4-5 feet. As the hard-packed snow unfreezes on the streets, where it may be several inches deep, the driving becomes treacherous. It's like ruts in the mud. The heavy loose snow can grab your tires and move your vehicle sideways with no warning. You inevitably slide a bit going around corners. You just have to be prepared for it, and know your own vehicle (and have snow tires!).
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Snow curls--how interesting. I have taken some shots of the snow curling off the sheds up at the ski area at Snoqualmie Pass. there is a beauty in it and fascinating too.
ReplyDeleteSnow splotches---interesting also.
Brrrr---all very cold to me. Thanks for the info too
MB
Your overlapping snowfalls are wonderful. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteKay
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
You must have had a strong wind to have cornices. In the mountains some of these cornices can be 25 feet or more.
ReplyDeleteInteresting photos! That's quite a snow!
ReplyDeleteWarm here today! 29F it felt good! Snow can do some marvelous things as it swirls around! Yes winter driving can be a challenge, here it is the corners you have to watch for and sections of Highway shaded by trees. Stay safe and warm! :)
ReplyDeleteDrive slowly too. Some people here drive too fast for road conditions, FG.
ReplyDeleteGlad you captured those snow pictures while you can, in or out of focus they are amazing! :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, We have only seen snow maybe this deep once in our lifetime. But I don't think I have ever seen snow curls quite like these.
ReplyDeleteCurls,snow tyres, and so much more, I am always fascinated by your winter stories. That heap of snow looks mighty!! I could add...large..huge..marvellous..or worrying.
ReplyDeleteHello, Thank you for your visit, and a very Happy NEW YEAR to you. Thank you for sharing this heavy load of snow,...the curls are impressive, and I think you did a great job of photographing them, in such dark conditions.
ReplyDeleteI'd not known snow could curl like this. It's beautiful. About the melt . . . people often laugh at drivers and pedestrians who find snow difficult when it's not deep but it can be very slippy and dangerous.
ReplyDeleteHello, the snow curls are amazing. That is a lot of snow, we only have a little here. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at photographs of the peaks and ridges of almost any high mountains and you'll see cornices like those on the roofs you photographed. Those cornices are often huge and can be very dangerous to climbers who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. We only have 1-2" of snow down here, too far from any of the Great Lakes to have gotten lake effect snows.
ReplyDeleteOur curls blew down yesterday. Icicles today.
ReplyDeleteEventually gravity and a moderate temperature do their work on snow curls.
ReplyDeleteI understand that the temperatures are going to be going right back down by week's end.
I'm sure some physicist could explain the curls but they sure are fabulous to see!
ReplyDeleteMother Nature is quite the artist!
ReplyDeleteHi Furry...
ReplyDeleteGreat shots!!
I got some incredible icey shots at the cottage last week...
Lake Erie is nearly all frozen!!
Enjoy your week...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
My husband and I have been talking about this characteristic of snow, but I never knew it had a name - snow curls! Thank you - now I have a language for it. In our area, many houses have tin roofs with ridges, so when you look at the underside of the snow curl, it has attractive lines in it!
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