The Morning After

There isn't any snow falling right now, but it is still really blowing out there, and cold -- this old farmhouse boiler system is not able to keep up!  It's 60 degrees in here.  We're hovering around the space heater and will put a fire in later with some of the hot soup I made last night.  So thankful to still have power, though.  Many do not...

Some statements from the news (we are in Tazewell County) --

"Following winds of between 30 and 40 mph Tuesday evening, very cold temperatures now are expected to set in until the weekend. Miller said meteorologists predict temperatures below zero tonight and wind chills between 15 and 20 below zero Thursday morning. 'At those temperatures, exposed skin could get frostbite in just 30 minutes', Miller said."

"A Blizzard Warning remains in effect until noon today, and after the snow leaves, a Wind Chill Advisory takes effect from six this evening to noon Thursday. The National Weather Service says the snow will start to diminish this morning, while the winds start to die down this afternoon. Another inch of snow is possible this morning, but winds could gust up to 40 miles per hour still this morning. Very hazardous road conditions are still expected this morning with the snow and blowing snow, and visibility at near white-out conditions.

By the time the storm starts to move out of the Midwest, the frigid cold temperatures will start to move in. Very cold air with strong winds will settle into the area, and combine with low wind chills. The National Weather Service says the skies will clear tonight, but the temperature will drop to -8, with wind chills of -18. Total snowfalls as of 5 a.m. Wednesday range from 12 inches in McLean County to 14 inches in Tazewell County. Also, trained weather spotters report winds of 60 miles per hour in Pontiac."

Those bushes did get buried

The arbor is half covered and the lantern is nearly covered.  This snow drift is taller than the kids.

Bummer, guess I should've taken the wreath down

The snow is piled up at all the doors, but we can go out the garage, at least

Snow drifts on the deck.  The sunken area where the table and chairs are in the back is almost filled in with snow.  

Now that's dedication - Doug walking to work when all schools and offices have been closed.  He may be the only one able to get to work