Snow Predictions for 2011

My car this morning with about 3 inches of snow on it.

Well here it is, the Farmers’ Almanac predictions for 2011

They say a cold winter up north this year, like a cold slap in the face. As for storms, January calls for a major storm up New England way from the 20^th to the 23^rd. February 1^st-3^rd calls for stormy weather too. In fact, February appears to be stormy all the way through it. Surprise. It’s February. It’s supposed to be stormy isn’t it?  March also appears to have its stormy weather coming, but from the 4^th to the 7^th temperatures could get up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Imagine that.

Here in the Atlanta area we got three to four inches of snow in my area starting last night. It has now turned to freezing rain, which isn't good. We got groceries yesterday and have electricity and cable TV. So we're set till we can get out again. The above picture was taken a few minutes ago. See more in the other blog, "Snow in Georgia." Of course everyone has already bought out all the milk, bread, and eggs in the grocery stores as well as put up a store of beer for the duration. The thing about weather predictions here is that they always include the Atlanta area in with the North Georgia mountains. Well of course it’s going to snow up there. We never end up with much more than an inch or so. There are exceptions, however, today for example.

You folks up there don’t realize that Atlanta is in the upper half of Georgia. We do get weather here from time to time. What we really have to worry about, however, is freezing rain and the “black ice” that results from it. I’d rather deal with the snow, personally.

Generally speaking, winters are getting warmer overall. Whether it is due to global warming is debatable. I do remember some very severe winters up in the old neighborhood in the South End. We took it all in stride it seems. I don’t ever remember running out of milk or bread, do you? If school was out for a storm, we’d get the old Brewster suits out and go have some fun in the snow.

There is a commercial on TV here right now advertising a fun day in the snow over at Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain is a local attraction. Civil war heroes are carved into the face of a rock much like the faces at Mt. Rushmore. Therefore, attractions like a replica of an old Southern mansion have been built up around it. There is a train ride up over the “rock.” It’s a major tourist attraction in these parts. I’ve been there several times and there is always something different to see. They also have camping and swimming areas.

Well, the folks at Stone Mountain have decided to try to cash in on the winter snow trade if possible. Therefore, they have manufactured “snow” down the side of that hill and you can go down it on a huge rubber tire with your kids. Of course, you have to pay to do this. How many of you up there in snow country would pay to go snow tubing? Not many I think.

Here’s a  snow tubing picture from the Stone Mountain site. It does look like fun, doesn’t it?

While I’m on this snow kick, do you have any snow pictures from recent past years to share with us? Just email them to me as an attachment and I’d be glad to show them. Please identity the location, year, etc. Thanks.

Meanwhile, have fun in the snow and keep it all up there if you can, O.K. I’d appreciate it.

Thanks for listening.