Wintery Weather Returns: Snow and Cold in March

 

March 19 we had a picturesque snowfall here in Chaumont NY. This is our backyard.

Wintery weather has returned to us here in Northern New York. The first couple of weeks this month we had temperatures in the 50's and 60's, I believe some areas set new records for warm temps. Yesterday we awoke to 14 degrees here in the village of Chaumont.  A few days earlier we had a classic, Currier and Ives picture snowfall. Slow falling, large fluffy snow.  This morning (Saturday 23rd) we have about 3 or 4 inches of snow and temp of 23. Chilly, chilly.

Yesterday's temp was a cool 14. Today it's 23. 

Snowy Watertown NY street scene

I snapped this photo on February 27th. Another miserable Winter day in the North Country.

Watertown street scene photographed through snow windshield with an iPhone5.   photo by Gary Walts

Huge lake effect snow storm in northern NY

Downtown Watertown during  near white out conditions from lake effect snow.  Unfortunately the camera sensor is very dirty which causes all the spots you see. Time to get it cleaned.

The Winter continues to be brutal.  A huge lake effect snow storm has hit the area from Mannsville to Gouvernuer. It began Monday evening. I was in Syracuse photographing a girls basketball game. By the time I got done Rt 81 from Brewerton to Watertown was closed. I was supposed to cover the storm the next day so rather than drive through the snow at 11:00 at night I spent the night at Brother D's house in Mattydale. Tuesday morning it was extremly cold and windy in Syracuse, but weather was clear. I started driving North on Rt 81 and it was clear all the way to Parish. There it was sunny, but the roads were wet. When I reached Mexico the snow started. At Pulaski the snow was heavy enough to make storm photos. I spent an hour or so there. The next stop was Mannsville and the snow was heavy with blowing winds. The village was desolate, reminiscent of a ghost town. From there I drove RT 11 and every mile north the snow and wind was stronger. Frequent white outs. By the time I got to Adams  the driving was some of the worst I have experienced. I snapped a coupl pictures in the village and then started for home. It was a good two hours+ getting there. I long line of cars and trucks, myself included, were like a caravan, moving slowly through the storm, bumper to bumper. Sometimes we stopped for five or ten minutes, Often we would move hundred feet or less, stop, move on, stop. It is six miles to Watertown and it took an hour to get there. From watertown to Chaumont was another rough stretch. Brownville was off and on white outs. When I got to Limerick it was like a switch was turned on. There was no snow, fairly bare roads and I was able to drive 60mph on those last five miles. What a relief to get home.

Pulaski, NY,  gary walts photo

Pulaski, NY  gary walts photo

Lacona, NY  gary walts photo

Pulaski NY,           Gary Walts photo

Mannsville, NY    gary walts photo

Adams, NY    gary walts photo

Adams Center, NY    gary walts photo

Mannsville, NY     gary walts photo

Mannsville NY Post Office   gary walts photo

Ice on roof buckles wood stove chimney

A 6 to 8 inch layer of ice began to slide off the roof overnight. The weight of it squeezed the chimney as if it were in a vice causing it to buckle.

So far this has proven to be a severe Winter. It was 7 below zero this morning. A week or so ago we had an ice storm that left a lot of people without power. It rained a lot at freezing temperatures. Then it got cold enough to snow. The snow covered the ice. Then it warmed again enough for some of the snow to melt, then froze again, causing another layer of ice on top of the original ice. This warming, thawing, freezing cycle has occurred quite a few times. The result is a layer of compact snow and ice everywhre that is hard as rock. This past Saturday I lit a fire in the wood stove and noticed the chimney draft was weak. I go outside and see that the thick layer of ice on my roof began to move during the night and put so much weight against the chimney in buckled over. I spent Sunday trying to get the ice off the roof so as to be able to repair the chimney. I got so wore out that I only got half the roof cleared. Today about an 8 inch slab of ice remains on the roof, around the chimney. Being below zero I think I must abandon the ice removal until the weekend when it is supposed to get into 30+ degree weather.

I snapped this view from a lower, adjacent section of roof. The chimney should be standing perfectly upright. 

Seven below zero Christmas Day in Chaumont N.Y.

7 below zero on this 2013 Christmas morning in Chaumont, NY. This photo snapped with iPhone a couple hours ago. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Ice storm 2013 in northern NY

The photos presented of the 2013 Ice Storm in northern NY were all snapped at or close to my home in the village of Chaumont. I was one of the lucky ones who never lost electric service. I did, however, lose my cable TV because a tree limb landed on that particular wire tearing it from the utility pole. The service remains out on this Christmas Eve. It is my understanding that there are still many thousands without electricity. That will make for a memorable Christmas for those folks. Most of the photos are self explanatory. Tree damage in my front and back yard. A Maple tree in the back split, half falling on a portion of the backyard fence. There is a tall Pine in the backyard that lost a lot of limbs. A view from the front porch. A street scene or two. These photos were all snapped Saturday and Sunday.

The following is an e-mail I sent to my bosses at SMG letting them know how I was faring in the ice. With a driving ban in place and the possibilty of more ice and damge to my home I wanted to give them a heads up in case I was unable to work for them the next day:

Well, I have numerous tree limbs down and one of them severed my tv cable. I am one of the lucky ones whose power has not been lost. However, there is a no driving ban In effect. I spent good portion of today cutting tree limbs from my phone wires and some large branches weighing down the power line to my house. It was a dicey operation as I was worried the power line might break any time. About an hour ago the rain resumed and its below 30 degrees. If this continues I may wake up to some real trouble in the morning. I don't think my power lines to the house can take much more. Gary
Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 22, 2013, at 10:39 AM

Frost On The Windows

It was a mere 3 degrees this morning here in Chaumont, NY. That was at 6:00AM. It is now 12:30 and 17 degrees. The Sun is out and that makes the snow sparkle. It is this cold weather that creates frost formations on the windows. The photo here is a sample. It would be more interesting to have a macro lens to get some close ups. But that will have to be for another day.