we interrupt spring break for a major winter storm

Yesterday when the local NPR station reported that folks in Champaign could expect 5-9 inches of snow, I failed to immediately register the second part of the forecast: that we could also expect 40 mph winds. What that means is that instead of waking up to a placid winter wonderland (as if this place needs more peacefulness now that everyone's left town for break), I woke up to what looks like a bad first attempt to use a snow machine, kind of like the one I saw a few weeks ago in front of a campus frat house: the ground covered unevenly, sheets of snow blowing off the roof, little snow funnels forming here and there on the road. What's worse, of course, is that the wind drastically reduces the felt temperature outside. And with two kids, ages 11 and 8 visiting, I'm likely to find myself going out in this mess.

Comments

[spencer]

burrrrrr!

[Keguro]

Everyone warned me the Northeast would be So Much Worse.

It's sunny with a high of 44 today.

I'm going out to play.

[Jt]

It was a lovely bike ride into campus today.

I'm beginning to think Tennessee doesn't have weather.

[caraf]

Hey, post a photo of this so-called "major storm," says the slacker in Athens, GA, who is enjoying a chilly but sunny day in the fifties. Oh, and while you're at it, could you go over and shovel my driveway?

[dhawhee]

Hey Athenians--all the photos are on my sister's camera heading back to Tennessee. For a major storm, I'll say that it turned out not to be all that major. We made it to the hill at Orchard Downs to find good sledding conditions despite the visible mud and grass toward the top. It's melting pretty well today.