Topic: snow

Late season snow delights youngsters, slows travel

By Christine Anne Piesyk | March 12, 2009 |

The dark purple of a pansy against the snow.

What a difference a day makes! On Tuesday the region basked in 80 degrees of summer-like warmth and sunshine. Barbecue grills were dragged out and fired up, just as area residents hustled to find “cool” clothing to don for this brief taste of seasons yet to come.

Adhering to the adages of the weatherwise, if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.

So it is that northern Middle Tennessee saw temperature drop by 50 degrees, viewed a sky of thickening  clouds, and watched in awe as winter took what may be its last punch of the 2008-09 season.

Snow. Sleet. Freezing rain. Salt brine and sanding trucks, even a snow plow on Fort Campbell Boulevard.  The snow line moved south over the course of the day, arriving in lower Clarksville in mid-afternoon, some time after north Clarksville was already eyeing light accumulation.

In New England, this kind of snowfall is “sugar snow,” a late season wet snowfall that comes even as the springtime rush of sap is surging through the sugar maples, sap that is gathered in buckets, pouring into wood-fired arches to boil — 40 gallons of sap makes a gallon of syrup in a 24/7 marathon that only works in late winter on the cusp of spring, when days are warm and nights are cold. Light golden Grade A syrup is considered the finest, with the dark amber B (or less) syrup as the “end of season fare (I actually like the darker richer taste of the Grade B). Today’s snow was a light coating of “sugar snow.”

I miss New England, and this snowfall was a gift of sorts. Being out in it was, for me, a treat.

Snow-covered bridge at Billy Dunlop Park

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Snow showers expected tonight and Monday

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 30, 2008 |

If you think the gray cloudy sky looks like winter and the temperature feels cold enough to snow, you’re right.

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement calling for “snow showers” and the possibility of a slick dusting of snow overnight tonight and into Monday. The statement reads in part:

“Colder temperatures will change lingering rain showers to snow showers tonight. Snow showers will continue on Monday with temperatures remaining in the 30s. Light accumulations possible over Middle Tennessee. Tonight’s low will hover at the freezing mark of 32, with a west wind at 15-20 mph.”

Snow showers are “likely” on Monday with winds gusting to 25 mph and the daytime high hovering in the mid-30s.

Weather service forecasters noted that there has not been “measurable snow” in November since 1996, and the average date of the first half inch of snow in this area is January 3.

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Winter scenes at Dunbar Cave

By Christine Anne Piesyk | February 1, 2008 |

Away from the traffic and chaos triggered by Thursday’s unexpected icy snowfall, Clarksville Online author and photographer Debbie Boen enjoyed the solitude, silence and peaceful beauty of the Dunbar Cave landscape in winter. She gives these images from one of Clarksville’s natural treasures.

The view from the mouth of the cave

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Winter: A morning meditation

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 4, 2008 |

It is snowing. Lightly. Soft flurries that dance to the earth, not in the wild frenzy of a winter storm but rather, in a time-honored waltz that whispers “I’m here, come out and walk with me!” So what if it is -4. There is no wind, ergo, no wind chill.

A half hour before, I unfurled myself from the toasty warmth of wooley blankets and prepared to meet the day. Destination: computer lab. I step from my dorm to the outdoors when the magic of that gentle snow happened. In the lamplight, the ground (which is measured in feet of snow) sparkled with the crystalline glitter of well chilled granular snow, diamonds and shards of silver reflecting light. From the low roofline of the Clockhouse (below) icicles are measured by the yard, growing downward, earthbound and more weighty with each new inch.

I am the only one up and about, just me,  with a fleece scarf loosely hung around my neck, my wool coat still unbuttoned, gloves neatly folded in the pocket. «Read the rest of this article»

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On a snowy road in America: snow, politics and wood-burning stoves

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 1, 2008 |

Crossing the state line into Vermont, the first thing I spotted — beside the snow — was a Ron Paul sign. Blue state, it screamed.

My first memorable stop on this On The Road In America sojourn was Brattleboro, a quick pause at the roadside trailer that serves as the Vermont Trailways bus terminal, and the first bit of local news: a story about the upcoming town meeting and a petition to charge President Bush and Vice-President Cheney with war crimes. That was followed by a jumble of news stories about the inroads John McCain is making in his New Hampshire presidential primary bid. I felt right at home. Snow on the ground and political discourse hot enough to melt it. «Read the rest of this article»

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