>>:::<<
petite cotton balls
blanketing as downy quilts
their journey accomplished
>>:::<<
It’s still the middle of autumn, but the last three days have made me feel like we’re in the middle of winter. We received our second large snowstorm this season, and the biggest snowstorm in over a year, per our local evening news. My eyes confirm that statement based on how deep the snow is in our yard.
It’s amazing how quickly the weather can change. Thursday was a very nice, sunny, warm day with temperatures in the mid 60’sF (about 19 Celsius) and no snow on the ground. On Friday morning, we woke up to about a foot of snow (30cm) and freezing temperatures, and it has been snowing almost nonstop since. Saturday morning we woke up to a few more inches of snow, about 16 inches total (41cm). Right now, Sunday afternoon, there is about 22 inches (55cm) of heavy, wet snow accumulated on our deck since Friday. You can see the difference in those snow depths among the above images. (I live at an elevation of about 5,500 ft/1,676 meters. The elevation of nearby Salt Lake City is 4,226 ft/1,288 meters.)
I enjoy the beauty of living where we experience all four distinct seasons. Freshly fallen snow blanketing the mountains and valleys is certainly beautiful in the winter, even if I don’t like driving in it. However, last year was a dismal snowfall year here. We live in a dry, desert climate, and my state’s (Utah, USA) water supply is dependent on the buildup of winter snowpack in the mountains and the resulting spring water runoffs into our reservoirs. Also, the ski tourism industry here, with 14 world-class ski resorts and “The Greatest Snow on Earth®” is an important part of the regional economy and obviously dependent on snow levels.
Hopefully, this large snowstorm indicates a good start to a respite and renewing some of the snowfall totals we didn’t get last year. However, the Utah State University Climate Center found that over the past 40 years, Utah has warmed twice as fast as the global average, and our annual snowpack is shrinking. Time will tell, but it is a situation that cannot be ignored.
This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is to share a picture
that means renewal to you.
Linking up with:
YOUR SUNDAY BEST
Other References:
- http://nsfmessengers.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/against-the-stream-how-climate-change-and-urbanization-threaten-utahs-water-resources-and-what-utah-science-can-do-about-it/
- http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765571258/Who-believes-in-climate-change-Many-studies-point-that-global-warming-is-legitimate.html?pg=all
- http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53909597-78/snow-utah-climate-rain.html.csp
- http://climate.usurf.usu.edu/news/081512Climate_News_46_Aug_12.pdf
- http://www.utahoutside.com/2012/06/utah-skier-numbers-down-for-20112012-season/
- http://wasatchweatherweenies.blogspot.com/2012/02/year-without-winter.html
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wow did you ever get dumped on! Beautiful, though..
We’ve just had the gritters heading along the road out here
I love snow photography! Impressive snowfall by the way!
Those images are so beautiful! we have two seasons where i live.. rainy or dry.. the dry season will end soon, so we go from dust to mud, but thankfully i have not seen a dust storm like that!
z
WOW— that is a lot of snow—- great pictutres!!!! Loved them!!!
Wow! Snow! Amazing! It had to be close to 80F here today.
Looks like you really got hammered.
I like those photos. It’s funny too, I’ve always wanted to run a time lapse video of exactly that type of scene. Start with almost bare outdoor furniture, then show the progression as the snow falls and inches really start to mount up.
Beautiful, but hard work … Utha, and that must snow already – maybe we are all up for a hard winter this year. Stunning photos.
Holy tomoly FM! Stay warm and cozy! Margie
Snowfall brings such a quiet beauty over the landscape.
Very impressive snowfall. Lovely photos (and I hope this early snowfall results in plenty of water at the end of the season).
We’ve had lots of rain through Spring, so hopefully that will serve us well as the long range weather forecast was for a particularly dry summer.
In recent years, the weather is predictably UN-predictable.
The first few snowfalls are such welcome beauty!
Look at that snow!!! Beautiful…
The beauty of this, for someone who has not lived thru’ a snowy winter for some 30 years, is a magical experience – thank you!
Hope you did not mind a repost: dedicated to a lady who is medically copping something noone ever should . . .
Makes me homesick…..cannot wait to be back…thanks for sharing and the pictures are pretty
As beautiful as it looks… you can keep it… give me the sunshine any day…
Oh, it’s really heavy snow. I didn’t expect that you live in such cold place.
The snow is beautiful.
Beautiful! Autumn is first taking hold in Texas.
I’m with bulldog! What a drastic overnight change you had.
I do miss snow. we barely had any last year in London and I don’t think we are expecting much this winter either. I love snuggling with a book and tea on a snow day.
And I thought we got snow in Finland!!! Now, that’s a LOT of snow this time of the year alright! Gorgeous, pristine and the world does look all brand new! Simply lovely. Sharon
It certainly looks like a promising start for Utah!
I wish you a wonderful winter, FM!
🙂
22 inches!!!! We didn’t have that much and i felt snowed in… But like you, we had a lovely weekend weather too. 😉
There is such a quiet and beautiful serenity with new snowfall, Everything seems so clean and new. Great refreshing pictures.
Wow Fergie, I didn’t realize that you live in Utah…enjoy the snow!
wow, that is all I can say (*_*)
surreal!!!
White snow! It paints wonderful images that stimulates the fantasy.
I’m so happy for you! We are still so behind on our precip for the past two years, it’s scary.
Haha. 😀 That’s so funny!!!
Grab the shovel! 🙂
I also love the beauty of four seasons. I really like your photos.
i love your time lapse snow pictures
Wow – that is a lot of snow! I love snow, but it always creates problems when there is such a big fall all at once. In order to get out of our street and up the hill to the main road and civilization, we are dependent on the snowplough clearing the snow first.
Lovely shots – hope it warms up enough to enjoy the snow.
Beautiful renewal – and soon it will come to us up here too!
Amazing. Love pictures of snow. We don’t really get snow in South Africa except for on the top of a few mountains and twice (in my life) it snowed in Johannesburg where I live and then it was maybe a few inches.
wowee fergiemoto – the effect of the world’s climate and its changes seem to be felt moreso in places like Utah. Friday night in LA was so so cold… I guess this was a reason?
My, that’s a lot of snow! How do your deck furniture survive a dunking like that?
That is a lot of snow. I already bought jackets for my trip to Connecticut this weekend. Used to Texan weather, I bet I’ll freeze as soon as the airplane door opens.
oh wow, Fergiemoto, that is an amazing dump! it does look beautiful.
 l
so far the local mountains have had some dusting, but i personally don’t mind that it hasn’t snowed in town.
thanks for all the many visits to my blog recently, by the way. much appreciated! 🙂
Beautiful….My God!! So soon!!! Today here we had 16ºC…But it was freezing two nights ago…Weather is quite crazy!!! Still, no snow by the moment!
Too much snow!!!! And cold…. looks so beautiful though! 🙂
It’s beautiful, but I still don’t miss the days of snow
That’s gorgeous! Looking forward to have snow here in Prague!
There is nothing as clean and revitalizing as freshly fallen snow, and your photos have captured its innocent beauty so well. We still have only had a dusting, and as we are also way down in our water levels from little snow last year and little rain last summer, we need a snowy winter. Don’t like to drive it in either, but nice when it comes in increments and piles up a little.