Winter Storm 2011

I'll be honest, I didn't expect much from the impending storm when forecasters first began to issue alerts for Metro Atlanta last week.  Initially the meteorologists would say, "the models are showing conflicting readings for snowfall amounts" or "right now we're predicting anywhere from three to six inches of snowfall."  Well by Sunday afternoon forecasters were finally able to provide definitive numbers and ETA for the fast approaching snow/ice event.  They were absolutely correct because I woke up around 4:30 Monday morning to the sound of wind, snow and freezing rain hitting my bedroom windows.  By 8:30 that morning the light of day revealed snow covered streets, roofs and trees - it was a winter wonderland! 

The freezing rain continued for a few more hours, occasionally changing back to snow, then to freezing rain again.  The ice accumulation was certainly significant, especially on Atlanta's major highways.  So much so that most of Metro Atlanta (which includes 20 counties) was shut down.  By Tuesday morning, conditions had worsened.  Most of the snow became compacted and turned to ice. Many streets and highways were found with ice sheets from a half to 1 inch thick.  Needless to say driving conditions were treacherous, but surprisingly quite a few daring folk braved the conditions and drove anyway.  Not a smart idea for many, considering the countless abandoned vehicles scattered across the cities streets and highways or in ditches.  

Despite the horrible driving conditions our first major winter storm of the year left behind for us to weather, you can't deny the beauty of how snow and ice transforms a landscape. It's nature's way of putting that final touch on a beautiful work of art and I couldn't resist getting out in my neighborhood this morning with my camera to capture it.  Enjoy these images!

  - Monica Simone 

Ice shoes work great!

Snow on my roof

The Clubhouse

Mel's favorite slide

I love the ice leaves - so cool!