We're getting pounded here in the Washington, DC area. Woke up to 9 inches and we're now expecting 15-24 inches. My son is thrilled - this is his first big snow. The local news just declared a blizzard warning because the winds are picking up and will be gusting above 35 mph. My husband isn't impressed. He's from Indianapolis, IN and says this was normal conditions for that area. He has pictures of a snow drift that reached his second story bedroom window. He and his sisters opened the window at one point and took a few sled rides down the drift until getting caught when my mother-in-law investigated why the house was getting so cold. Hope everyone in the mid-Atlantic region stays warm and safe and it looks like we'll have a White Christmas since the snow will be staying around for a while. Hopefully, I can get some writing done since I'm home bound.

Congratulations on all your snow Becky and enjoy it. Like your husband I remember snow falls with snow so deep we could ski over farm fences and across the fields. I wish we still had weather like that. Enjoy your snow while it lasts.

Lucky you, Becky! I'm going into my third winter living in Indianapolis. Today, we're just getting a dusting of snow, but I do remember one day last year where 18 inches came down in one night -that's the biggest snowfall I've seen yet here. I like snow, so I'd be thrilled to see drifts as high as the windows! As a kid in Nova Scotia, I remember the snowplows that cleared the roads would fill the ditches with snow and create giant banks of snow along the sides of the road. We used to make amazing snowforts every winter, tunneling into these snowbanks.

We're probably going to get about an inch here in Eastern Virginia. It's flooding in some places, already though...we've started with wind and rain, changing over to snow tonight. I wish we'd get hammered in with snow just once this winter! Enjoy the snow, Becky! And stay safe and warm!

I grew up in West Virginia and we had snow all the time, but in small amounts. I had a college friend from central WV who had a picture of a school bus on a road with snow piled on both sides literally taller than the bus and he said that happened every few years. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I hate damp, cold weather. We went out and tried to shovel. I hated dping it, but we figured with 3 of us doing it, it would be easier and faster. Wrong. The snow is light, but there's a layer of ice on the bottom. There are drifts already over 2 feet high. We were only able to get the sidewalk and about a third of the driveway. Within 2 hours, those areas are already covered and piling up again. Its beautiful to watch and I'm waiting for my son to ask to go sledding. I wish we had a jacuzzi.

Snow. For Christmas. I love freshly fallen snow, it's so pure and makes everything look magical and sparkly. Turns adults into kids again without any embarrassment or inhibitions. And the air smells so clean after a good snowfall... Excuse me while I just turn the air-con up. It's a little warm here today. Darn the southern summer...

I am sure Ebony would agree with you on that Green. Here where I live, I would love to see some of that snow. If it comes, I just want it to fall AFTER I have finished my holiday travels.

Better you than me Becky. I've got trick knees and ankles and neither like icy snow very much. But I hope your son enjoys. I know my kids enjoy going up to the mountains to play while I sit in the car and watch or read.

Gee, am I the only one hoping that this Winter will be snow-free??? I HATE snow... hate it hate it hate it...

You're all so lucky ... those who can have a white Christmas!! With all its drawbacks, snow makes everything look so magical and fun! It never snowed at Malta and I only saw and touched it only a few times when I went abroad! When it's really cold here, small balls of ice tend to fall heavily with the rain ... I don't know the exact meteorogical term for it in English but it's so different from that fluffy snow ... and hard! Although our winter temperatures are higher than those from other countries, here we have a lot of humidity, thus the cold cuts in straight to the bones and it feels so damp! Those who suffer from arthritis won't like it for sure ... I know because I have it in my back! Today we have a lot of wind! It's been strong for this last fortnight and doesn't want to know about calming a bit down! I hate it so much as it literally tosses all our pots and outside decorations all over the place and I worry about how I should protect my kids from it when we go out! All in all, I wish that someday I can take part in a snowball fight like those I watch in movies!!

I've always loved winter. I'm more inclined to be that person, in the summer, who's whining that it's too hot. In fact, I like it best when it's really, really cold, so that the sky is blue and the sun is bright, the snow glitters, there's no slush to soak your boots, and the air just feels so clean and crisp -I find it makes me feel more awake and energetic. Granted, winters where I live these days, it never really gets that cold, and tends to be more grey and slushy...

Depending on which drift we measured, we ended up with somewhere between 15 and 36 inches. It was beautiful last night, with the street lights shining off it with little sparkles. But then came morning and the realization we had to finish digging out. Took the 3 of us 2 hours after starting yesterday while it was still snowing. Some of the piles we created are over 5 feet tall. My son was supposed to have school Monday and Tuesday, but the county wisely closed and started the school Christmas break early. Alex was thrilled. He tried to go sled riding but the snow is so fine, he and his plastic disk sled sank down into it so far he couldn't move. I think sledding is best on 4-6 inches. As long as I can be in a nice, warm house with enough food, I don't care. The Federal government decided to be closed tomorrow in the WDC area to allow more clean-up time, so I get another day off. We're leaving Tuesday for Florida, where its scheduled to be in the 70s. Then I'll be thrilled.

I agree the snow was too soft to sled . We got about 20 in. in the Fredericksburg area.

Gatchamarie, I believe that you have described 'sleet'. Oh, joy. Sleet. (At least it isn't hail: that destroys things.)

Originally posted by lborgia88 I've always loved winter. I'm more inclined to be that person, in the summer, who's whining that it's too hot. In fact, I like it best when it's really, really cold, so that the sky is blue and the sun is bright, the snow glitters, there's no slush to soak your boots, and the air just feels so clean and crisp -I find it makes me feel more awake and energetic. Granted, winters where I live these days, it never really gets that cold, and tends to be more grey and slushy...

I am right there with you LB. Winter is my favourite and easiest time of the year clothing wise. All you have to do is layer and you are fine. In summer you can only take off so much before you are in trouble.

Originally posted by clouddancer I am right there with you LB.

Alright! We can celebrate the Winter Solstice today.

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter Gatchamarie, I believe that you have described 'sleet'. Oh, joy. Sleet. (At least it isn't hail: that destroys things.)

You're right, UW! Here it's called "siltch", as pronounciated in the Maltese language, which is rightly written as "silg" with a dot on the letter "g" making it sound like "tch" in English! It is literally translated as "ice" but I knew that there was another term by which it should be called and, I think, you nailed the very word! Thanks, UW!

We have had the oppositehere in NSW Australia! Late night it was a hail and heavy rain thunder storm with bolt lightning. The works! The last two weeks we've had days when heat of the day has topped 40C or around 108F. Thats early for days that hot and as general rule if we get extremes early I bet you have early snow storms too!!!

Yes Tonight is the longest night of the year. From here on, the days are going to be staying lighter for longer. Up here in the Northern part of the world we really notice these short days and "early" nights. I am sure Ebony does in her part of the world as well. Although for her it is the opposite. Long days and short nights.

Yep, we have snow here! Im going sledging.

I'm leaving for Florida in a few hours and I can't wait. I'm betting the snow will still be here Saturday when we get back.

All our beautiful snow is gone. It rained literally all day yesterday, and melted it all away. It was beautiful while it lasted (we had about 8" in my area of New Jersey. Not the big winner from the storm - the shore area got 24" or more!). Now they're talking the possibility of another one over New Year's weekend (another Nor'easter - watch out Becky, Springie, and whoever else is along the North Atlantic coast!). But today is only Sunday, and they're talking about Friday, so we'll see what happens.

The snow's still here, but we can see about 50% of our grass now. Florida was wonderful, but we had to come home. Hinatori - what do you mean, more snow? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmm, very strange climatic phenomenon, I suppose, it`s one of Galactor`s tricks. I`m far from from home now, but they say that so much snow in my town last time was once in the 19th century.

I agree Yul there are some strange weather situations going on. In Britain they are having problems with snow storms and have no idea how to clear it so the transport trucks can drive on them, but maybe a few of our British friends can make more comments on this. I am only reporting what I have heard from relatives in the South of England and my Grandmother who has moved to Scotland this fall and is experiencing her first large snow fall.

You have strange and freezing cold snow storms and we get VERY hot days!!! Its almost predictable..... Right now its raining outside and a lot cooler for the first time in weeks!

Such changes in climate are being felt all over the world! Seasons are showing up at their extremes ... very cold winters and very hot summers! Then there are those erratic instances during which hot weather, with temperatures above the normal occur during these cold winters and cold weather or heavy rain, with temperatures sometimes under the normal, occur during the hot summers. I recently heard that this is maybe due to the interchanging of the Earth's poles and, then, there's even the glasshouse effect that can be the culprit! The Mediterranean climate is getting so unpredictable! I can even distinguish the changes from way back when I was a child ... for example, I remember myself wearing long sleeves and warmer clothes from mid-September when I was younger, but now I'm still wearing summer clothes up till even the month of November!

Well I hope you guys are all enjoying your snow! I spent too many years living through winters so I feel like I have my lfietime supply already. In California (at least, where we are) we don't get snow... and I love it! But we're still close enough to drive into the moutnains and play in it for a day, if we wish.