What is the most snow you have ever seen? I was talking with my Dad about the snowfall totals in Georgia that fell on Friday. When I wondered what was the deepest snow that he had seen in his lifetime, he reminded me of the snow that we had driven through in February of 1973. We lived in St. Mary's, Georgia at the time and we were returning to Conyers, Georgia for a visit. (Of course, there was no mention of a major snow storm expected in middle Georgia!) My Dad was driving the whole family and as we drove up I-75, it started to snow. It snowed and snowed and snowed!
There was two lanes, but since the snow covered everything, we could only follow in the path of the big trucks that were still driving. Most people pulled over and tried to stay in hotels but not my Dad! We had to pull off one time to buy gas and my Dad realized that he would not be able to get back onto the highway, as the entrance ramp was uphill. What to do? He BACKED UP the exit ramp. Now, this was not easy...he would start to reverse, and then, see someone trying to exit off the highway. He would have to drive the car forward again, wait for the car to pass us, and then, reverse again, watching carefully. Finally, we got back on the highway. Now, I didn't tell you...but while we were at the gas station, we were only able to walk around a bit in amazement at the amount of snow. It was up to my knees! My siblings and I couldn't wait to get to Conyers so we could build a snowman. As we drove closer to the Atlanta area, we kept seeing less and less snow...by the time we got to Conyers...the ground was completely dry. It was cold but no snow.
You should have seen our car! It was completely covered in snow. It looked like it had been dropped from the North Pole. No kidding.
Looking it up now, I see that this storm was called The Great Southeastern Snowstorm and from the statistics, I see that Macon had 16. 5 inches of snow! So, if someone asks me what is the largest amount of snow that you have experienced? My answer...16 and one half inches! No one expected this in middle Georgia in 1973...there were a lot of people stranded but my Dad was determined to make it through. You know he did!
I know you guys really got hit over the weekend and hopefully all's well by now. I was going to post about our measly snowfall but it just didn't seem relevant when the south had us whipped! I know it won't last down there so enjoy it while you can and don't send any up here..we're fine!
ReplyDeleteYaya, it WAS a lot of snow for most folks in the Atlanta area, but not for me! :-) It snowed north of us, south of us and west of us...oh well, maybe we might get some next time.
DeleteSixteen and a half inches is a good snowfall in a single storm! Very Canadian, in fact. How'd you steal our snow in 1973?
ReplyDeleteThat 1973 snow in Middle Georgia was a BIG surprise. There were ZERO snow plows, so you can imagine what a mess the roads were! Funny thing, most of my friends in this area don't know anything about that snowstorm, I only know of it because we came right through it, thanks to the expert driving from our father!
DeleteI've only ever seen snow from a distance...and that was when I was in Tasmania back in the 80s.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I just typed in "snow in Tasmania". Apparently, there was a snowstorm in September of 2017...the pictures are lovely!
DeleteStrangely, for I have only been in snowy climes about 5-6 times in my life, I experienced much deeper snow in Ottawa and Quebec in 2010. Each day we walked about 1km to my daughters through banks of snow about a metre high. We have to cover our faces as it was snowing all day every day. In Quebec City it was -20c and we could hardly walk to the bus! I vowed never again, but now we are about to fly off in less than 24 hours to do White Christmas in Ottawa.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to think of your white Christmas in Ottawa! Enjoy it but make sure you bundle up! Take care!
DeleteWhat a story! I am glad you all came through alright. I imagine your Dad's car did not even have winter tyres :-)
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I have been on holiday in January in the Black Forest and in the alpine region of south Germany, both times I have seen snow higher than I was. The roads were dug by big snow ploughs and looked like tunnels - only without the roof. You can imagine it was fantastic for us kids!
One holiday, we left the small bed & breakfast one or two days earlier than booked, because my parents feared we would not make it home on the snowy roads otherwise.
The car would have been a 1972 Ford LTD with NO snow tires, for sure! Funny thing, that car is STILL on the road! I see it now and again in the local parking lots here, and snap a photo of it for my Dad. (My Dad sold it to someone many years ago.) How do I know FOR SURE that it is the same car? Well, I ACCIDENTENTLY bumped the fender at the back, when I backed into some bushes. The bent fender is still there! My Dad said he hated that I did that at the time, but now, he is glad of it, so we know it is the same car! LOL.
DeleteThat snow in middle Georgia was the most snow he has seen in Georgia, but he has been to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and saw snow drifts higher than his head. Jackson Hole is the prettiest place he has seen in this country, by the way. (I asked him!)
We really were lucky we made it through okay, but honestly, if you knew my Dad, you would not be surprised that we did! :-)
Your dad is an amazing man, but i've known that since the first time i read a post about him!
ReplyDeleteWell, you know I think he is amazing, but I am glad I am able to convey that in a post on my blog!
DeleteI remember the 1973 snow storm, we were in Macon at the time. My sister and I was on the phone talking to each other when it started, she said "I hope it snows 18 inches" and I believe it did.
ReplyDeleteSylvia, I am glad you remember it too! It was just SO much snow! And you know how amazing it was for that part of Georgia!
DeleteWow, that's a lot of snow. We had a couple of good snows when we lived in Augusta in the 80's, but none here on the coast.
ReplyDeleteRemember I said in the post that we were living in St. Mary's, Georgia and we drove up to Conyers? Well, it even snowed a bit in St. Mary's! It was enough to lightly cover the cars, some of my friends from school, that was the first snow they had ever seen!
DeleteI don't know inches but I can remember several times that all the cars were buried in snow. I grew up in an area where a lot of snow is not unusual. I absolutely love the cheery pink header.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you love the pink flowers! Look out for a future post about them!
DeleteOur first vacation to GA 6 years ago was to St. Mary's - that's a lot of snow for any place, let alone in GA! In 2011 we had 28 inches here in Chicago. We woke up to snow half way up our windows and we couldn't open the doors. Once we cleared the snow to open the doors, we couldn't move. All day and night neighbors were shoveling to get paths cleared between homes. It was the most amazing sight and actually was very fun. I don't think St. Simons Island, GA has ever had snow which is why we plan to move there! I'm not a lover of snow. At all lol.
ReplyDeleteI will take your word for it that snow that buries in your house is fun! LOL!
DeleteYou plan to move to St. Simon's? How wonderful! You have reminded me, I need to do a post about living in St Mary's and about St. Simon's Island!
A good account of Georgia snowfall. We get around that depth here in winter but only occasionally these days. It used to be far more frequent and severe and in the early 1980s I remember folk in rural areas higher up digging down to reach their cars... so drifts around ten to twelve feet deep then. A few years ago The Lake of Menteith froze solid in minus 20 below with curling teams, hundreds of walkers and even a landrover crossing the ice out to the islands in the middle. I posted that on the blog... got some photos of the River Clyde frozen solid as well but that's not common. Only twice in 40 years. I wouldn't like to live further north- it must be grim. Only minus 10 tonight in Scotland. Almost swimming weather here :o)
ReplyDeleteWell, I am from a warm climate, so the cold that you describe leaves me...cold! Ha, ha!
DeleteI'm amazed. I think we've never had that much snow here, and to have it in Georgia is astonishing! I do remember from the winter of 1949 that we had a huge amount of snow, though I am not sure how much. I was four years old. The boys down the street made a snow house of several rooms (no roof) and I could walk from room to room. I always wanted that to happen again, but there was never that much snow...
ReplyDeleteCan you remember walking in rooms of snow at the age of four? My friend, you should write a poem about it, that sounds like such a wonderful memory.
DeleteNear Lake Chautauqua where our cottage is, the snow is much more heavy. And around 1975 a neighbor told me of snow that fell to halfway up on her kitchen windows. She said dogs ran by on it and stared down at her in the kitchen. Snowbound!
ReplyDeleteSnow halfway up to the kitchen windows? That is incredible, I can't imagine it!
DeleteIn 1973, I was living in New York City. I guess we had snow back then, but I don't remember how deep it was.
ReplyDeleteI hope you saw Central Park in the snow! I love Central Park, but I have never seen it in snow.
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