An edited scene from my home office window before 8 a.m. today.
WHAT I FEARED MAY OCCUR is currently unfolding across the Midwest. Snow. Lots and lots of snow.
The snow in and of itself really is quite lovely, unless you must deal with it, drive in it.
And that’s precisely the problem. I don’t need to tell you that. I expect many of you, like me, are awaiting the arrival of loved ones for Christmas.
My second daughter, who lives 300 miles away in Appleton, Wisconsin, is scheduled to drive to Faribault on Friday, her first trip back since the Fourth of July. I want my girl home for the holidays.
But…the situation in Wisconsin right now is not good with snow and blowing snow creating hazardous travel conditions. Nor is it good in southeastern Minnesota, where blizzard warnings are in effect for as near to me as Steele County, the county right next to my home county of Rice. We’ve gotten perhaps five inches of snow here in Faribault.
Radio announcers are reporting difficult travel along Interstate 35 south of Faribault on into Iowa. The Minnesota Department of Transportation 511 website confirms difficult driving conditions throughout the southeastern region with words like “snow, drifting snow, blowing, slippery.”
Three hundred miles away in Outagamie County, in which Appleton is located, the sheriff’s department has issued a tow ban on US 41, a major north-south freeway linking cities like Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay. My daughter travels US 41 often in her work as a Spanish medical interpreter. It worries me that she may be sent out to some hospital emergency room in an outlying rural community today.
I realize it does no good to worry. But I am a mother, and mothers never stop worrying about their offspring, even when those children are independent adults. Given last week’s tragic loss of 20 children in Sandy Hook, I think we are all especially emotionally vulnerable right now.
WHAT ARE WEATHER and road conditions like in your area? Has the weather changed your holiday travel plans or those of loved ones?
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
We are on our way to see Craig and family by plane later today. For now it is very windy here and colder than it has been. Had a dusting of snow overnite.
Merry Christmas to all of you and we do hope Miranda makes it to MN.
Merry Christmas to you also, Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Robin.
I just spoke with Miranda and she is based out of home today as everyone was told not to come into the office. Patients have been canceling appointments. She has had one appointment, right in Appleton, and getting there went OK, although she said her apartment parking lot has not been plowed yet.
Snow has stopped falling in Faribault.
2-3 inches. Wind at 25 now supposed to go to 40. West of here was missed by the storm. You could be in the Quad Cities.
Thanks for the weather report from Mankato, Clyde. And, yes, it could be worse, much worse. Snow has stopped here.
I am in central MN and there has been no change. We have four celebrations this weekend, the furthest only 40 miles away. I hope your children arrive safely. Merry Christmas!
Four celebrations in one weekend. Wow, that is a lot of celebrating and a lot of food. But what fun.
Thank you for the safe travel wishes. The son is already home from Fargo. The other daughter will be here from Minneapolis, her boyfriend from St. Paul. Now, if we can get Miranda home on Friday, it will be good. She has to return the afternoon of Christmas Eve, if she doesn’t have to work, which she may now have to do. Last year she missed Christmas with us because of work.
I hope your daughter gets home safely in time for Christmas. I know the storm has been bad in some parts of the Midwest. Our rain is just now beginning to turn to snow. My daughter scooted in from downstate earlier in the day to miss the storm. Son is waiting until tomorrow in hopes that the roads will be cleared by then. I know it’s bad for drivers, but I do so want a white Christmas this year. Last year we got a dusting a few days ahead, but it was gone by Christmas. We are supposed to get 4-6 inches.
Thank you. I hope your son gets home alright also. Our daughter has to leave already right after lunch on Christmas Eve, or perhaps even work now on Christmas Eve.
Hope the snow calms down and everyone makes it for the Holidays! Have a Great One:)
Yes, everyone, get to where you are going without incident. Drive safe. Travel smart. Boots and extra blanket and winter emergency kit inside the car, cell phone charged.
DH says he figures about 8″ but how can one tell??? It’s all being rearranged constantly!! No traveling for us….family right here (for the most part!). By tomorrow the sun is supposed to shine but still be breezy. Traveling will resume normally….It is the Midwest, after all, and we are such “hardy” people!!! At least that’s what the rest of the nation seems to think!!!! God speed to all your loved ones, dear Audrey!
I wondered what the situation was like down in your area of southeastern Minnesota. Thanks for the report from Houston.
Is that true, or a misconception, that we are hardy Midwesterners?
Well, I am off to finish shoveling the driveway.
Thank you for the well wishes for my loved ones, Doreen. You are the best, the sweetest.
Sure we’re “tough”/of questionable mental status when it comes to travel in such conditions. I just saw the plow go by and entertained the thought of driving to town but DH reminded me that he hadn’t plowed in front of my garage!!! (Yes, I DID say “my” garage….we are on a farm and build to house ‘stuff’…LOL!) Thinking of you and your house-full. Quiet here. A bit of that in this “life season”!!!!!!! HA!
Oh, Doreen, what is so important that you have to go to town in this weather? Do I sound just like your mother?
I just got back from outside, shoveling the rest of the driveway. What I noticed is that the wind has most definitely picked up and it feels a lot colder than at 8 a.m.
Didn’t go anywhere. The road crews kept the road cleared but haven’t put down any sand, etc, so they are mirrors!!!!!
So best to stay home then until roads improve, unless your vehicle skates.
Hope to be out and about today. Christmas luncheon at noon in town. Shouldn’t be too much of a problem. School is 2 hours late today….to make sure the roads are cleared and it’s light out!!!!!
And it’s cold. Nine below windchill in this area, I just heard on the radio. Be safe.
Will do. The sound of DH’s plowing is in my ears at the moment. Roads are good and soon the driveway will be, also!!! LOL!
It’s so worrying when family needs to travel in the winter! I’ll be sending good vibes that the snow ends and the roads are fine for your daughter’s trip home.
Thank you.
I am the same type of mother like you…I WANT my kids home, but not on bad roads. I wish my kids lived within a 15 minute drive from me, they all live like 2 or more hours away. In Montevideo, we just have cold and wind…we can drive in that. Hopefully your kids all make it home for your Christmas!
Glad to hear the storm missed your area of Minnesota. It’s really not bad around Faribault, although I certainly would not venture south of here.
Here’s hoping your kids all get to your house safe also.
Praying your daughter gets safely home for Christmas! It’s that darn blowing and drifting that’s causing all the problems, maybe it’ll settle down tonight and they’ll get things cleared for safe travels.
Thanks, Jackie. She’ll have to see what roads look like at noon tomorrow, planned departure time. We’ve advised her to take the northern route from Appleton rather than going south through Tomah and La Crosse, if she decides to travel. As of 10 p.m., snow was still falling in Appleton.
I wish you could send me some. We have bare patches in our yard. And I’m very much a “White Christmas” girl, so with no snow in the forecast, I’m a little bummed.
Should definitely remain white here through Christmas with the cold temps now in place. I do understand what you mean about being a “White Christmas” girl. Even I appreciate a snow-covered landscape for Christmas.
We only got an inch or so in the southern metro yesteday morning which caused plenty of issues during the morning commute. Winds have picked up and it was bitter cold this morning. Meghan didn’t get to play outside yesterday due to the windchill. We are staying put for the holidays and hoping for a little warm up. Let the snow angel and snowman making commence. Hoping Miranda makes it home for the pre-Christmas weekend.
Thanks for that report from the south metro. Good to hear you are staying put, especially with that sweet little one. (Loved the photo card, BTW.)
Miranda is striking out shortly after noon today and will spend the night with her sister in Minneapolis. She thought conditions had improved enough to travel in Wisconsin.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Wishing you and yours a safe and joyful Christmas. Hope everyone makes it to where they are going safely and without incident. In Texas, we won’t have snow at all, which also has its downside …
Just returned from celebrating Christmas with my side of the family. The daughter from Wisconsin made it to Minnesota with good travel all the way Friday afternoon.
A most blessed Christmas to you and your loved ones down in Texas!
Thank you … and to you and yours — glad your daughter made it safely!