A GALLON OF UNOPENED milk sits on the top shelf of the refrigerator. A full loaf of bread is tucked into a kitchen drawer. We are ready. Milk. And bread. Two staples.
Randy and I joke about having milk and bread on hand whenever a major winter storm is forecast for Minnesota. And one is for today in to Saturday with blizzard warnings issued for the western part of the state and a winter storm warning for much of southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro.
I’ve heard forecasts of up to a foot of snow in my area. Heavy. Wet. Preceded by rain (already falling), sleet/freezing rain and then snow. Up to an inch of snow an hour. Plus strong winds.
Already people and organizations are rescheduling events like the Echo Fire Relief Association Pork Chop Dinner, the Women’s Cannon River Conference Spring Gathering, a Redwood Senior Dining Potluck…
Saturday will be a good day to hunker down at home and stay off roads. Travel is expected to be difficult, especially on my native prairie where up to 18 inches of snow combined with winds of 40 – 50 mph will create blizzard white-out conditions. Fail to respect those weather conditions and you could find yourself in major trouble if stranded in the countryside. I expect snow gates will be lowered to keep drivers safe and off highways.
Several times in recent weeks, predicted snowfalls have not materialized. But we shouldn’t chance that the weather forecasters are crying wolf. Time will tell…
Be safe, my friends, if you live anywhere in the path of this winter storm.
© Copyright 2018 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Be safe and stay warm. I grew up in Ohio, and we used to call it hibernation season–looks like you’ve had a long one this year. Take care.
Yes, it’s been a long long winter here in Minnesota. We are so ready for spring.
ohh!! Be safe & stay warm Audrey! I wish I could send you some Texas heat! 🙂
I’d gladly accept that Texas heat.
We arrived back home safely from our three week road trip, late yesterday afternoon.. I was so disappointed to see snow still in our yard (the front faces north and is always slow to melt.) We are planning to stay home tomorrow and watch the snow come down…hopefully one last time before spring finally comes.
I’m glad you got home yesterday and don’t have to travel in bad weather. We have the same issue with snow lingering on the north side of our house.
Personally I’d add this to your milk and bread list- a good shot of whiskey and at least a pint of beer as
this winter beast just won’t go away even though we’ve told him he is an unwanted guest!!
I’m laughing, Sue. Beer will be poured this evening to accompany homemade pizza.
“Winter beast” seems most fitting to describe this unwanted weather.
Oh how I feel for you, while here in Fairbanks fortunately for us, we are basking in sunshine, 40 some degree weather with no winds, sorry…………….. Hummm perhaps you can go and get some green spray paint and color the snow so as to feel like it’s spring outside!
No snow yet. Just rain. But I expect soon the white stuff will fall.
I’m happy you have sunshine and 40 degrees. Someone ought to have nice weather.
I have been watching your weather and hoping that it would pass you by. One of Chris’s guys from zines was with us this week in Vegas and he made it back before it started at least. Stay safe!
All reports still suggest we’ll get snow. Thus far it’s just been rain and sleet.
Don’t want to rub it in, but 73 degrees here in Hendersonville, NC today. Plan to wash the car this afternoon.
Oh, Brad…
My wife tells a great tale about a blizzard in the 1970’s.
Freezing rain took out power lines all over Southern Minnesota, so when her family lost power, they knew it would take awhile to get it back.
No power meant no heat which forced them out of the house. They drained the water heater and pipes and unplugged the appliances before they left – but they forgot about the goldfish.
Upon their return a few days later, they found the little guy encased in a block of ice in his bowl. Having other things to attend to they put him out of their mind as they got the furnace going, refilled the water heater and primed the lines.
The next day, in a toasty warm house, the goldfish bowl thawed and the little fish swam around like nothing happened. Goldfish are carp and carp have a natural anti-freeze in their blood.
That’s a great story and a blog post for Almost Iowa.
I remember a Palm Sunday storm back in the 70s when the power was out for a week and our entire family basically lived in the boys’ bedroom, the warmest room with only one exterior wall.
How are things looking down there near the Iowa border? There’s a lull in the storm right now. I can see several blocks.
Scooter still got his his long walk but the sleet stung his eyes. Still he would not be deterred. By the time we got home, he was solid white and happy as happy can be. The snow is now coming down in big flakes. Stay warm. 🙂
I hope you tied a long rope around your waist and tied it to the front door knob before embarking on your walk with Scooter.
Naw, its why God made smart phones with GPS. I have found my way out of the North woods that way.
Try telling that to Pa Ingalls and family.
This one proved to dump loads of snow.
How much did you get?
I think we got around a foot of snow. I should have gone out to measure with a yard stick but it’s so hard to tell when it drifts so much. I did put up a blog post with pictures.
I agree that it’s difficult to measure. I’ll head over and check out your post shortly.