The first snow fall of the season is a magical event. After that, not so much! There's an old adage (I think) that how it is on the first of the year, is a indicator of what is to follow! So far, it looks like its going to be a snowy winter!
Our snowy season started even before the New Year. On December 26-27 the Metro NY area saw a blizzard that dropped up to 30 inches in some parts of the area. Here in Queens, we got about 20". I posted lots of photos of that storm in my previous blog post, so only two repeat photos here, just for reference. Lack of plowing and treacherous conditions for days marked that year-end infamous storm; we hope that with the advent of 2011, conditions will be much improved.
Abandoned car:
Our snowy season started even before the New Year. On December 26-27 the Metro NY area saw a blizzard that dropped up to 30 inches in some parts of the area. Here in Queens, we got about 20". I posted lots of photos of that storm in my previous blog post, so only two repeat photos here, just for reference. Lack of plowing and treacherous conditions for days marked that year-end infamous storm; we hope that with the advent of 2011, conditions will be much improved.
Abandoned car:
New Year's Day in Kissena Park
(leftover snow from the 12/26-27 blizzard):
(leftover snow from the 12/26-27 blizzard):
January 6-7: Another storm is predicted to drop several inches; west of us got a lot more, but here in Queens we were lucky and got only a dusting!
January 11-12: We heard predictions of anywhere from 4-15 inches. Official Central Park reading was 9 inches. We got about 12 inches here in Queens. However, no snow day, this day!
View through my back bedroom window at dawn:
View through my front bedroom window at dawn:
By the time I went to work, the sun was shining on a beautiful white world! I stopped at the Cypress Hills Cemetery on Jamaica Avenue and took these shots:
January 15: Photos from a drive east to Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Park, with snow acummulations from the past two storms:
The snow fence made cool shadows on the drifted snow!
More fence shadows!
These snow drifts reminded me of frozen waves!
Parade of geese in the snow:
Winter sky:
A walk on a cold beach:
Lone gull flying
Cold Gull:
End of the road, no vehicles allowed in Fire Island National Seashore! As we made the turnaround, we saw several deer right up next to the road. They may have been hungry and looking for handouts, but no one was feeding them, just taking photos. Nevertheless, the Park Rangers came along and made us all move, but not until I had gotten several great shots:
Hmmm . . . maybe these people have food?
Hmmm . . . maybe these people have food?
Do I smell something good?
January 21: Another snowstorm...this storm was a fast mover, most of the snow (3-6") fell during the night. We got 4-5" in Queens:
5:30AM: The snow was still falling while Bob shoveled!
7:30AM: Shoveled out (sort of) and waiting for the snow to stop!
The Doves were hunkered down
while the snow was still falling, waiting for breakfast!
while the snow was still falling, waiting for breakfast!
8:30AM: Snow stopped, sun shining!
What a difference an hour can make!
Morning sunshine on the new fallen snow made a lovely picture!
January 26: more snow predicted later today, our 8th storm since Christmas! It will start out as rain, and switch over to snow tonight. 4"-8" predicted....
But first, we got an unexpected 4" that morning, which made my morning commute on the Jackie Robinson Parkway an adventure:
The library closed all locations at 6:00 PM, so all staff could get home in anticipation of more snow to come in the evening. By this time the predictions had increased to 8-12". Around 8:00 PM we had a crazy thunder & lightning & sleet storm, followed by lots....and lots....and lots more snow!
4-8" ?? I don't think so. Not even 8-12" !! We ended up with another 19" to be exact!!! And...another snow day!!! It's the second one this season, a record for NYC!! There is so much snow now, there's no place to put the newly shoveled stuff!!
January 27: This is what it looked like very early morning, after starting to shovel:
Sunrise on my snowy street!
View from my front door:
A bit later, the sun came out - everything looks so pretty after the snow! But I sure am sick of shoveling it, and driving/parking in it!
Only 4 more days left in the month! How much more snow will we get before it's finished?
January 31: Well, we made it through January with no more snow! YAY! But it was the snowiest January on record!! Watch out February!!!
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