Every 90 years or so it gets really cold in Longview and we just happened to be here for it. In the early morning hours of Tuesday February 16, the temperature dropped to a record breaking -5 degrees. Negative 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Negative 21 Celsius. The previous record of -4 was set back in 1930.
And this was not the beginning nor the end of this record breaker.
It all started on Monday, February 15 when temperatures began to plummet and snow began to fall.
We received 10 inches of snow . . . and then it got really cold.
I missed snapping a photo of -5, but this is pretty dang close!
It was really beautiful, of course.
The pool, a balmy 34F.
Then we got an additional 2 inches of snow followed by sleet. These frigid, below freezing temperatures, lasting for 5 days.
Icicles!
One for the record books. They aren't likely to see snow like this again. At least in Texas.
Winslow had experience with snow, but it took a while for Eames to warm up to it!
We're keeping our expectations low on palm tree recovery. This little one and the big ones. It would defy all odds if they survive.
They're already looking pretty sad as is all that landscaping we put so much time and effort and money into.
But, despite the loss of flora throughout our yard, we were fortunate enough to have power and water throughout it all. Randi lost power off and on for enough hours to get very cold and Ross lost power off and on and mainly was without water for several days.
We were holding our breath because without electricity the pool filter couldn't circulate water and our pool pipes would freeze and burst. First world problems to be sure, but could have been a mess and costly to repair. A generator for the pool will be our next fun home improvement project.
We were way luckier than others throughout much of Texas (75% to be exact) where electricity providers are deregulated and customers are saddled with as much as $5000 to $17000 electricity bills - for that week. Dallas, where Ross lives, is in that deregulated area where customers must choose their provider. He was wise enough to have chosen one that had a fixed rate.
It's a mess only Texas could create. More proof.
We (and by we, I mean our family) are all back to normal now, but many are still without water more
than a week later. Another fine Texas mess.
And here we are, exactly ONE WEEK later . . . 84 degrees warmer.
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