Snow lovers rejoice in winter wonderland

February 5, 2017

"Warmed my heart on this cold and snowy morning to see Gabriel out the window, shoveling out a path for us," Jessie Litterell posted this morning to Facebook. "Not only did he do it without being asked; he did it really well! What a guy!!"

By Mike Weland If you're in Boundary County and you love snow, you're likely happy now and will probably only get happier as the week goes on ... unless you have to travel or work outside. In that case, chances are good that by the time the week ahead is over, you'll be asking yourself, "why oh why did I ever think I loved snow?" "Done shoveling for the fifth time today," Cheryl Poppino posted. "I give up, my back has had it." Already this weekend, from six-inches to more than a foot of new snow has fallen across Boundary County, and today, Super Bowl Sunday, could bring an additional two to four inches, which is good news, as that's a little less snow than what we've been seeing. The bad news, according to the National Weather Service, is that it will pick up again tonight, dropping, on top of what we have now and the new snow expected today, an additional seven to 11 inches, just in time for the Monday morning commute. The good news, though, is that the winter storm warning now in effect expires at 10 a.m. Monday, at which time the sun will come out, the first robins of spring will flock in and flowers will bloom in every yard. Well, the first part is true, the second, not so much. Instead, we're still being given a 100-percent chance of more snow, from three to seven inches of it. But Monday night the chance drops to only 70-percent. Whew! Only one more inch is predicted as we head from Monday night to Tuesday, and the chance of snow drops another 20 points to 50-percent, and a piddly half-inch of new snow is expected. "Sorry for the blast of snow pics but I can't help myself," nurse Shannon McNutt posted. "Happy Super Bowl Sunday! Well I better get ready for work." Now, on Wednesday, the weather turns fine, with a high temperature near 28, and a chance of actually seeing the sun again, though a few clouds will linger, dropping up to another half inch of new snow, just to keep us on our toes. Enjoy that 12 hours, take off work and head for the lake if you can. Because ... wait for it ... Wednesday night brings a 50-percent chance of snow and on Thursday, just for a change of pace, we get a 90-percent chance of seeing, not just snow, but snow mixed with rain! Woohoo! With the weather warming a bit, Thursday night is expected to be just wet, and not fluffy, with an overnight low of 33-degrees and a 90-percent chance of rain. On Friday the air is expected to warm to 39-degrees and the chance of precipitation drops to a mere 80-percent. If by then, you've started questioning your love of shoveling, slipping and sliding, creaking roof timbers, et al, take heart ... the chances of snow decline through next weekend, and we might just see a bit more of that old sun as we head into the last full week of February. And once February ends, we all know that spring, scheduled to arrive for sure no later than July this year, is just around the corner. "Anyone else feel like we are back in the 90s? ... and it's still coming down!" Richard Dawson posted. "Any of you that prayed for snow, your prayers were answered, but enough already ... might be melted by May if we are lucky." "For all the people complaining about the snow," Allen Gemmrig posted this morning on Facebook, "think about all the U-Hauls that will be in use this spring. Just saying." A tip of the hat and a huge thank you to all who work long and hard to keep us going and keep us safe in times like these; the law enforcement personnel and city, county and state road crews who keep the traffic moving, the electric linemen who keep the lights on, the dispatchers who keep all those whose help is needed heading in the right direction. The firefighters and EMS personnel who brave all weather to give help when help is needed most; the doctors and nurses who are waiting to give us care when care can't wait. All those who dig out and go in to open the stores and shops so those of us who didn't plan ahead can get all we need to weather the storm. The mail men and women who always make their appointed rounds regardless of sleet or snow. And a special thank you to all of you who, after getting yourself dug out, hang on to the shovel or snow blower and go to work helping out your neighbors who can't do the work themselves, not only shoveling a clear path for the elderly or infirm, but making sure they have enough wood inside to keep them warm and what they need to get through until the sun shines again. Each of you are the neighbors who make Boundary County, Idaho, the best place in the world.