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Dave Thomas | profile | all galleries >> Misc. Phenomena >> Winter Storm Riley 2018 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Winter Storm Riley 2018

One could say March "came in like a lion" in 2018. We experienced a classic "nor'easter" weather pattern where a counter-clockwise circulation off the northeastern coast brings moisture laden air in over the northern Mid-Atlantic states and New England to confront a cold air mass to the west. These events tend to last two or three days and provoke all sorts of mess. The New England coast suffered the worst, with wind gusts as high as 90 MPH and flooding, but even here in inland Pennsylvania there were some nasty wind gusts and serious sogginess. The combination of rainfall and melted snowfall totaled 2.3 inches here.

Overnight on Thursday we accumulated well over an inch of rain to soften up the thawing soil. Toward midday Friday, the wind picked up, the temperature began to drop, and soon there was wet snow mixed in. By afternoon the precipitation was all wet snow. As the wind gusts picked up, there were occasional power glitches, until around 3:30 pm or so, the power dropped altogether. One could occasionally hear the sound of cracking trees or branches, as the combination of heavy snow loading and high winds over-stressed some trees.

So we went into the usual 'camping, but with a nicer bed' mode. The fired up woodstove provided grilled chicken breast as well as warmth. Buckets were filled from the dribbling downspout out back, as with a well and no electricity there is no normal toilet flushing. Needless to say, we routinely maintain a supply of bottled water for drinking during such events. About 10:30 pm, a light popped on and the refrigerator began to run. Yay! "Now I don't have to put more wood in the stove!" KLUNK! Power lasted about twenty seconds. But the fact that momentary power showed up suggested the lines were actually being worked on, and sure enough, a few minutes before midnight, we had power back.

Temperatures barely got down to freezing overnight and moved into the 40s (ºF) on Saturday. Early in the afternoon, Ye Olde Photographer easily drove up to the post office and got the mail. Across the parking area from the PO, some sort of conifer had fallen across a corner of the parking area. Alas, its fall was broken by a Toyota Prius! Ooops! When we went down the road to our usual convenience store/gas station, it was closed — no power. So we drove down to the Trappe area and bought gas at another Wawa, planning to hit a nearby Starbucks for a treat. Foiled again, the S'bux was without power. Coming home from that direction disclosed that the western extreme of our road was in fact closed. Little did we know.

On Sunday, YOP took a walk up the road and learned that unlike after hurricane Sandy when the whole mile+ of road was out, his portion had been restored, but not the rest. The rumble of generators was audible, and trees were down on power lines. At one location the trees took down an entire utility pole which had been supporting the 2400 volt primary feed. And even further up the way, a repeat of Sandy, a tall spire-like conifer had fallen all the way across the road and taken down the primary feed. It was not confidence inspiring to realize the main cable bundle for fiber optic telephone, TV and Internet feed was holding up trees! In talking with others, it appeared even some major stores in Harleysville were closed due to power outage. Some friends miles away in the Ambler area were still out. Yup — that 'infrastructure' stuff we keep hearing about (and not doing much).

Friday Afternoon
Friday Afternoon
Saturday Afternoon
Saturday Afternoon
Sunday Afternoon
Sunday Afternoon
g10/93/463093/3/167092375.bO2jtmn2.jpg A Hint of Trouble
A Hint of Trouble
Equine Observer
Equine Observer
g10/93/463093/3/167092378.Ekn9HFIm.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167092379.wtT1tD7W.jpg Major Mess
Major Mess
g10/93/463093/3/167092381.hWQ12SWX.jpg
Lederach & Larson Rds.
Lederach & Larson Rds.
g10/93/463093/3/167092383.B4zfiHyf.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167092384.0qBKeamX.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167092385.L2vhsplK.jpg Firewood Delivery
"Firewood Delivery"
g10/93/463093/3/167092387.4ZHLAHGA.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167092388.r9sgomec.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167092389.hjlrZD24.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167092390.IyLSDVjg.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167092391.mYpw5aqv.jpg
Monday Afternoon
Monday Afternoon
g10/93/463093/3/167094179.3eCgMNGs.jpg Friday 09 March
Friday 09 March
g10/93/463093/3/167112740.JiPlywc8.jpg g10/93/463093/3/167112741.78MZZjBh.jpg