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Hartselle Enquirer

COLUMN: Go away winter weather

Boy, were we blindsided by Mother Nature’s knockout punch last week.

A winter weather advisory was issued for North Alabama two days in advance when ice and snow plummeted Dallas, Texas.

Many people reacted as they normally do when the word “snow” appears in the weather forecast. They rushed out to the grocery stores, stocked up on bread and milk and played the waiting game. The clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped but sky gazers saw nothing that looked like snow.

Then, like a sly fox invading a henhouse, the snowflakes fell silently but with a grip that paralyzed the city for 24 hours.

Within two hours of the onset, roads and streets were blanketed with three inches of snow, creating havoc for motorists as they headed home. The depth of the snow had reached 11 inches by 10 p.m.

Road and streets were too dangerous for travel late that night and early Thursday. Many offices and business were closed for the day and city and county schools called off classes for the remainder of the week.

A winter wonderland, seldom seen this far south, was created by snow-covered rooftops, trees, shrubbery and open fields.

Such scenery was especially eye-catching for early Thursday risers and shutterbug enthusiasts.

Its depth and the fact that schools were closed also made it a memorable one for all people who made the most of building snowmen, sledding and riding four-wheelers.

Clean-up efforts during and after the storm were noteworthy.

Hartselle Utilities experienced only two isolated power outages that affected 15 customers. Service was restored in a timely manner.

An ongoing tree limb clearance program has helped the utility maintain reliable electric service during adverse weather conditions.

Thanks to public works and district commissioner crews, roadways in the city and county were restored to full service by noon Thursday.

This snowfall will go down as one of the heaviest in the city’s history but not the longest lasting or most destructive.

Hopefully, it’s a sign that winter will soon be over.

Clif Knight is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.

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