Something wicked this way comes

I took this photo last Thursday afternoon as we were waiting for the next round of ice to fall on us. In a matter of minutes the weather went from from pretty to petrifying. This kind of heavy ice load on the trees and power lines is definitely worrisome. We were lucky and did not lose power though neighborhoods near us were without it for hours.

The wind came up in the evening and lots of twigs and small branches came down. But we all discovered the big thuds we heard on our roofs were not falling branches. It turned out those loud noises that sounded like they were above us were actually at ground level. They were frost cracks: booms resulting when the rainwater in the ground next to house foundations quickly froze. Who knew?!

The sun was out blindingly bright on Friday and Saturday but the cold temperatures meant that barely a drop of ice melted. Our street is pretty clear but many side streets are dangerously slippery and icy. That's our weeping white pine which is right on the other side of the window glass. A dusting of snow came down late Saturday, so the ice is now covered with white. It's too gray today to do anything but stay indoors and try to distract myself from the weather forecast by counting the days until Spring. 

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

We had ice this morning. It has melted off the streets but the trees and shrubs still look like they have been waxed to a brilliant shine. I hope you don't get a lot of ice damage. That is terrifying. I heard something about a garden quake or some such. You must have had one.

[rusty duck]

My fingers are firmly crossed for you. It goes from bad to worse.

[Kris P]

Frost cracks! Yikes. I hope your power remains on and you've got enough in the cupboards to keep you well fed until warming temperatures bring a gentle melt.

[Nell]

I'd never heard of frost cracks, and am sort of afraid to learn more. Wishing you all the best, with no damage, through this icy blast.

[Loree / danger garden]

Ice is so destructive! I hope there’s no serious garden damage.

[Erin]

When I drove over to Madison this weekend I couldn't believe all the ice on the trees. Looks much more severe than we've had in our neck of the woods. And now more snow on the way. Sigh. These are hard months to be a gardener. Or a Wisconsinite.