These pictures link to larger ones.
8:13AM Thurs Feb 17. Dogs and I are enjoying the snow, which is powdery and sticking to things. The power went out about 7AM, but the snow didn't seem extraordinary.
Steady, heavy, powdery snow continues. I watch with concern as the oaks over the house are getting loaded with snow. These are black oaks, still leafless. It was the evergreen live oaks, with leaves holding on to snow, which were hit harder.
From house looking into orchard area. The first half of Feb was so warm and sunny many trees had flowered.
I was on the driveway just below this bay tree, listening to it cracking. These pictures are before and after it fell, taken just 12 seconds apart.
By mid-day apparently somewhat over a foot of snow at 1800' elevation.
At noon I am enjoying this view from Mt Rostro in the Mayacamas, 1800' elevation.
The crisis of snow-loading in trees and bushes was peaking. This was one of the most extra-ordinary nature experiences I have had. I could clearing hear the trees cracking and dumping snow for a mile around. In the many minutes I was up there I did not go more than a few seconds without hearing a limb crash somewhere around. Soon the snow changed to a slushy rain which helped the tress shed their loads, and 90% of snow was off them by mid-afternoon.
The next morning, Fri Feb 18 was clear.
Broken tree against line in Anderson Springs. The west end of town seemed quite hard-hit by treefall.
By Friday mid-day PG+E had a helicopter trying to find damage.
My jeep was able to struggle out the driveway and make it to Middletown, where things were fairly normal, but 29 to Calistoga closed by numerous fallen trees.
A trip up Dry Creek road and my side-road.
Colorful manazanita. Very many were snapped.
Back at home, myrtle was hit hard.
Numerous limbs snapped off live oak.
Saturday Feb 19, PG+E working on Socrates Mine Road just above my house, but there were other breaks lower down the road.
The cold snowy weather seems to make the steam from the geothermal plants more distinct. (No polarizing filter here).
I was able to drive out Friday but not Saturday. No new snow but it is softer.
That was a healthy large live oak until snow weight pulled apart its three major trunks.
Sunday morning sunrise over Butts Canyon, still covered in snow.
Near Cobb, snow is still up to top of Shostro's legs 3+ days after falling.
(c) Ed Oswalt 2011
