Just about average

January has been anything but average. In this part of the south, the January average low is 34 degrees. We hit single digits during the first major cold snap, two weeks later we dropped into the teens. Last week not only did the overnights drop into the teens, but a quarter inch of freezing rain followed by snow shut everything down for three days.

We are not prepared for that kind of weather down here. Upper 20's is one thing, but most homes here are not constructed (or, more specifically, insulated) for handling temps in the teens. For the first cold snap I was gone on a business trip and had one pipe freeze and crack, a minor annoyance for me. The plumber told me all of the home improvement stores were cleaned out of repair materials because of the amount of frozen and damaged plumbing in the area.

The temperatures were not as bad for the second and third rounds but the precipitation was another matter. Very few municipalities have the equipment and know-how to handle freezing rain and ice. In this area most schools and businesses were pro-active and announced cancellations and closings the day before it hit. The grocery store that night was completely packed. I had heard some of my coworkers talk about runs on bread, beer, and toilet paper in the past, this time I witnessed it. For me it was a regular trip to the store, though I did stock up on baking supplies since I figured I would have time to try out some new recipes. The parental-types had carts overflowing as if they were buying twice the normal amount. The sorority-types had produce and cases of bottled water in their carts while the fraternity-types stocked up on beer and toilet paper.

The freezing rain started a few hours earlier than originally forecast. By mid-day we were under civil emergency as the counties started closing down roads and ordering people off the highways. A few hours of snow in the afternoon added a couple inches of fluff, some areas getting more than others.

Through all of this the garden has (mostly) survived. The garden quilts I bought last fall did a good job of insulating the plants, keeping most things alive through the cold weather. Not bad for a product that is labeled for use down to 24 degrees. The snap peas didn't make it and the broccoli took a hit.

Forecast for the next week? Highs fluctuating between 45 and 65 during the day, and lows in the mid to upper 30's at night. Just about average for this time of year.