My sister is winding up a work related speaking engagement in Ft. Worth Tx and is due to fly home to Virginia today. I haven’t heard but I’m sure her flight was cancelled. You see, Helena is in town in Tidewater VA. Across the state, she closed airports, closed major highways, caused over 100 auto crashes and 58 stalled vehicles on state roads overnight. Visibility was zero and the U.S. Coast Guard closed the Port of Virginia. No commercial boats could enter or exit the Chesapeake Bay. Farther south, there were 18000 power outages in NC with a state of emergency called and a cancellation of some inauguration ceremonies for the new governor. South Carolina experienced their share of snow and ice…. and brrrr… it’s cold!
My three brothers who live in Richmond were very excited to awake to snow. Most people batten down the hatches, start a fire, and make hot cocoa, but these fellas run toward the great out of doors. We all love snow in my family. Not sure why… but I’m sure glad they shared a few photos from Richmond.

Snow covered Mahonia in bloom

University of Richmond campus

Steps and boxwood cleared of snow
Helena has been quite a storm, having impacted two dozen states from coast to coast when it’s all said and done. She’s on her way out to sea late today in Virginia but she’s not finished with us. Helena is now visiting New Hampshire. Snow is falling hard and I hope we awake tomorrow to scenes like those above.
Stay safe and most importantly may the electric stay on. 🙂
LikeLike
We lost power for one hour due, not to snow, but a poor squirrel on a transformer.
LikeLike
We have Mahonia in flower here too in North Devon U.K. – and there are Bees visiting it. Thank you for your pictures.
LikeLike
Amazing. No insects here. What is your hardiness zone?
LikeLike
I think we are 8/9 – in the north of Devon in the western peninsula right in the south of the UK – right on border of 8 and 9 – we are quite elevated 500 feet, but partly sheltered too. This map is quite good: http://www.trebrown.com/hrdzone.html
LikeLike
Beautiful story. Richmond, Virginia got an official count of 7.5″ of powdery snow, which we love as it is great for sledding and four wheeling fun, and it does little tree and bush damage. Likewise, it also does not cause many power outages. Super cold of 8* one night kept it lingering long enough so we have gotten our fill, and schools are still closed. Till next time…..
LikeLike
We need a little more snow in NH. But the winter’s not over yet so we can hope…
LikeLike