Falling snowflakes glimmered in streetlights, so wide that they billowed to the ground like parachutes, and so tantalizing that even awestruck adults reached out their hands or stuck out their tongues to catch one.By Wednesday evening, the flakes were big enough to hold their shape for a moment on the street before melting into the pavement, and a dusting had collected on parked cars in some parts of town.
The flurries tied a record for Houston's earliest snowfall ever and warmed the hearts of winter weather lovers who have pined for snow since it last made an appearance on Christmas Eve 2004.
"I've got a pot roast in the Crock-Pot, and I'm going to go home, change into my warmest pajamas and eat pot roast and enjoy what may be the only real winter day we have all year," said Tina Arnold, an Illinois native who took advantage of the wintry backdrop to pick up Christmas presents Wednesday at The Woodlands Mall.
Since 1895, records indicate, snow has fallen this early just once -- on Dec. 10, 1944.
And now it's happened twice, though if you didn't see it last night you probably missed it altogether. In that spirit, here's a couple of views from my back yard, plus a picture from the last time it had snowed in Houston. Click on to see the images.
There was still a little ice on the windshield this morning. Took a few minutes for the heat of the car to allow the wipers to clear it off.
Tiffany said to me last night "I sure wish I'd covered the tomatoes and basil." Alas.
Our little Tigger Christmas ornament was more festive than usual.
And a blast from the past - Christmas of 2004, to be exact:
Olivia wanted to know where the snow was this morning. Sorry, kiddo, that's the way it is around here. Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 11, 2008 to See, I do have a life!