Reply #49: !989 Sparks, Nevada Temps hit -17 F and then some [View All]

Anywhere there were cracks around the doors and windows, there was ice on the inside walls.
But it was the storm that came in a couple of days later that was intense.

My son, age 10 sat the time, had run outside before school in the morning to play with friends in the snow that was starting. He came back in about 20 minutes later and told me there was not going to be school that day. The snow was already up to his thighs!

Because we needed supplies, and the roads were already snowed with a thick ice undercoat, my then BF and I walked about a mile to the nearest grocery to get some basics...and beer and wine, of course... I wore two long coats over a parka, boots, leg warmers, gloves and gloves....it was wild, windy, and snowing heavily.
Took an hour and a half total, with only about 15 minutes of that in the store.

The cities of Reno and Sparks were locked in for five days...all roads were closed, no interstate trucks in or out, lost elec. a few times, but luckily my house had a woodstove...lifesaver! That, and my heated waterbed!

After three days of being snowed in, I decided I had to go up to the 7-11, normally a one minute drive. But, since I couldn't drive, I got out my X-Country skis and made the trip. A lot of people were out in their yards and driveways, were pointing and laughing at me, but within a day, started seeing LOTS of people on their skis...

It was a huge storm, but it was some fun party time :)