A Snow Squall at the Farm
More erratic winter weather is on the way - this week, temperatures are expected to reach near 60-degrees Fahrenheit here in the Northeast.
Last week, a snow squall whipped through the New York City tristate region. A snow squall, or whiteout, is a sudden moderately heavy snow fall with blowing snow and strong, gusty surface winds. This type of storm is similar to a blizzard but doesn’t last nearly as long, and snow accumulations are not always significant.
If you follow my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, you may have seen some of the snow squall images I took from my New York City office - the squall lasted just about 15 to 20 minutes, and then all was calm. Here are some photos taken before, during and after the squall at my farm - enjoy.
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- On the day of the snow squall, temperatures were very cold here at my Bedford, New York farm. Here is view looking between two of my paddocks up towards my long carport in the distance.
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- My Friesians were ready for any inclement weather. Here they are in their Rambo Supreme Turnout Rugs from Horseware Ireland.
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- All my precious boxwood shrubs were well-covered under burlap. This is the sunken garden behind my Summer House.
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- The large American boxwood hedge surrounding the Summer House garden is not as delicate as the English boxwood. We only cover these with netting for the winter to protect them from the heavy snow, which could weigh down and splay the branches.
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- By early afternoon, the skies seemed very gray, but still no sign of snow.
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- Soon after lunch, flurries began falling, covering the ground with a light layer of white. This is a view across the paddocks. Visibility remained pretty clear – you can easily see the three antique finials atop my Equipment Barn roof.
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- A dusting of snow accumulated on my terrace parterre and on some of the burlap shrouds.
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- And then within minutes, there was a complete whiteout – snow fell furiously over everything. It is hard to see down the length of my long pergola – visibility dropped quickly. These wintertime showers form when the air near the ground is much warmer than the air aloft.
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- Although they typically occur during the daytime hours, snow squalls can occur at any time of day. Here is my Party Lawn. The old corn crib is at the end, but it’s hard to see with the falling snow.
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- It soon became difficult to see the opposite end of the Pin Oak Allee.
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- Different from a snow shower, squalls are feisty storms. They are the wintertime equivalent of summertime thunderstorms.
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- Snow squalls can occur anytime from mid-October to late-April. And like thunderstorms, the squalls often move swiftly along at 25 to 50 miles per hour. My carriage roads were also covered in white.
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- Here is one of the majestic old sycamore trees – the symbol of my farm. Thankfully, these trees stand quite tall and strong through all the storms.
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- And after less than 20-minutes, the snow slowed to flurries once again.
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- The stately tall pines stand bold in the landscape. The winds also seemed to slow quite a bit.
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- There was no activity anywhere – everyone had secured everything for the pending storm.
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- Here is a view from one end of the long Boxwood Allee – I am glad all my boxwood specimens are safely tucked underneath their covers.
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- This is the carriage road to my tennis court where we planted an allee of Marley’s Pink Parasol’ Japanese Snowbell trees and Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’. They all continue to do so nicely in this area.
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- Snow did not even have a chance to accumulate on the red barberry near the carriage road to my run-in shed.
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- In all, just a couple of inches of snow.
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- Here is the new view of my Tenant House, now unblocked by the tall spruce trees that were recently removed from this shade garden. I hated to cut down the 150-foot trees, but I do like the way this area looks without them.
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- The newly composted herbaceous peony beds are well-insulated under the light covering of snow.
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- And here are my boys once again – four of my five Friesians. They turned their backs to the strong winds of the snow squall, but are very happy in their paddock. See you soon my dear horses.
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