It should be an interesting day in the south! It looks like an ice storm for the metro Atlanta area. If I had to bet on it, I'd guess that we will lose power. I think I'm just going to let things be what they will be. If we DON'T lose power, I want the pumps to continue the water circulation. If we DO lose power, I hope things don't freeze over to the point that the ice would impede everything re-starting. If we are without power for a while, at least the temps won't stay below freezing for very long or with any consistency. Fingers crossed that we don't get what they are predicting. It is a tricky system!
Good morning to those of us in the south watching the weather!
- Thread starter bagsmom
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2019
- Messages
- 1,806
- Reaction score
- 3,169
- Location
- Purlear, NC
- Hardiness Zone
- 7a
- Country
Good luck to you! Our area of western NC is in the 2 - 4" of snow forecast area. Not too much, but since we haven't had any measurable snowfalls over the past two winters, I'm actually looking forward to seeing a bit of the white fluffy stuff pile up! It's been cold & Monday we woke up to a lovely 
rolleyes freezing rain & coating of ice everywhere. Fortunately if we do lose power, our generator keeps the pond pumps running. Here's what we looked like yesterday:
rolleyes freezing rain & coating of ice everywhere. Fortunately if we do lose power, our generator keeps the pond pumps running. Here's what we looked like yesterday:
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2010
- Messages
- 45,120
- Reaction score
- 30,189
- Location
- Frederick, Maryland
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 6b
- Country
16f here this am. Have not seen water for weeks now.
Enjoy the snow we are still snow covered.
Enjoy the snow we are still snow covered.
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2010
- Messages
- 45,120
- Reaction score
- 30,189
- Location
- Frederick, Maryland
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 6b
- Country
Ho hum. 10 degrees this morning. Snowfall predicted for the weekend - 1 inch to 14 feet. Who knows.
Expecting spring any minute now.
Expecting spring any minute now.
Mmathis
TurtleMommy
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 14,371
- Reaction score
- 8,395
- Location
- NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
- Hardiness Zone
- 8b
- Country
NW Louisiana, here. All week they were predicting ice and snow by Thursday (yesterday). We lucked out and the worst stuff stayed north of us. Temps were as low as the 20’s, but no falling moisture, so roads have been good. We stocked up on the essentials, though, just in case.
Stay safe and warm everyone!
Stay safe and warm everyone!
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2013
- Messages
- 6,313
- Reaction score
- 5,090
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Hardiness Zone
- 6 A
- Country
We got ab out another 3 inches last night.....so 13 inches in a few days . Temps are above freezing now, so it's melting, but we're getting a cold snap mid week....single digit temps over night.
. Temps are above freezing now, so it's melting, but we're getting a cold snap mid week....single digit temps over night.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2019
- Messages
- 1,806
- Reaction score
- 3,169
- Location
- Purlear, NC
- Hardiness Zone
- 7a
- Country
We ended up with about 4 - 5" of snow coming down Friday afternoon into night. Here's what the yard/pond looked like first thing this morning:
All the pictures are so pretty! We got very lucky! We had more snow than expected, which was lovely. Thank God, when it switched to freezing rain, it stayed just a degree above freezing for several hours - which limited the ice accumulation. We had a LOT of ice on our trees and bushes. The pond nets were spectacular when the sun came out the next day! If it had been even one degree colder with all those hours of rain, it could have been very, very bad. We kept power! There were a few trees that came down in the area but it could have been a lot worse. Now we are waiting to see what the next system will do. Yesterday was in the low 60s! The fish were doing a little grazing around in the very gross-looking pond! Water seems great but it will be good to have plants growing again in a few months!
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2019
- Messages
- 1,806
- Reaction score
- 3,169
- Location
- Purlear, NC
- Hardiness Zone
- 7a
- Country
Ice is beautiful, but it certainly can do some major damage. Glad the storm didn't cause you any problems.
Our snow is mostly melted now, and the pond is pretty much completely thawed, which is good, because starting Sunday into the middle of next week we're going to be COLD! Our high temperatures aren't predicted to get above freezing on Mon., Tues., or Wed.!! and low teens (close to single digits) overnight.
Well, at least that'll take care of the 'muddy dog paws' problem for a few days! lol
Our snow is mostly melted now, and the pond is pretty much completely thawed, which is good, because starting Sunday into the middle of next week we're going to be COLD! Our high temperatures aren't predicted to get above freezing on Mon., Tues., or Wed.!! and low teens (close to single digits) overnight.
Well, at least that'll take care of the 'muddy dog paws' problem for a few days! lol
We got to -3F last night. Waterfall was still running today (under a layer of ice and snow). Snow is a good insulator! So far I only had one year where everything froze up, and that was an extended period of subzero temps (knock on wood).
Mmathis
TurtleMommy
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 14,371
- Reaction score
- 8,395
- Location
- NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
- Hardiness Zone
- 8b
- Country
Here in northern Louisiana we have been cold all week, but dry, while our neighbors in south Louisiana have been snowed in . New Orleans — snow covered streets in the French Quarter! Unbelievable!
. New Orleans — snow covered streets in the French Quarter! Unbelievable!Unfortunately the deep freeze this week was too much to keep the pump going. The pond had frozen over a few weeks ago but the water was flowing fine, the stream and waterfalls were going. But this week with temps overnight below zero was too much. The pump sounded like it was struggling yesterday so I shut it down, the skimmer had started to freeze up so I think the water flow had slowed down. I dont think it will be thawing out anytime soon, temps overnight for the next week will probably be in the teens. The air line is still going and I will open up more holes in the ice over the weekend. I was spoiled with my first winter last year, it was warm and the pond only had a couple of days of being frozen.
j.w
I Love my Goldies
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2010
- Messages
- 34,099
- Reaction score
- 20,976
- Location
- Arlington, Washington
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- USDA 8a
- Country
I know you can take a big pot of hot water and hold it on the ice and let a hole open up but then I have heard after doing that you can place a rubber ball filled w/air and place it on the hole and it will allow the hole to stay open.
Found this info online and I've never had the need to try it so don't know if it really works or not:
Why The Tennis Ball Trick Works
A trick that has been used for centuries involves floating a rubber ball, ping pong ball, tennis ball or inflatable ball onto the water surface, depending on the size of the pond and leaving it, checking each day as the temperature drops.
You can also use a bottle filled with a saltwater solution that floats on the water.
The reason this works is that when the ball bobs and floats on the water, it creates little waves and motions in the water that stop ice from forming, and it will accentuate any movement of the water or anything underwater, helping to keep ice from developing.
The size of the ball you need depends on the size of the pond, with most garden ponds needing a tennis ball, and any larger body of water needing a football or larger-sized ball to be effective.
This, along with careful maintenance of air pumps and other pond tools can keep your pond life safe this winter.