Discover CharlestonWinter Storm Stella Hits the Northeast & Charleston SC Feels the Chill

Living in different parts of the US, I think it’s safe to say, everyone has their weather “cross to bear. ”  California and the west coast have wild fires and landslides.  The Midwest, a penchant for F5 tornadoes.  And here in Charleston, we watch the skies a bit closer during hurricane season. Winter has a way of delivering its own dose of misery as, seemingly, once it has arrived it doesn’t ever seem to be in a hurry to leave. We watched the news this morning. The outlook for the Northeast and a Winter Storm named “Stella ” is not good, probably worse than that. But rest assured our friends in New York and New England, we are feeling your collective pain here in Charleston SC. Outside of hurricane season however, our Charleston weather headlines run a bit mundane in the winter.  Here’s a lighthearted look at just how dull they can be …

Roads are ever so quiet. The school run from Johns Island to Mason Prep took just 20 minutes this morning! I’ll blame it on the time change. No longer do we have a low spring sunlight dappling through the hanging Spanish moss to wake us in the AM. It’s got to be an alarm and what the heck, half hour later is just fine – it’s safer to drive in daylight.

Ubiquitous and persistent delays at Charleston International Airport. Sitting in the stalls looking at a list of canceled inbound flights is not fun. So if your ride home is “snowed in ” somewhere else then catch a taxi to downtown, it takes 20 minutes. Enjoy the sights, sounds, drinks and gourmet cuisine, indeed all that Charleston has to offer. Now if you are seriously stuck and out of luck, then just call us up and stay in one of our many vacation properties downtown or on Folly Beach. A brisk spring morning walk on the beach is all you need to improve that demeanor. As an aside, I’m never quite sure why they call it “International ” when all flights are from American cities. Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington are all only a short flight away.  But with a steady stream of winter storms, these cities are often the ones that start the domino effect of delays and canceled flights across the map.

Bone-chilling cold winds blowing from the arctic. Well fortunately we also have a warm sea and those winds have to go a very long way before they arrive here. Seek out the warm coat – you probably own at least one of them. I found mine, last used in 2015 for the winter “cold snap ” of that year. Wrap up tight and keep those bones toasty – it’s a long way between the car and the house. As added protection, keep warm with shrimp and grits, or maybe a bowl of gumbo.

Ice causes severe disruption. I used the freezer last night to cool a last drink before bed time. Kentucky’s finest over rocks. Didn’t shut the door properly and the freezer was beeping the “door ajar ” alarm at me this morning. 

Frost predicted. Well in truth, the survival of your early spring planted garden might indeed be the real worry for a late winter “cold snap. ”  Those tomatoes? I hope they’re covered! That spring lettuce you planted two weeks back? Probably toast by now, sorry.

For those of you reading this today from the frozen north, “from off ” as we say, well we certainly hope the storm is short and sun not far away. But if you find yourself muttering “enough is enough ” from Storm Stella, why not come to live in sunny Charleston SC?