Precipitating

Whew! What a week! It's been very busy around the hollow, so I've been unable to post. In my absence on-line, we got soaked. There are a few flakes falling now (while our neighbors to the south get slammed with a vicious snow and ice storm), but a few days ago we were experiencing our fair share of raindrops. As a result, first all the creeks swelled and then the rivers. Here are a few photos of the Antietam Creek at the Ironworks on Thursday morning.

This is looking north from the bridge.

Notice the log jam

This is looking south from the bridge toward the Potomac River. I believe the water came up into Harpers Ferry Road sometime on Wednesday.

The inhabitants of this area have always dealt with flooding. Harpers Ferry in particular, having been built at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, has been flooded many many times. Apparently, they missed a big one this week. It was last in January and September 1996 when the town dealt with major floods; the Blizzard of Jan. '96 and then Hurricane Fran marked the first time in the town's history that the waters rose above 29 feet in a single year. The most devastating flood was that of March 1936 when the waters rose to 36 1/2 feet and swept away two bridges and many homes and businesses. Check out this interesting page for photos and more floods.

Oh, by the way, since I've written this post this morning, we have accumulated more than a few flakes . . . There is nearly a white-out with a bit more than a dusting already on the ground . . .

edited a few hours later to add: We now have almost 5 inches! A surprise snow for us!

edited the next day to add this link to a pic and vid of flooding at Shepherdstown this past week