Snow In Sin City!

Hell has frozen over, or for the next few hours adleast. It is funny to joke about it, but it really has snowed in sin city itself, Las Vegas, Nevada.

If you were a betting man or woman, today would be your lucky day. At the Las Vegas Hilton sports book the odds of snow on the strip were 1,000 to 1 and the odds you could build a snowman on the strip were 50,000 to 1. With the standard minimum of a 5 dollar bet, the winnings would be life changing.

Speaking of snowman, the picture on the above right is one my son, Zac, and Daughter, Jenna built on a section of grass in our condo complex.

A few times a winter a few parts of the valley get a dusting of snow, but nothing like this. There is 4 to 6 inches here, and up to 10 inches in other section of the city.

For Zac and Jenna this was there first real snow storm of their lives, and they are 7 and 5 year old. For me this was first snow since I was a newly wed with no children living with my parents in Connecticut the winter of 2000/01.

The children were very excited to see the snow develop, and then go play in it. Because we live in a desert, no gloves or hat to be found. So a pair of my socks made for quick mittens.They had a blast for a good hour or so. After the it was time to come in for some nice hot chocolate.

Zac was very lucky his track was having parent -teacher conferences, so he was not in school during the start of the storm. He will also get a snow day tomorrow. Its on the news that the Clark County School District has closed all schools.

The city is kind of shut down at the moment. McCarran Airport is closed no plows to clear runways, and no equipment for de-icing the planes. Amtrak and Greyhound are not running. The highways are closed block by law enforcement, long before you come to areas affected by the storm.

The national weather service has said this storm is the eight largest snowstorm to hit Las Vegas since they started keeping records. It was also the most snow the valley has since in about 30 years, so it a historical event as well. McCarran set a record for the amount of snow.

Most of all above everything is that this rare event, a snowstorm in the desert gave us some good family fun.

I found the following cute poem on the website for the local paper, The Las Vegas Review - Journal :

What are the odds?

By Brian Haynes and Francis McCabe

'Twas the week before Christmas, when all up the Strip
Not a sunbeam was shining, not even a bit.
The towers were shrouded in a gray, foggy cloud
As slushy snowflakes gently fell all about.
The tourists were bundled, their cheeks rosy red
While visions of jackpots danced in their heads.
Those hoping for sunshine could do nothing but mourn
As Las Vegas was hit with a rare winter storm.
Jenn Story from Canada scoffed at the snow
When she took off from Calgary, it was 20 below.
The chill in her country was colder by far
As for snowfall on palm trees, one word: "Bizarre."
For the Coelho family from warm-climed Brazil
The snow was a first and a bit of a thrill.
Out came the smiles and the joy in their eyes
As the children caught snowflakes that fell from the skies.
On the Strip and beyond the snow fell all Wednesday
Causing havoc on roadways and air traffic delays.
McCarran grounded all flights so no planes could leave
Only landings allowed in the wintry scene.
Marie Freeman came with her husband, just back from Iraq
Monday's storm delayed the flight in, Wednesday's nixed the trip back.
With a long night ahead, the trapped pair was still grinning
They'd come back in summer "when we can go swimming."
U.S. Highway 95 closed at cold Railroad Pass
And at Interstate 15 in Primm, no cars could go past.
Atop Mount Charleston snow tires were a must
While the road to Pahrump was closed by snow dust.
Higher elevations saw more than 8 inches in all
While some parts of the valley below had 4 inches fall.
Late in the night with flakes still coming down,
It was declared the eighth-greatest flurry to ever hit town.
Down on the Strip tourists still braved the storm
Finding cover in lobbies and casinos to stay warm.
Up umbrellas! On scarves! On jackets and gloves!
Some grumbled at the weather, some professed love.
For Shawn Smith of Orlando, Fla., the snow was a treat
When he came here before it was unbearable heat.
He wished for some snow, now he had the white stuff
Not a white Christmas, but for him close enough.