The Great Texas Blizzard of 2017: A Look Back

AUSTIN, TX — Let's get something out of the way, right off the bat: Despite the snowy, cold weather that set off nothing short of mass hysteria across Central Texas overnight, it actually only officially froze for one hour starting around 6 a.m.

That's it. Within a tiny window of time Friday morning, it was literally (yet barely) freezing as the temperature dipped down to 32 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Ahead of this "deep freeze" that was accompanied with the rare sight of light snow flurries, multiple organizations — schools, city office, county functions — opted to either cancel operations or cancel them outright.

Yes, the Texas Department of Transportation did issue a travel advisory given the likelihood of lingering ice patches on roadways. And, yes, the sudden wintry blast was a stark contrast to the unseasonably warm weather Central Texas residents had been experiencing in the prior days.

But mass cancellations? Over what amounted to a bit of cold? Really?

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Simply stated, people freaked out. Others gleefully posted an interminable number of photos showing the small dusting of snow falling on their yards and property. The day after what's ironically being called "The Blizzard of 2017," the over-the-top reaction to last night's weather hasn't gone unnoticed on social media.

Suffice it to say, the hashtag #TexasBlizzard2017 now a thing on Twitter referencing the public's reaction to snowflakes. To a lesser degree, the related #CancelEverything is gaining traction, although sharing the hashtag with others outside of Texas similarly mocking other's reactions to weather.

Sarcastic tales of survival littered the social media landscape:

"To all of my fellow Texans! It was looking pretty bleak for awhile, but we survived!" one Twitter user wrote.

"We will rebuild! #texasblizzard2017," he added, accompanying his text with a meme that's been making the rounds ostensibly measuring the snowy accumulation from last night.

Another Twitter user extended the sarcasm: "I know everyone around the country is worried about us," he wrote. "Your prayers have been appreciated. But please rest easy, amidst all this chaos, carnage and destruction we will come through this even stronger than before."

Even the folks at the Texas Department of Transportation got into the act, alerting to their having survived the event. To illustrate, officials attached a photo showing similar conditions experienced in South Texas overnight.

Speaking of South Texas, many in San Antonio still recall the great snowfall of 1985 when more than a foot of the white stuff fell on a city where such occurrences are exceedingly rare. Last night's version was anticlimactic given that milestone that people still talk about to this day. "1985 called," one Facebook friend wrote contrasting Thursday's snowfall. "It's not impressed."

One woman posted a photo of her front yard to illustrate what exactly prompted the cancellation of many classes:

In fairness, last night was the first measurable snow in these parts for many years. In Austin, where some areas saw almost two inches, it was the heaviest snowfall in 13 years. Further south in San Antonio, the snow residents experienced was the heaviest in 32 years.

But when considering the harsh winters experienced elsewhere in the country —Alaska, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Wisconsin, et al — one can't help but think the reaction in Central Texas was a little much.

Despite the hype — the exaggerated dystopian descriptions and general over-the-top sentiments of pandemonium — there were heartwarming aspects to the mass reaction to last night's snow. For many Central Texas children, last night's snow flurries were the first time they had seen snow as illustrated on social media.

Her smiles as big as her snowball ❄️ #TexasSnow2017 #TexasBlizzard2017 #dontlaugh pic.twitter.com/OPaMmZ8mWK
— Sydney Miller (@sydney_miller22) December" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/sydney_mil... 8, 2017

This reporter's own nephew saw his first snow last night, the boy's awe-filled reaction reaction recorded by his parents — easily melting one's hardened, skeptical and world-weary and sarcasm-suffused heart in the viewing. Spying the thin layer of snow covering the outdoor picnic table, he built a "Frosty the Snowman" scene with his toys Thursday night while experiencing his first snowfall.

It's safe to say the young lad was delighted in seeing his first snow:

By Friday morning, Benjamin was still worked up about the aberrant weather but had the presence of mind to dress accordingly to ward off the cold.

So yes, let it snow! But next time, grownups, maybe just bring it down a notch.

Addendum: For the weekend, the National Weather Service predicts we'll stay above freezing. Friday afternoon was sunny, with a high of 53 degrees and a low of 35. Saturday and Sunday will see temps of 64 and 65 degrees, respectively. The coldest night will come on Saturday with the forecast calling for 33 degrees. But by Monday, we're back to normal — or what passes as normal in snow-scarce Central Texas: The high temperature is expected to reach 71 degrees under sunny skies.

>>> Photos by Tony Cantú