Winter storm 2026

It's not as if we were not warned. 

Last week the TV weather folks kept warning us of a huge winter weather event that would hit a big part of the U.S., including our area, starting at the end of the week and packing a huge punch over the weekend. 

I have great respect for the meteorologists who predict the weather. I understand it is not an exact science and how what is forecast does not always happen exactly as narrated. But they are often VERY accurate, and I have learned it's not a bad idea to listen to them and govern myself accordingly. 

I do not go into panic mode when snow and ice are predicted. Sure, Wife or I will make a trip to the grocery store to stock up on a few things if we think we will be housebound for a couple of days. But (a) we have never been housebound more than a couple of days because, when winter weather has been concerned, we have always been able to get out after a day; and (b) in a worst-case scenario, we could eat from our pantry and/or our refrigerator or freezer for a number of days if we needed to. 

We were told, however, that this storm, because of ice and long-term cold that would accompany it, could bring power outages. 

So, how do we prepare for a winter storm with a possible power outage? I cover up the outside faucets. When bitter cold sets in, I drip the inside faucets and open the doors beneath the sinks so warm air might circulate around the pipes. We also power up the little battery packs we have that can charge our cell phones. We make sure we have flashlights and candles. 

We do not own a generator, and our fireplace has gas logs (which we updated a year ago), so there is no fuel to obtain nor wood to chop. Power outages in the past, caused by storms any time of year, have generally lasted less than 24 hours. 

The snow started last Saturday morning, right on schedule. We got maybe a couple of inches. About an hour after it stopped, sleet began and a thin layer of ice topped the snow. That lasted maybe an hour. Although we were not going anywhere, cars were still moving along our street and things seemed fine. 

We went to bed Saturday night hoping we had dodged a bullet. 

No such luck. Freezing rain overnight brought another layer of ice that covered everything. Our power went out at 6:30 a.m. I write this 72 hours later and power has not been restored. For our power company, outages numbered about 220,000 in the greater Nashville area, and as of this morning, power has been restored for about half. That does not include us.

Wife and I got up Sunday morning and assessed the situation. We decided to hunker down at the house. We pulled two chairs in front of the fireplace to maximize the benefit of the gas logs, which do emit some heat. 

We opened the refrigerator and stocked two coolers with provisions. We have a gas cooktop, so we could cook on top of the stove. 

And oh yeah, when we looked out the window, we saw that major parts of two trees along had collapsed under the weight of the ice and were strewn across the driveway. We were not going anywhere until that was cleared. I sent a text to my lawn guy and asked how soon he could send a crew. He said it would be at least Tuesday. 

We got cozy in front of the fire. We set up a card table and Wife taught me to play mahjong. (More on that in a subsequent post). We used our phones sparingly to preserve their power. 

Our next-door neighbors came over with lunch. They also have a gas cooktop and had made a big pot of chili, and they brought that, a bag of chips, soft drinks and additions for the chili like cheese and sour cream. It was so very kind of them. 

We did fine Sunday. The thermometer on the thermostat hovered around the low 60s. After sundown, it went into the high 50s. 

At bedtime, we warmed blankets by the fire, then ran upstairs to our bedroom. All bundled up, we slept pretty well, dreaming about awaking to power restoration which was, in fact, only in our dreams. 

Monday afternoon some friends in another part of town with power took pity on us and came to get us. We've been here ever since, although my friend took me home yesterday so I could be there when the yard crew cleared the trees. It was 40 degrees inside the house. After that I was able to get out of the garage and driveway, so I came back to their house. We are still here. 

Will today be the day for power restoration? We can only hope. 

The winter storm of 2026 will not soon be forgotten.