Clark County kids enjoy surprise spring snow

A heavy snowfall glided over Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington early Monday, confusing those in the region as they opened their curtains to see a bright sheet of snow on the ground.

In knowing the spring snow’s lifespan was fleeting, people took to the hills or their front lawns to enjoy the unexpected weather. The Brownfield children were among the first to catch a glimpse of the scene and race outside to play.

The four kids were awake at 5:30 a.m., out the door soon after and stomping in the crunchy snow for hours. Betsy Brownfield watched her children breathlessly run up the hill behind Franklin Elementary with their sleds in tow. Their endurance and energy were unmatched.

Hot chocolate was an afterthought.

Although Brownfield’s kids don’t usually resist waking up early, seeing the heavy snowfall outside conjured a special jubilation within them.

“They were especially excited to get up this morning,” she chuckled.

Emmaus, 11, and his siblings Alastair, 6, Amira, 9, and Rainier, 4, began the morning by taking their chickens on a sled ride around the yard and introducing Mr. Tinker Topper, the freshest snowman on the block, to the real world.

The most eventful snow activity, however, was the competitive sledding race that was pitting the siblings against one another. Emmaus would bump into Alastair’s sled as they fought for first place as Amira sneakily slid past them to secure the winning position. Regardless of who was the most triumphant, they were just happy to sled for the second time this year.

Brownfield’s mother, Phyllis Lamp, was visiting from Indiana, where they were experiencing 60-degree temperatures. Vancouver’s thick flakes and chilly weather were unexpected but more than welcome.

“I’m quite enjoying this, though. I love the snow,” Lamp said.

Sara Wilhelm and her twins Haruki and Fumiki Otomo, 9, strolled past snow-covered swing sets early in the morning at Lincoln Elementary. They were surprised to see how long the white blanket remained on the ground, especially as snowflakes continued to add to its depth.

Much to the dismay of the children, the snowfall quickly turned to rain and slush, cutting the sled races and snowmen’s’ lives short.

The mid-April morning could have been easily confused with a day in December — the sky was pure white, and the air left an aching tingle in one’s cheeks. However, the semi-buried hyacinth and tulips scattered on green patches of grass disrupted the winter illusion, as did the quickly melting snow.

Emerging buds created a precarious situation for tree branches, as the young leaves caught the sticky snow too efficiently, weighing down the limbs. Some branches took on a pendulous appearance; others snapped clear off the trunk.

The downed trees caused a stir, disrupting traffic and causing power outages. Many residents lost power.

The National Weather Service’s latest snow totals indicated that areas throughout Clark County received close to 7 inches of snow. It was the first recorded measurable snow fall at the Portland Airport in April, according to the service’s Twitter page.

For the rest of the week, there may be a mixture of rain and snow, but snow accumulations should not exceed half an inch, meteorologist Jon Bonk said.

Forecasters caution Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington commuters to be aware of road conditions. Temperatures will become cool enough in the evening to refreeze the melted snow, turning it into black ice.