Then Came the Slow Thaw After the Big Freeze

From what I hear, another winter storm in headed this-a-way. Well, sort of. Mostly, Winter Storm Nika is expected to blast the Midwest, but some forcast say it could affect parts of the South and East. 

Just think, it was only a week ago that Winter Storm Leon provided South Mississippi and the rest of a very surprised Deep South residents with four days of very dangerous ice, snow flurries and bone-chilling temperatures. Life was interestingly colder for a time, kind of like it is for everyone who lives north of the Mason-Dixon line.   

By the way, where did this name Leon come from, and why Leon?

As those in the Southeast attempt to fight off a rare winter storm, many have begun to wonder about things other than how long they will be stuck in traffic – for example what’s the origin of Winter Storm Leon’s name and when will he crawl back into his cave.
Here’s a primer.
Leon is the Greek word for “lion,” the most famous of which in Greek mythology is Leon Nemeois, a nearly indestructible beast who terrorized the people of Argolis.
To handle matters, King Eurystheus enlisted the hero Heracles who stunned it with a club then threw some UFC style moves on the animal, wrestling it to death. Later, he skinned its hide and made a cape, which by lore was impervious to the elements and also a coat of armor.
(MORE: Winter Storm Leon: State-by-State)
In short, Heracles killed a lion to make the kind of all-weather coat millions of Americans wish they had this week as Winter Storm Leon pelts southern states from Texas to Virginia.
Leon, like other winter storm names, was chosen by a Latin class at Bozeman High School in Bozeman, Mont. Many of the names come from Greek mythology.
http://www.weather.com/news/winter-storm-leon-explaining-name-20140128

Non-travelers took precedence over mobile folks for two days Tuesday and Wednesday. Days when folks were glad to be at home and off the roads regardless of the loss of money for most hourly workers.

Many regretted the economic loss, but compared to the bone-chilling cold and potential danger to life and damage to automobile (and even more more money lost), it was worth it.

Temps eventually dipped into the low teens. In north Mississippi, the gauges registered in the single digits. Something that happened in the early 1980's that this writer remembers. Deja vu again.!