Tuesday, January 21st of 2025 was no normal winter day for the residents of Fort Bend County. A rare, once-in-a-generation snow storm blew through, dropping inches upon inches of snow and creating a fun snow day for families in Fort Bend.
 
Official reports show Richmond measured 4” of snow, while Sugar Land got 3” – although UpClose publishers, John and Alisha McMillen, think it was more at their Sugar Land home. Our area hasn’t seen this type of snow since 1960.
 
“We are empty nesters, so it was strange not to have our college-aged daughters here to play in the snow with us,” Alisha says. “But John and I rolled a few balls of snow to make our own tiny snowman. It was a fun escape from our normal activities.”
 
UpClose Magazine’s partners also enjoyed the day in the snow. “The snow day was such an unexpected day of joy and play at our house!” says Mandy Bui from East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry.
 
The Sugar Creek Country Club, home to the Exchange Club’s Wednesday morning meetings, looked beautiful under a white blanket of snow. And at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, in the heart of our city, it was a white-out.
 
We at UpClose Magazine hope everyone stayed warm and safe during this almost-unprecedented weather event. We all lost a couple of days of productivity, but gained an opportunity to slow down, breathe in the fresh, snowy air, build some snowmen, and throw some snowballs in our own front yards.