Md. endures worst storm in 81 years (Global warming anyone?)

Sunspot.net ^ | Feb. 17, 2003 | Johnathon E. Briggs and Scott Calvert

[FairOpinion]

At least 3 deaths reported; Ehrlich to seek disaster aid; Snow accumulations at record levels -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Johnathon E. Briggs and Scott Calvert Sun Staff Originally published February 17, 2003, 9:12 PM EST

The state’s worst winter storm in 81 years left Marylanders with sore backs and aching

muscles Monday as they began the arduous task of digging out from beneath mounds of snow that collapsed rooftops, snarled roads, stranded hundreds of travelers and was blamed for at least three storm-related deaths. Across the region, awnings and barns buckled under the crushing weight of the snow, causing injuries to people and livestock. Even the 119-year-old roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum complex was not immune: The historic shrine to American railroading lost half

its roof to a mass of snow.

“This is going to go down as a pretty memorable storm,” said Andy Woodcock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said Monday that he plans to ask President Bush to declare Maryland a federal disaster area to help the state recoup the costs of cleaning up the storm, second only to the “Knickerbocker Storm” of January 1922 that dumped 26.5 inches in Baltimore.

The state will spend at least $30 million by the time road-clearing crews are done scraping the last inch of snow from state highways, Ehrlich said.

If the state is eligible, the federal government could reimburse state and local governments for up to 75 percent of what it cost to combat the weekend storm that dumped 24.4 inches at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

The governor lifted his executive order Monday that banned driving Sunday night,

but he continued to make televised pleas for motorists to stay off the roads.

p> State troopers, patrolling in four-wheel drive vehicles and more than 50 National Guard Humvees, had responded to

1,330 calls for

service by Monday morning,

including 173 accidents and 764

motorists with disabled vehicles, said Maj. Greg Shipley,

Maryland state police spokesman.

But by and large, officials said, motorists were heeding the

governor’s advice, which enabled road crews to make considerable progress as the state

of emergency remained in effect for a second day.

Movement was slow across the region as Marylanders

struggled to a navigate a snow-covered landscape that resembled a beautifully eerie Arctic

wasteland.

Planes at BWI Airport were grounded for much of the day.

The Maryland Transit Administration kept buses and trains off the roads and rails. Schools and city county government offices in the Baltimore region --

closed anyway for Presidents Day Monday -- will also be closed Tuesday.

Curbside trash and bulk items will not be picked up in Baltimore, Annapolis or Anne Arundel County Tuesday. Baltimore officials said service would be delayed “until further notice.”

Many on foot

In the storm’s aftermath, walking and shoveling have become the exercises of necessity.

[FairOpinion]

What about the great "threat" of global warming? :::::::sarcasm

I bet people on the East Coast would love a little global warming right about now.

[Orangedog]

I shoveld a grand total of 18 inches of global warming out of my driveway this weekend. The greenie-weenies can bite it, as far as I'm concerned. If global warming will give make it 60 degrees in Ohio during February, then give me a can of freon, a tank of CO2 and let me do my part!

[Kevin Curry]

Maryland has been suffering from a drought for the past few years. Maybe this will help ease the situation.

[Bedford Forrest]

Ho Hum. About 18-20" in the back yard, close by Great Falls. No sign of any county plows on our road - put the Ford Explorer in 4wd and went to the Giant. BFD. Our three Siberians got three walks in one day, [today - only two yesterday] because it is such a gas to cut them loose and see them light the burners. Until they whiff the deer and disappear offroad for five minutes. What is nice about 18" of snow on the ground is that the dogs give up on the deer pretty quick after they flounder around for a bit, up to their bellies. Life is sweet, particularly since The Beast is shut down tomorrow.

[Grand Old Partisan]

In the 1980s, whackos warned about global cooling. Then it was global warming. What's next, global windyism?

[Salgak]

Actually, they were closer to correct in the 70's and 80's: we ARE in a period between glaciations, that's due to end any time now, in geologic terms (for the rest of us, that's within the next couple of thousand years. . .)

[blau993]

We had a neighborhood (Annapolis) blizzard party last night. Reminds me once again what wonderful neighbors I have. One of them said, though, "You guys with those long driveways are paying a price."

He got that right!!

Snow in my long driveway runs from knee high to waist high (I am 6'3"). Our poor landscape guy has been working his ass off, but we are going nowhere until he and his plow comes to our rescue.

[Paleo Conservative]

(Global warming anyone?)

Definitely!

[BillyBoy]

Yes, Global warming is killing us all! No wonder all the oldsters are rushing to retire in North Dakota and Maine so they avoid the massive heat wave! < /sarcasm>

;-)

[Intolerant in NJ]

(Global warming anyone?)...one of our local TV weathermen was challenged on this over the weekend, while reporting on the blizzard, and retorted that there is actually a theory that global warming releases more water vapor into the atmosphere and that is why we may be getting more serious rain and snow storms as the process continues - no doubt someone will eventually come up with a theory that the atmosphere actually gets colder as global warming advances, just in case.......

[Coleus]

http://www.bethanyroberts.com/LetItSnow.htm

http://www.nevada.edu/~blake/Christmas.songs.html#Let%20It%20Snow!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

When we finally say good night,
How I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

[Orion78]

Dont forget the CFC's

[freebilly]

If winter is warmer than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is colder than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is snowier than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is wetter than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is drier than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is longer than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is shorter than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is sunnier than usual it's a result of global warming.
If winter is cloudier than usual it's a result of global warming.

Socrates is a man.
All men are mortal.
Therefore, all men are Socrates....

[San Jacinto]

Haven't you heard?

Global warming causes big snow storms, too. Any sort of 'extreme weather' is a sign of global warming.

Here are the signs to look out for. Each is proof of global warming:
a. the sun is shinning, b. it is raining, c. it is hot, d. it is cold.

[CFW]

Those evil SUV's look pretty good to some people right now I bet.

[ForOurFuture]

the storm, second only to the “Knickerbocker Storm” of January 1922 that dumped 26.5 inches in Baltimore.

Not so bad as the intentional liberal hogwash usually found, but yet another Sun article which needs correcting: This storm's accumulation is second to none for Baltimore. After a ruling by the National Weather Service that the 2"+ from Saturday fell from the same storm that dumped 20"+ on Sunday and Monday, this storm's accumulation at the official BWI recording site totals to 26.6". One-Tenth of an inch more than the '22 storm. This storm is a record Maryland snowfall.