Monster Winter Storm Takes Aim at One-Third of U.S. (Live Thread)

FOXNews.com ^ | January 31, 2011 | | Associated Press

[pallis]

The loader is sitting in the yard, ready to clear the drive and around the gate, and there are chains for my truck, but so far we are getting flurries that don’t amount to much. I’m hoping for a little moisture. God bless those who are going to get a lot of it.

[w1andsodidwe]

When I was growing up in rural Iowa in the 50's and 60's We were snowed in many times during some winters. Other winter, we never got snowed in. Weather varied from year to year and that was the norm.

Perhaps it was because we lived 15 miles from the nearest big town, but we always had plenty of food and fuel. My parents just calmly dealt with it. It was normal. Snow plows might take several days to finally get to us. They prioritized. if someone on the road was pregnant or had a medical problem, you got done first, otherwise you waited. Many days of school were missed.

Now, for some reason, snow is a big deal. What am I missing?

[tubebender]

Our week ahead here behind the Redwood Curtain...Next 10 Days

[Graybeard58]

When the NWS put up the winter storm warnings up early today, I knew we were going to get screwed.

You'll know the NWS is scared if they start posting warnings in ALL LOWER CASE LETTERS.

[metmom]

Psst. Over here....

[GATOR NAVY]

The 24/7 news cycle is a large part of today’s hypersensitivity to these events.

[metmom]

The problem is it looks like a lot of icing.

That’s the WORST.

I’m going to predict that afterschool activities are canceled everywhere tomorrow night and that there will be no school for Wed and Thrus.

Friday depends on location and how well the local communities usually deal with the weather.

[The Cajun]

And the globalwarming blower.

First time I've seen that term.....I like it!

[MWestMom]

“When I was growing up in rural Iowa in the 50’s and 60’s We were snowed in many times during some winters. Other winter, we never got snowed in. Weather varied from year to year and that was the norm. ... Now, for some reason, snow is a big deal. What am I missing?”

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Key word there might be “rural.” Most of my family came from rural northern Missouri. Same for them, they kept stocked up for inclement weather and had to be self sufficient to farm or live in small towns.

Now, in large metro areas, most either don’t know how to or have forgotten the self sufficiency. We’re too used to things being at our fingertips.

[metmom]

The winters haven’t been so bad in the last couple decades and we’ve become a nation of wusses.

[metmom]

LOL!!!

But they’re meteorologists. This is what they live for.

They get REALLY EXCITED about stuff like this and just can’t help themselves shouting.

[PA Engineer]

The problem is it looks like a lot of icing.

We just iced up here in western PA. With the hills it is going to be a nightmare for the next 24 hrs. Picked up 400lbs of calcium chlorite today. I have a very long and steep driveway. All wheel drive with studded snow tires just don't work well on ice. ;-(

[freedomfiter2]

Now, for some reason, snow is a big deal. What am I missing?

Even though the average age is rising, fewer people are growing up.

[MWestMom]

“The winters haven’t been so bad in the last couple decades and we’ve become a nation of wusses.”

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LOL! That too!

[metmom]

First time I've seen that term.....I like it!

doc1019 really gets the credit for it.

I liked it, too.

[metmom]

This storm reminds me of the Blizzard of ‘93 in scope.

That one took out the whole east coast, affecting more than half the population of the nation.

I think this one will equal or exceed it.

The one in ‘93 came up the coast but started as rain and while some areas further south got decent snowfall, this one is coming across the country and more areas are going to be seeing much higher snowfall rates.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Same here, except I was a kid in the suburbs outside Ithaca NY and Syracuse NY. We had 60 inches over one weekend around 1966. No big deal except Mom & Dad ran out of smokes and they sent my sister and I packing down to the main road to pick up an emergency drop-shipment in our mailbox!

Maybe it’s the Internet because now we hear and the amazement and angst.

Of course it’s easy for me to look back and say “no biggie” because I packed up and headed to warm California after I got out of college. But now I have a liberal cesspool all around me; but that’s another story.

[tubebender]

Over here

[metmom]

Well, if you’ve been below freezing like the rest of us, when that rain hits the cold surfaces, it’s going to freeze on contact.

Having rain after a prolonged cold snap will guarantee it. Stuff needs to warm up to prevent that and there just won’t be enough time for that to happen.

[w1andsodidwe]

Of course it’s easy for me to look back and say “no biggie” because I packed up and headed to warm California after I got out of college. But now I have a liberal cesspool all around me; but that’s another story.

Well, of course, I live in California now also. LOL