Posted on 02/16/2003 8:19:33 AM PST by SamAdams76
Moderators, please pull if a similar thread has been started. I did a search on "snow" and blizzard" and came up with nothing.
What originally looked to be primarily a mid-Atlantic snowstorm has blossomed overnight into a monster snowstorm that threatens to shut down the major cities of the Northeast for tomorrow.
Just got the latest forecasts. Washington D.C. area will see 1-2 feet. Philly will see 17-34 inches according to their local mets. NYC will see 1-2 feet. And Southern New England (including Boston), which was originally thought to be missing this storm, is now pegged to get at least 10-20 inches before all is said and done with possible blizzard conditions tomorrow night as the storm explodes ("bombogenisis") off Nantucket island during the day.
Some very impressive snowfall reports already coming in despite the fact that the storm hasn't even developed off the coast yet. Some 8 inches is on the ground in the DC area and snow is falling heavily in the Philly area and parts of New Jersey. This snow is NOT from the storm that is expected to develop off the Carolinas this afternoon, move northeast and "explode" off Nantucket Island during tomorrow.
These storms are never a sure thing until they happen because they are so unpredictable. But this storm has all the ingredients to make it a storm of historic proportions from Washington D.C. to Portland, Maine. If everything falls together just right, we could be looking at 2 feet (or more) of snow in many urban areas of the Northeast over the next 36 hours.
Please post your local reports here.
Daughter's concert was just cancelled -- son's boss says he'll send them home early if it keeps up like this -- we've got some wood stockpiled in the den and plenty of milk, bread and toilet paper (oh and some wine too) -- bring it on :)
Worth every minute :)
That's the truth! During the late 1970s, I worked at a supermarket here in eastern MA and sure enough, whenever a big snow was in the forecast, there would be a stampede to the supermarket. Usually milk and bread would get completely cleaned out. I never quite understood the phenomenon. The average household has enough food to last several weeks in their cupboards even though they might not realize it. I know if I get really desperate, there are cans of wax beans and soups that have been sitting in the back of my shelves since at least the 1980s.
I'm just outside the city south of Rt. 7. Greater Suburban Falls Church.
You know, if Falls Church City lets the Democrats put up campaign banners on Independence Day again, maybe we should do a bit of local freeping.
Gov. declares state of emergency; all roads closed
A snowstorm that could dump up to 20 inches on Delaware prompted Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to declare a state of emergency today.
The declaration means only emergency vehicles as well as plows and other pieces of equipment involved in helping clear snow should be on the roads, a statement from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency said.
"No one is to be out on the roadways at this point unless they have an emergency need," Michele Ackles, spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Transportation said.
DelDOT has mobilized 400-500 workers operating about 400 pieces of equipment to begin clearing the snow. The Delaware National Guard and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control also are positioning heavy machinery around the state to help with road clearing and reaching areas that might flood early Monday near the state's beaches and bays, the DEMA statement said.
The snow-clearing operation is focused first on major roads, such as Interstate 95, U.S. 13, U.S. 113, Del. 1 and parts of U.S. 202, Ackles said.
"People shouldn't be looking for this to be on secondary roads until tomorrow afternoon, assuming things don't continue to deteriorate," Ackles said.
Although snow was forecast for the state, it began falling earlier than expected due to a surge of warm moist air. It is expected to keep falling through the first half of Monday, said Anthony Gigi, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, N.J.
Snowfall could total 12-20 inches in New Castle County. Accumulations of 12-18 inches are expected in Kent County and 10-15 inches in Sussex County.
Up to 20 inches would be the biggest snowfall in Delaware since the blizzard of January 1996, when nearly 23 inches fell at the New Castle County Airport, Gigi said.
"The only saving grace is it looks like tomorrow some sleet may mix in," he said.
Heavier, wetter sleet would pack down the snow and reduce the accumulation. Gigi said the snowfall would be on the lower end of the forecast if it combines with sleet.
The total snowfall for this winter at the New Castle County Airport is almost 24 inches.
Cold dry air was expected to evaporate the snow and stop it from falling before this afternoon, Gigi said. Instead a mass of warm moist air moved in earlier than expected, causing the snow to start falling around 7 a.m. in Delaware.
"I don't think it changes the evolution of the storm," he said. "It just bumps things up a little."
However, Gigi said winds are expected to increase up to 20-30 mph tonight, creating near-blizzard conditions and further reducing visibility.
Ackles said if blizzard conditions occur, DelDOT will consider shutting down the snow-clearing operations overnight. But that decision won't be made until later tonight.
Delaware State Police spokesman Lt. Tim Winstead said there has not been a significant number of collisions on roads. He said police mostly are helping disabled vehicles stuck on the snow-covered roads.
"I'd recommend everyone stay off the roads unless it's an emergency," he said.
Gigi said, "The only thing that will make driving conditions better right now is if you're driving a car in Miami."
I'd love to, but I have to rearrange my sock drawer.
Also a balloon!
'spoze to continue for another 18-24 hours
That's right, y'all didn't get the large snowfalls that hit on Christmas and New Year's Days. We're just East of Worcester, and we got about 14-18 " on Christmas and another 6-8" on New Year's. A week ago Friday, they local guy was just SURE we'd only get one possibly 3" out of the storm that came through. By 6 that evening we had another 8-10"!
Sir SuziQ looked out the back door the other day and said, longingly, "I'd sure like to see some green grass"!
After 13 yrs. in MA, we finally broke down in Dec. of 2001 and bought a snow thrower. We didn't use it much last winter, but it sure has come in handy THIS winter! The snow piled up from our driveway and the street would have covered our mailbox, but we've been throwing it way past it for the last couple of storms!!
At our Parish, they moved the big pile of snow, created by clearing the parking lot, from the Church side of the Rectory to the empty lot on the other side. Before, you almost couldn't see the Rectory from the Church! Our Pastor said the staff is taking bets on how long it will be before the pile finally melts!
Yes it was - and she actually outlasted me by 15 minutes!!!
I don't have aol so I don't know about pic posting but you should be able to.
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