Posted on 01/22/2005 4:04:20 AM PST by SamAdams76
Well all the stops have officially been pulled out by the weather prognosticators. They are on a "war footing." The Northeast is getting a true BLIZZARD this weekend. Not a "nor'easter". Not just your basic snowstorm dumping 6-10 inches in Boston and New York with a mix and changeover to rain along the coast. No! We are talking 20-30 inches of windblown powdery snow in many locations with no chance of a mix with or change to rain whatsoever.
The temperatures are currently running zero or below zero across most of the Northeast this morning so the cold air is in place and fully entrenched. With the high winds expected with this storm, This will be a true BLIZZARD.
So as I sit in the epicenter of it all (my area is expecting over two feet of snow), I thought I'd start this thead so that Freepers can give us reports of how conditions are in there area. And you don't have to be in the Northeast to participate as this storm is currently affecting Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia as it heads to the East Coast where it is expected to undergo what the weather nuts call "bombogenesis" and literally explode into a superstorm as energy is transferred over the comparatively milder Atlantic Ocean.
So there you have it. Even in areas where plenty of snow falls this time of year, you have people running to the supermarket early this morning to "stock up", as if somehow a few feet of snow is going to stop all commerce and transportation for the forseeable future (the reality is that we should be all shoveled and plowed out by Monday morning no matter how bad things get).
The local TV stations around here have gone absolutely bonkers, as they are wont to do. It's even more extreme this year because TV "broadcast" stations are struggling to maintain their relevancy in a high world of internet, satellite radio and many other distractions that consumers have these days.
Weekday "anchors" are being rolled out of bed early this Saturday morning as they throw on their hairpieces and head to the studios for all-day "wall-to-wall" coverage of this blizzard. Seasoned reporters are being sent to Home Depots where people are already nervously buying shovels (even though they likely have 7 or 8 shovels in their garage already) and supermarkets where silly old ladies are buying gallons of milk (that they normally never drink) and loaves of bread (that they will never eat and end up throwing to the birds). Other reporters will be sent into the streets to do interviews with snow-plow drivers and "public safety" officials. More junior reporters are being sent to the sides of highways for liveshots where absolutely nothing is going on presently. But they will stand there nevertheless, filming the traffic going by and commenting on "how dangerous" this highway will be in just a few more hours. Then when the storm hits, these same reporters will retreat to rest areas where they will continue their liveshots as their cameramen instruct them to "sway in the wind" and "hold on to their hats" to help convince the viewers at home that the storm is severe indeed.
Yes, it's going to be a fun weekend in New England and the Northeast in general. But the beauty of this is that is is on a weekend. If we are going to get a true blizzard, the timing just couldn't be much better. We are able to get our normal errands done on Saturday morning and then in the afternoon, we can retreat to our homes and stoke up the fireplace as the snow moves in. Then tomorrow (Sunday), we can sleep late and take our time shoveling out. Then we have a perfect excuse to sit around the warm house all afternoon watching football as THREE out of the four teams still playing are all in the snow-bound Northeast. The ratings ought to be phenomenal, provided the power doesn't go out.
So post conditions in your area here.
Outside my home (approx 30 miles northwest of Boston near the NH border), it is -11 degrees! It is daybreak and the skies are mostly clear with some high clouds. It is COLD out there, almost too cold for snow. But it's coming, at least that's what they tell me!
22 degrees here in the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia. The NWS is calling for up to an inch of snow today changing over to freezing rain/sleet, followed up by another inch of snow tonight. Two inches of snow and 1/4" of ice and that rates a full-on weesa-gonna-die Winter Storm Warning. Yep, we're in the South!
Nothing falling yet, but we'll have live reports as the world ends because of two inches of snow.
}:-)4
Forecast for 6-8" snow sometime today.
Hmph, it's winter.
Nope, They're different species.
I guess I was rueing the attendant "hype" that is going to consume the News Outlets today. If it happens in New York, it's the biggest thing in the world! Because that's where the important people live (in their world view). Yeah, I know the challenges with clearing New York with all it's street parking, and I obviously hope everyone stays safe. We received 10" in suburban Mpls yesterday, and the main thoroughfares are pretty well clean already.
I feel sorry for my parents. They're in Mass. and had planned on leaving Monday to drive to Florida for 6 weeks. Right now they probably wish they were already there!
Are you anywhere near Manistee? I've got a good friend that lives up there. I'm hoping for an oh-so-rare snowstorm in northern Alabama this winter. Its been many, many years since we've even had an inch of snow.
Sam, thanks for starting the thread. I think we're all set here in central Jersey. Supplies are here. Shovels and ice melt inside the door. Glovies, scarves and boots on the bench. Hot cocoa and chicken noodle soup are ready in the pantry. We have karate from 12-2. Wonder if Sensei will cancel. Naaah. Being out in the snow builds character.
Stay safe and warm, everyone.
"We're all gonna die...!!!"
Oh! the humanity!!!
We have about 150 inches for the season and counting. The Lake Superior snow machine is cranking up to dump another 8 inches today. The snow banks are about 10 feet in height. Skiing and snowmobiling conditions are great. Starting to get cabin fever.
Spring, where are you?!?
Gawd, that's terrible, Cboldt. I pay a 3% state income tax in IL, and I also drive an older car -- an 8 year old jeep grand cherokee (a great car with loads of comfort that I intend to drive until the wheels fall off - she's only got 43,000 miles on her and 3,000 of those I put on this past summer driving back and forth to Maine). I only pay $78 annually to renew my license plates. They really get you coming and going on taxes in Maine, don't they? And I thought the corrupt democrats here in IL were bad!
Manasquan NJ here. Woke up an hour ago to flurries and an outside temp of 10. White stuff began sticking immediately and the folks on TV are going nuts. I'm almost embarassed for them and their absurd behavior but I guess they have to do what they have to do. I saw a report earlier that said the storm will be outta here by kickoff (3:00 pm) in Philly tomorrow and, irrelevant by the time the Pats begin their beating of the Stiller's. Enjoy!!
It's bad enough that they have cancelled sailboat racing today in Boston. First time this season.
Ella Grasso was Governor of CT and she shut-it-down... for once, I agreed with a Dem. Couldn't do much else.
Sorry, freshwater perch, bluegill and catfish beat out oily saltwater fish any day.
Forgot about trout and bass.
Are you a Yooper? Rural Duluth area here.
I LOVE lake fish: pickerel, perch, blue gill, oh, and SMELT (batter-dipped and fried up nice and crispy!
My preference for lake fish could be partly because that is what I mostly ate while growing up, but it's just as likely due to their having a relatively mild taste.
What kind of saltwater fish would you recommend?
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