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!
Folks who want that sidewalk in front of their property may be required by the owner of the sidewalk to keep it clean.
In nearly every instance at one time or the other the owners of such sites have elected to have a public sidewalk, so that's become part of the deed description. I doubt you could actually remove the sidewalk and thereby get out of keeping it clean.
Here in Fairfax Virginia we used to have a law that PROHIBITED you from cleaning a public sidewalk. That was strictly the prorogative of the government!
In the Detroit area here...western suburbs. We have about 5-6 inches here with some drifting. It's COOOOOOOOOOOOOLD! About 10 degrees right now. Good luck to everyone getting clobbered!
Hi, Nita,
Yes, many towns do have laws requiring you to clear the path.
Also, if something happens to someone (slip and fall) on your own property, you may be liable and/or it could affect your insurance.
In our neighborhood, we shovel our own then just go along and help whomever seems to need help. My neighbors were great when I was pregnant and when my daughter was young. They just came over and helped out (ordering me not to do any shoveling.) If someone is sick or elderly, then others help out. Of course, we have the younger teenagers in the neighborhood who can make a couple dollars helping to shovel, too. And then one year, one neighbor got a really nice snowblower and did the neighbors' yards around him. lol
I look at it as good exercise. If you plan the shoveling and do it properly, you can get a good workout. In a storm like this, pacing yourself works. We usually go out in shifts every four to six inches or so. That way, you can get outside the door and it doesn't seem so overwhelming.
It's better to be prepared than not!
It's 44° and overcast, so send some white stuff down.
4 days before Christmas, we had an icestorm. Stuff was nasty (and people here don't know how to drive in the sunshine, much less ice!) and it took about 4 days before everything got back to normal. Needless to say, I still went into work (and it took roughly the same amount of time to get there)
hi grrrr, Im in Lake Bluff. Roads are real bad here. Nice to meet a fellow Freeper so close by.
My wife and I went to breakfast this morning and just got some groceries. It is a madhouse out there. Supermarket shelves are literally clearing off and we had to park in an adjacent lot because the supermarket lot was completely full (first time I've seen that happen).
Local weatherforecasters in the Boston area are beside themselves this morning. I get the feeling that the hype is for real this time. I'm also following the weather discussions of the professional meterologists and they are all on the same page. The Northeast is getting a true blizzard and it's going to be the storm of the century (of course, we are only five years into it).
Enjoy it!!
Here in Bend (OR) we've had highes in the 60's; all the snow has melted and even took the Christmas lights down yesterday. (Who wants to go on a steeped peak roof covered with snow?) I'm aching for one of those two-foot snows...bought a kerosene heater for the garage but in-door friendly just in case the big one does hit.
Hope the power stays on.
Thanks, Mr. Lee. Stay warm.
What makes it worse is that the temperature is only 9 degrees which means that the salt trucks on the highways will have little effect.
Was going to drive down to Cabelas in Dundee today(75 miles away) to pick up a pistol I had ordered but anticipating this storm, I took yesterday afternoon off and did it. Smart move on my part.
Fortunately today is Saturday, I don't have to go anywhere until work on Monday, got food in the fridge, wine on the counter and gin on my bar. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Time for a nap........
Yes, we have a law that your sidewalk must be cleared within 24 hours of the snow. I doubt if they enforce this law very much. I live in the suburbs near D.C. in a fairly new planned community. I was pleasantly surprised to see an article in our recent community newspaper about an organized effort to sign up to help shovel snow for the folks that aren't able to. It's been my experience that people tend to chip in and help their neighbors in big snow storms.
Snow is really coming down hard within the last ten minutes....here in Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania.......just north of Delaware.
I'll share some of my weather with you. You will love 14 deg with the wind blowing over 50 mph and 20-30 inches of snow. Here along the coast we will take the brunt of it. -Tom
BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM EST SUNDAY ...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM EST TO 2 PM EST SUNDAY...
Includes the Counties: Eastern Essex County MA, Suffolk County MA, Eastern Norfolk County MA, Eastern Plymouth County MA Includes the cities: Gloucester, Boston, Quincy, Plymouth
Tonight...Snow...Heavy at Times. Blowing and drifting snow causing whiteout conditions at Times. Strong winds. Lows around 14. Northeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph...Increasing to 40 to 50 mph with gusts up to 60 mph after midnight.
Sunday...Snow...Mainly in the morning. Total snow accumulation of 20 to 30 inches. Strong winds with highs around 20. North winds 40 to 50 mph...Decreasing to 30 to 40 mph in the afternoon.
Ah, so I guess it just depends on what city you live in then. I just couldn't imagine being responsible for shoveling every time it snowed! Thanks!
Just went out to shovel the front walk to the bird feeder and we already have at least 6 inches with white-out snow falling. Pontiac-Waterford-White Lake area of SE Michigan.
Thanks for your response.... You gave me a lot of good information about the questions I had. Living close to your neighbors was one of the huge differences when I lived up there. All the neighbors knew each other, which was pretty cool.
It just started snowing in southwest Jersey. I hate snow. Go away.
Snow just started here in south jersey outside of Philly.
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