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!
Central NC - drizzling, around freezing, no sign of snow just yet. Of course, the mere mention of snow around here is enough to send people into mass hysteria. Head to your local mega box super store and stock up on enough toilet paper, BBQ and tobacco to last the next 5 years!!...Although, I must say, we can get some pretty bad ice storms 'round these parts.
Last night in the upstate Mohawk Valley it got down to minus 15 degrees. I had to BBQ last night out in the cold. Probably the coldest I ever BBQd in. But upstate New Yorkers are use to this.
Official Upstate New York Temperature Conversion Chart
60 Above
* Carolinians try to turn on the heat.
* People in Upstate New York plant gardens
50 Above
* Californians shiver uncontrollably.
* People in Upstate New York sunbathe.
40 Above
* Italian and English cars won't start.
* People in Upstate New York drive with the windows down.
32 Above
* Distilled water freezes.
* Lake Ontario's water gets thicker.
20 Above
* Southerners don coats, thermal underware, gloves and wooly hats.
* People in Upstate New York throw on a flannel shirt.
15 Above
* Philiadelphia landlords finally turn up the heat.
* People in Upstate New York have the last cook-out before it gets cold.
0
* People in Miami all die.
* Upstaters lick the flagpole.
20 below
* Californians fly away to Mexico.
* People in Upstate New York get out their winter coats.
40 below
* Hollywoon disintegrates.
* The Girl Scouts in Upstate New York are selling cookies door to door.
60 below
* Polar bears begin to evacuate the Artic.
* Upstate Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough.
80 below
* Mt St. Helen's freezes.
* People in Upstate New York rent some videos.
100 below
* Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
* Upstaters get frustarted because they can't thaw the keg.
297 below
* Microbial life no longer survies on dairy products.
* Cows in Upstate New York complain about farmers with cold hands
460 below
* All atomic motion stops (absolute zero on Kelvin scale)
* People in Upstate NY start crying... "Cold 'nuff for ya?"
I was a senior at U of M in '78, and they sent us all home at 10 am that day. I remember having to walk through a snow drift at my front door, where two hours before there had been bare ground. Later that afternoon I made my way back to campus and spent the evening and night with other trapped students at the University Lutheran Chapel Student Center. We had a great time that evening playing out in the snow. They also canceled classes the next day! It was great.
We were living in Menominee, Michigan when we got an early March blizzard in 1989. We had a 6+ foot drift on our driveway which took over 8 hours to clear. During the night we had strangers stop at our house to warm up in our air lock. They were trying to get to work. A car stalled in front of our house became totally engulfed in a snow drift. I watched as snowmobiler, unaware of what he was driving over, break out the back window. It was an awesome storm.
Any fool can stock up on bread, milk and TP. It takes a particular grade of fool to stock up on beer and not worry about anything else.
I've got two cases of Yuengling (one Lager, one Chesterfield Ale) and some Pabst in reserve.
LOL, some of those aren't that far off base either. I used to live in Portland , ME. As I recall, it wasn't that uncommon to see people outside in short sleeves when it was below freezing. I learned very quickly to never rely on looking out my window to see how people were dressed to determine whether or not I should be donning cold weather gear.
Ol' Sox,
I'm also on the Connecticut shoreline and well prepared. I have a generator and several inverters, m&m's and the fixins for chocolate chip cookies. I have a snow thrower, 2 four wheel drive vehicles, and a tractor. I will, however, be very bummed if I lose my cable modem. Originally from Pittsburgh, I have 2 of my favorite teams playing against each other tomorrow - BUT I'm first and always a Steeler fan.
Well, I am off to get provisions (have a Ford Explorer) for PaFamily here...nacho chips, must find nacho chips...
Hope your pizza delivery doesn't shut down, and hope you don't need to tap into your reserves. I'd save that stuff for unwanted guests. Although, I think Pabst is better than a lot of other macros, particualrly of the AB variety. Yuengling OTOH is pretty good. They've been marketing the heck out of that stuff here in NC lately.
Some municipalities do have a shoveling ordinence (Boston area). Our next door neighbor is elderly. We shovel her sidewalk and front steps. When ze beeg one comes, everyone pitches in.
Missing Pennsylvania this morning?
Just wanted to add...it started snowing around 4 to 5 a.m. here. We had freezing rain, drizzle around 9 a.m. Heavier burst of snow, right now, just a light flurry...and surprise(!) my township salt truck has already been thru my neighborhood at least once. Looks like about 4 or five inches right now. Fortunately, we still have power, and all my kids activities for today (religionous education, basketball games) have been cancelled!!! I love a big snow!!!
I've got a stash of Slim Jims and Doritos. I'll be fine.
No prob :) We just got back from running errands. The snow started while we were out. It's coming down at a pretty good clip around here. Plows are out, but didn't see any salt trucks. I think the temps are way too cold for salt to work?
You folks have my sympathy.
I was born and raised up in Northeast Ohio, right on Lake Erie, and I remember all too well how much snow you can get. We had a blizzard when I was about 8, and the snow was so heavy it collapsed our garage! Thankfully the car wasn't in it at the time, because the driveway was 3 feet deep and my Dad couldn't shovel fast enough....
Make yourself a hot toddy, build a nice fire, and just enjoy it.
Mr. crabbie went out early for "special camping in food and goodies". What a great day to sit around with candles and watch the storm.
"Sounds like another "Blizzard of '78"."
I lived in Marshfield, MA during the Blizzard of 78, across the marshes from a thickly settled slip of beach called Humarock.
That blizzard devastated Humarock the same way the recent tsunami devastated parts of Indonesia... There was a full moon tide that peaked right at the height of the blizzard, and the tide ran at least 11 feet (if I remember correctly)higher than normal.
All the houses were washed away into the marshes. It was a devastating blizzard. Almost everyone rebuilt, but they put their houses on stilts this time.
15 seconds ago there was nothing to be seen out the windows (Northern NJ) then in blew the snow! Not a few flakes as it usually does, but a full blown shower of snow!! It has started!
I was down in DC with ELS for the Ball, and was supposed to come back today, but we decided to forfeit the cost of the extra day and get home a day earlier. RebubMommy did the same. Smart us!!! I hope the rest of the Tri-Staters followed. One thing to drive in the snow --- another to drive in blowing snow!
As Mark Levin said -- have plenty of Wonder bread and TP and you'll be all set. All I have to do is refill the bird feeders and then I will sit by the fireplace, read all the stuff on this thread and watch the snow build up OUT THERE!
"In addition to milk and bread, its a requirement to top off the gas tank."
I just got back from the store (Demoulas' Market Basket in Burlington, Mass.). 11:30. There were no shopping carts when I got there 2 hours ago. Milk was disappearing fast. Oven stuffers were gone. The ailes were in gridlock, so they started a checkout line that wound all the way around the store, then down aisle 5 and partway into aisle 6! And it hasn't even begun to snow yet.
Ah so, another yooper in the Lake Superior snowbelt! We're in Houghton County (maybe you are too, as our paper has us at a similar amount of snow for the year). Yippee!
I noticed the comparisons to the "Blizzard of '96" where "Hartford got 16"." Gee. Where I was got 36" on top of ten inches of glazed stuff already on the ground. That was causing roofs to collapse.
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