Nasty here in Buffalo, we could be looking at a foot of new snow.
It's heading toward you.
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!
That is the funniest and most cynical yet the most accurate description of weather people and reporters that I have ever read.
It's noon on Saturday and it has just started to snow here in northwestern New Jersey.
Those all-caps National Weather Forecasts are always panic inducing... I wish they would update their fonts.
Snow just started coming down on Long Island :-)
Checking in from Long Island.. started snowing and the folks are driving crazy as usual.
1F here in Northwest Connecticut, just about the coldest I can remember it being with snow on the doorstep...
Looks like it's going to be a fun one!
Been tracking the storm for about a week or so now, a bunch of info can be found here:
http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/index.php?showtopic=15964
It just got going good a few minutes ago here in Herndon, Virginia, a stone's throw from Dulles Airport. Starting to stick to the streets and coming down at a fast clip. Why do I always get the urge for a pizza when the streets are unsafe for the poor Domino's guy?
Nasty here in Buffalo, we could be looking at a foot of new snow.
It's heading toward you.
Snowed plenty last night here in downtown Chicago. I'm guessing a foot or so. Winds have come now, so it's starting to move around real good!
Plows ran all night, though, so I'm pleasantly surprised now things are moving so well on the major arteries. The sidestreets though? Fergit about it! :-)
Damn that Al Gore
:D
It's a law of nature! ;-)
The colder it gets, the less well salt works for clearing the roads. Below zero F, a pile of salt will just sit there on top of the snow if the sun isn't shining on it. Functionally, salt quits working below about 15 F.
I have the shovels ready and did some grocery shopping :-)
My water pipes are frozen solid. :(
Out of curiousity, why? It's not like Cincy, cleveland and Pittsburgh don't all play a lot of games in the brutal cold and snow.
ping for later
Jul did her normal shopping yesterday so we are all set.
I have never understood how it can snow when it's so cold.
It's 4 degrees and it's coming down, just makes the roads like driving on ice no matter how much salt they put down.
I am going to attempt a drive..
I'm a sick man.
I'm here in Bensalem PA with 13 degress and powdery snow falling and piling up. My shelves are stocked, stack of DVDs ready, and plenty of stuff to do.
Only problem is, I'm here all by myself and now that I won't be able to go out for awhile... I WANT to go out! hehehe. I'm hoping the roads will be passable enough tomorrow by game time to watch the Eagles victory with friends.
Oh... and by March I should be in North Carolina! I'm going to a more friendly climate. It couldn't happen quickly enough.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.