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!
LOL. Happened here just last night.
That's Mister Brown. He's a smooth Jack Russel terrier. I don't know how good he would be for hunting but they do keep my yard free of moles.
I think the female has some corgie in her. I was suprised at how many birds they manage to kill. The tend to be stalkers.
It appears that very heavy snow is developing in the northern Virginia/Delaware/Maryland area as the storm is now "jumping" to the coast off the Delmarva peninsula. There is even lightning and thunder in some of these areas and I wouldn't be surprised if some down there get 3-4 inches of snow within an hour!
The precipitation I see on radar is literally exploding. and this should start running up the coast quickly. It looks like the heavy snow should be into the NYC/New Jersey area shortly. For those in Pennsylvania who have seen the snow stop, don't think the storm's over yet! You should get a lot more snow with the wraparound effect. The storm is so intense that a "dry slot" tends to form in the middle of a storm, making it look like a giant comma on the radar.
So it appears that the "bombogenesis" is beginning to happen right now.
LOLOL. I just got back from the brewery. "Food hell, we're out of beer!"
You sure it isn't the deer? :)
LOL
My husband and I are headed to Las Vegas on Wed. then on to a month in ,hopefully, sunny San Clemente, CA.
Just hoping this blizzard doesn't mimic '78 because we're right on the coast 20 miles south of Boston.
I saw that! Personally I was impressed. :D
We used to shoot mistletoe out of the trees in Alabama.
I'm in the suburbs, and I see about 6 inches on the ground at 2:13, and we still have most of the storm ahead of us
LOL kinda like the way they shot the birds out of the tree in Steel Magnolias.
I am north of Springfield and the lastest I have heard we could get 20-30 inches, NW hills CT included.
Perhaps you would like to run by and see if my son is all set LOL (just kidding)
Here in Durango CO where I live about 3 miles outside the city limits, -13.8 at 6000' feet isn't real cold. Then again, when the sun comes out at 6000' on the same day, the temp will rise 50 degrees.
BTW, I grew up in CT and know about the blizzards that can occur out there, but it's pretty much a commonality here. Since January 1 Molas Pass (just a little north of me) has gotten 115" of snow.
Right now at 12:15 MST the sun is just hitting my house, tucked in a little valley. Should hit about 55 degrees in a little while.
FMCDH(BITS)
Don't know where you are mewzilla...skeeters in Michigan were HUGE last summer. (Someone's been feeding those ladies some healthy blood.)
I think if the Pats put their kicker in the position the Jets kept giving their kid (Who is his bookie?), the Steelers are over.
That and Some of the dumb luck that they seem to get in this weather encourages me. :O)
I go all the way back with the Pats, so despite the phenominal record of late, I'm cynical enough so that I still don't believe in magic.
I think the Pats being made the favorite has the potential to work against them.
Win or lose, they've both had great years for their fans and franchises. From what I've seen so far, I consider tomorrow the "real" Super Bowl.
I'm talking about people who are home who stock up on food for a week at the same time as topping off the gas tank. I'm not talking about folks who have only 1/4 tank who let it drop lower than that. Snow or not, its foolish to let the gas get below 1/4 tank in the winter because of freezing.
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