Please don't hate me! :)
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!
Sun is peeking out from the clouds but no snow as of yet, current temp 6 degrees. Current forecast here calls for 4-6 inches of snow today, and an additional 4-6 inches tomorrow, but I know that can change.
Went out this morning to get stuff for oldest son's birthday (he'll be 8 on the 27th) and stocked up on a few things at the local grocery store. Grocery store was packed, between the threat of snow and tomorrow's Patriots game.
I realllllly hate to rub it in but down here in Houston it's 70 and I'm wearing shorts....of course tonight it's dropping to the 30s but I can live with that!!!!
Things might not be AS BAD for you then, but still it's going to be quite a mess and the storm will take its time leaving...so if you go tomorrow, exercise caution.
Greetings from Cherry Hill, NJ, Dog
We are prepared for the snow, but it looks like you people on the shore will get worse weather, like a hurricane. Hope the winds don't make it this far north. Blessing to all of you, and hope you dont loose power. Stay safe!!
Greetings back from Pennsville NJ.
We lived in Cherry Hill in 78-80. We then went to Cleveland and now South Shore of MA. It seems we have lived in or near alot of the areas reporting in today.
I was in high school at the time and it was shut down for three full weeks, mainly because it was used as a homeless shelter. Hundreds of people lost their homes. Now that was a storm.
Another eerie thing was walking down Revere Beach and seeing thousands upon thousands of lobsters washed up on shore. People were putting them in garbage bags and taking them home, even though they were warned not to eat them.
Lot of memories from that period of time. It was a full week before they even attempted plowing the side streets. I remember all the neighbors getting together to shovel out our side street so that an ambulance or fire truck could get in if they had to.
There was a boy a few streets over who died because he was tunneling through the snow and it caved in on him. They didn't find his body until early March.
Wow, the 30s are warm compared to the last few days...it was -10 last night outside Boston. Heck, right now it's barely 15 and the winds are starting to pick up again.
I'd actually really like the snow if it weren't for the prospect of being snowed in my dorm for the next day or 2!
This is, after all, the most important aspect of this massive winter weather event.
I don't know - but I hope not. I want to see blizzard football.
This is our 3rd winter here after moving from Texas. We really like it here.
According to accuweather the wind in scituate should max out at 32MPH from the NNE at 7AM. Shifting to due north after that so you may not get a lot of surge. High tide is around 10AM and it's not a particularly high tide. If the boat is up on jacks according the the CGA manual I studied, the boat should be good for up to 60kts IIRC. I was quite shocked by that number when I read it.
(My boat is out of the water in Marblehead)
SNow is better than the Ice storm we got a while back. We were out of power for 4 days!!! And bout froze to death LOL
No gas stove for cooking either. It was terrible!
Please don't hate me! :)
Doesn't anyone consider going to church on Sunday mornings out there?
Generally if it gets this bad, churches cancel services. They don't want to risk people being hurt or killed trying to get there.
It's up on jacks but it's my husband's pride and joy so he'll worry until this is over.
Been snowing here in Hampshire county MA for bout 20 min.
10 minutes ago, NOTHING.
Cherry Hill was probably my favorite place to liveexcept for our current home. We were only there a short time but I'll always remember our house there with great fondness.
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