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!
You are so wrong. Just wrong. lol
Seriously, here in Pittsburgh, they are giving updates on the plowing of the parking lots on the North Shore (near Heinz Field). They are showing live shots of Heinz Field...the clean up, etc.
I am east of the City, and this is a weird storm. Snow, then freezing rain, then drizzle, heavy snow, no snow, snow pellets, and now back to light snow. As Myron would say, yoi! Roads are passable...PennDOT and the locals have been plowing. The Giant Eagle looks like Moscow in the early eighties...alot of empty shelves.
3:15PM, the first flakes have begun to fall outside my home in Chelmsford, MA. Just a few tiny flakes at this point but it has started!
Yes, :) snowing pretty good now.
I hope my son in the NW hills of CT doesn't have to go into work tonight!! He is only recently living on his own, being a Mom, I worry LOL Here we don't have the hills that I used to have to deal with there. And the drifting there, is also worse!
coastal connecticut blizzard ping.
He better carry his cell phone!
We lived on Harrowgate Drive which, if I recall, was off Kresson.
Global Warming I tell ya!!!
SAM,
Got about 6 inches here outside of Philly, more on the way.
Those first few flakes you are getting are the advance recon party. If your area is deemed worthy of target status, they will call in the heavies. Stay Vigilant!
He doesn't have a cell phone, unfortunately. He lives right in the town he works in, and we both know a lot of people there, so hopefully he will be fine!
Just started snowing now (3:30 PM) in Shrewsbury - nice that it waited until I got more wood for the stove moved into the garage.
I understand that there are teams of Huskies headed your way with a load of hot chocolate and distilled spirits. Help is on the way!
I just took it ten minutes ago.
He'll get there fine. But when his shift is over, well....
LOL pt17
It is accumulating at a pretty good clip. We are all electric, so we are just hoping the winds don't get back enough to knock out power. Keep saying we need to get a generator, but not as of yet!!!
He will have to call one of our friends with 4 wheel drive LOL It's not close enough to walk. With any luck, the place will close!!
I am from Ludlow.
Blizzard Warning URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1148 AM EST SAT JAN 22 2005 A DANGEROUS WINTER STORM WITH HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. ANY TRAVEL IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED TONIGHT. IF YOU LEAVE THE SAFETY OF BEING INDOORS TONIGHT...YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK. CTZ002>004-MAZ009-011-230100- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA- WINDHAM CT- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BRISTOL...CHICOPEE...EAST HARTFORD... HARTFORD...MANCHESTER...MANSFIELD...NEW BRITAIN...NEWINGTON... PLAINFIELD...PUTNAM...SPRINGFIELD...VERNON...WEST HARTFORD... WILLIMANTIC AND WINDSOR LOCKS 1148 AM EST SAT JAN 22 2005
I am from Ludlow.I used to live in Ludlow! Miller Rd. near N. Wilbraham.
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