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
I must tell you that my wife insisted we get one many years ago but, frankly, we haven't really used it very much (YET). Makes you feel good to have one, though.
It's usually a pretty sure bet, once you buy one, you won't need it. But eventually everyone whishes they had one! Keeping my fingers crossed you won't this time either LOL
West Michigan. It's winding down now, but I'd say we have around 15 inches of snow since 11pm last night.
You're a divider, not a uniter.
Fence-builder!
That means it worked. Best insurance you can buy.
Wow, I'm in North Haven too.
Of course, I'm old enough to remember the blizzard of '78. All the roads closed for 2 days. My freshman year in college. I remember one of my friends telling me that Quinnipiac (then) College never closed. Well, they had to that year.
I've seen several thunderstorms during heavy snow. Not that unusually 'round these parts
That is a great graphic.
I am in Scituate, on the coast and we are going to get the brunt of it, along with Cape Cod.
It has been flurrying all day and the wind and snow has not started in earnest as of 4:15 PM EST- Tom
United we stand, divided we fall...or maybe that was USAir they were referring to. Anyways, I think sarg is our 'Amarosa'...
That's funny you named the animated map "I'm comin' to getcha!" !!!I was wondering if anyone would notice that 'mouseover' ;-)
We had lightning with a snow storm in western WA in 1990. We had sixty mile an hour winds, fifteen inches of snow, followed by two inches of freezing rain. Combined with the lighning we had electric transformers popping all over the county.
there appears to be some drying pushing into the storm from the west, making a "hole" in the backside of it. that line is approaching the PA/NJ border now.
Your people really shouldn,t have used such short light poles. Someone could get hurt. :)
I've seen it happen here in Maine.
I can see the edge of the storm clouds now in the south.
I too am in Scituate.
That picture is actually from Goshen, that's where I live. It's really coming down hard now. We have picked up a good 2-3" in the last hour and a half.
* BigSkyFreeper prances around in his long underwear and ski-doo cap
I am jealous. Enjoy the nice dumping.
As for me, it is nice to have a warm up out here and nice to see all the sleet melt off after 3 weeks.
It is hard to count how many times I fell down around campus.
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