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!
I am the second in the area. Had to move out of the city becasue of the outragous homosexual activity in the ninties. Not a city to raise children in....Great for single leftists.
Any Honda generator is a good one. Just get one big enough to handle the power load that you would want to use.
About 9 inches up by Pottstown. We're hovering right on the edge of the dry slot (no inneundos, please). Should see a lull, and then the fun really starts when the coastal low cranks up and starts blowing all this dry powder snow around. Usually we get snow closer to the consistency of freshly-poured cement that doesn't drift. This will be different.
Nope,just talked to my daughter in Chicago...it's snowing again (lake effect) and cold and windy. Not good in Chicago either.
Yeah you're right.
Sophie sounds like my folk's two little dogs. The absolutely love the snow, and when they come in from outside, they are covered from nose to tail in snow. They roll around and romp in the snow, they even lick snow crystals and eat clumps of snow to cool off. LOL
Mainly because a bunch of morons without snow tires or 4WD go out and run into the morons with 4WD who think that just because they can accelerate in this stuff, they can also brake.
It was just as bad at Hannaford's here in Brunswick Maine. Between the Patriots game tomorrow and the threat of snow, that damned store was packed when I was there this afternoon.
"Yeah, I know the challenges with clearing New York..."
Heck, Mayor Lindsey got turned out of office because the streets in Queens didn't get cleared after a big blizzard. I was a little kid staying at my Grandma's in Queens, and even though it didn't bother us at all you could just FEEL the anger in the air.
A few years ago, in Bayonne, NJ my little side street didn't get plowed for three (3!!!) days. The snow was up to my hips, no kidding!
From the "back 40" approx 5:00 pm est.Temp is +2o
The dark spot in the middle is a deer feeding for the night.
Use your imagination!
About 2 1/2 inches here on the shoreline of Southeastern, CT.
My family moved here in '98, so not too long. I'm between East Street and Torrington on Rt 4. Our house is relatively new as far as the town goes, out in the open... We usually get 5' drifts here in a given winter.
It just started snowing here, southern end of Big Sebago Lake. I have an office in Brunswick, but I go there about once each 3 months. Just south of Maine Street, about 6 blocks from the bridge to Topsham.
I went back for my 25th reunion in '88 and loved it. The cheerleaders (our own!) welcomed us at the door and they were adorable. Your 35th is coming up, eh?
Governor of NJ has declared state of emergency effective 8:00 pm this evening. All non essential vehicles should stay off the road. I heard this on the NJ Metro Traffic and Weather channel.
(FYI, our acting governor is Richard Codey, for those of you who are about to make any McGreedy plowing comments. rofl.)
Quite correct. I posted a thread on the probability of the storm yesterday and got many 'silly' responses. NWS is telling people in CT to stay indoors from 7PM till noon tomorrow, that's fairly serious.
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