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!
Actually I like Coors much better than most expensive beers. (Coors Extra Gold that is)
"Carteret, NJ"
Greetings from Bayonne!
Well, you should have specified Extra Gold. It was Coors' foray into the beer market.
Big Pats fans here too. The power etc will be fine. The newest lacal news I am getting here is not quite so much.
"You can stand right in the middle of 5th avenue and not get run over."
ProudVet is soooo right! I am reminded of the time there was a big snow storm in NYC on President's day (that seems to happen a lot, actually), but my friend and I HAD to get to work. So we took the subway from Union Square to midtown, and even though it was about 8 am when we got there, because of the holiday and the snow we found pure untramelled snow right in the middle of Times Square. Pretty amazing experience.
We're almost neighbors......
"he didn't even get LSD cleaned"
What/where is LSD? My brother went to the U of Chi, boy never wore a winter coat in his life until Chi-town chilled him out good. He came home for Christmas in the first real down coat we'd ever seen. I think he might have started that craze!
North Andover, MA (just south of NH), 6:53 p.m. EST: Had about an inch so far, thin little icy droplets.
"We started our freshman year with the teachers strike..."
Oh gosh, I remember that. I am a bit younger than you, it was our first year in public school after my mom had finally had it with the new nun who was principal of our Catholic school. I remember feeling really bad for my mom when all her plans went awry that way. My grandmother and great-aunt alternated coming in from Flushing to watch my and my two brothers. We loved it, of course.
Could be worse,looking at Art Horn (Channel 30)and that bad toup is enough to make anyone run for cover.
Got about 10" on Staten Island so far. I'm wondering how much more this one will dump.
I've been checking out some weather discussions and Joe Bastardi (AccuWeather Met) is crying in his beer because of the "dry tongue" that kept accumulations way down from Balt/Wash on up through central PA and busted his forecast. The storm is now basically done south of the PA turnpike. But the storm off Delmarva is winding up and will be socking it to NYC and Southern New England tonight and tomorrow. Still looking at 20-30 inches in much of that area, which would include where I am.
Yes, Joe is feeling testy tonight. But he needs to take credit for the fact he has been talking about this storm for about 10 days and way before the others. I'm sure he will remind us of that though.
When's the last time NYC got 20 inches? Are they really expected to get that much from this one?
Well, the boyfriend (18) had to be convinced that with the wind howling fiercely, the snow blowing straight across, the visibility about 3 feet and the roads closed where we are, it just might be a good night for a date on msn.
By hook or by crook, he will be picking her up for church in the morning though! We'll see.
I can just imagine if she had been expected into school or work under the same conditions....she would have been howling louder than the wind.
4 1/2 inches in Pittsburgh PA. Outlying areas like New Castle got 7 inches. More snow forecast overnight. Current wind chill is minus three. Main roads are clear.
The blizzard of '78 occurred on my boyfriend's (now husband's) 20th birthday. I was SUPPOSED to drive up to see him that day...my parents said "no" & I had a fit, I was 19. LOL What did I know even though the snow was blowing sideways & I couldn't see past the front door?
Here in Chelmsford, the snow is now thick and heavy. For the first two hours, the flakes were fine but now they are much bigger and it's piling up fast. Over three inches of snow so far with an inch of it over the past half hour. Air temperature is still just 9 degrees!
I think it's a universal thing that the TV weather clowns have to be just one tiny click above the Entertainment reporters...
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