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 live in a blue state, and I expect governmant to solve that problem. :)
Stick it out the back door
Or get a cooler and fill it with snow
Can you give me some information about the Providence airport Al. I was scheduled to fly there from Green Bay this afternoon. It sounds pretty bad. When do you think the area will be ready for travel?
It's offically open, but no flights are moving, it was just on WJAR. Even Logan is closed. Here's a link that will help.
http://www.pvdairport.com/
like your handle. Mr Paine was my favorite Revolutionary War personality.
The airport just closed. I've noticed in NE that the airports stay open as much as they can. They stay officially open till a plane may either want to depart or land, then they close. My guess is that they get a financial incentive to stay open, even though it is meaningless.
Pretty picture
Poor Margie O'Brien. She has done every newscast since yesterday morning. Someone finally gave her a sweater, so it looks like she had a change of clothes. I am glad to be snowbound at home than at a jobsite.
I cannot see the tires of the neighbors' cars in the next block. The snow is coming down hard still. Maybe I should have shoveled one more time last night. Well, at least I can still see the mailbox... most of it. Guess I'll go out and get started on the first shift for today.
Stay warm, everyone.
Where are you located?10 miles SE of Springfield
And it is VERY NASTY out. Steady winds around 30mph with gusts close to 60. About 10F.
I just woke up a half hour ago and words cannot describe what is out there right now! Total whiteout! The internet was down and just came up. I would say that there is more than two feet out there and the snow is still coming down heavily. We must have had some mega-snow bands overnight! My mailbox (which sits four feet off the ground) is at least 3/4 covered. My street isn't plowed - I guess the plows can't keep up at this point. Nobody is going anywhere today.
Is she the one on WJAR channel 10?
BEn snowing for a while here. I'd say 3" on the level.
Stay warm.
When's the games start today?
I'm bookmarking your photo because I'm a snow-lover temporarily stuck in East Texas. I'll gaze at this pic in August when it's 100 sticky degrees here and wish! Seriously, hunker down and enjoy being inside today. No one in the frozen north and east should have to travel on a day like today.
I am seriously questioning whether or not I can make it to work even tomorrow! Obviously all churches in the area have been cancelled. Unless your church is around the corner or down the street, you simply aren't going to get there. There is absolutely nothing moving in the street outside my house. Not even snow plows. Visibility is so bad that I can barely see across the street. Near total whiteout.
HiYa Fast!\
Great Lakes is still here and going strong!
Every day I drive past it you can see the recruits marching to class. They all look so young!
They have a new train station now. Every FRiday there are cars full of moms, dads, brothers, sisters and girlfriends and boyfriends coming to see their new NAVY graduates.
FReegards,
G
Thanks for the info. I was scheduled to go to Factory Mutual's testing facility to witness a burn test on one of my companies products. Would you recommend rebooking the flight for Tuesday?
Good Morning! Reporting in from the Southeastern Shoreline Corner of CT (Mystic, Groton, Ledyard). The official snow report at the Groton Airport is 14 inches. Another band of snow is moving in. The Groton Water treatment plant has reported a wind gust of 72.
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