NORTHEAST BLIZZARD - Live Thread - January 22-23 2005

[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!

[franksolich]

<<never freaks out; has seen to many things to be surprised.

<<warm just so long as the cats and kittens are warm.

<<expect to be even warmer tomorrow.

[LowOiL]

Had the furnace go out on me once, the oven will tide you over until then if you have power.

[Coldwater Creek]

What about yuor pipe's. Won't they freeze?

[LowOiL]

Now that I think about, you are posting, so you must have power. Duhhh

[merry10]

My first blizzard. Moved from Ventura County CA to near Harrrisburg, PA. It is something else.

[merry10]

My first blizzard. Moved from Ventura County CA to near Harrrisburg, PA. It is something else.

[franksolich]

Yeah, I had to do that one time, October 31, 1996.

The famous "Halloween Snowstorm" that leveled Lincoln, Nebraska (population circa 200,000); unforecast, and it was a very heavy snow, wet, and it utterly demolished all the power lines. Lincoln is a major state capital, but circa 85% of its power lines went, and so more than 90% of the population of this major state capital went without power for five or six days.

It was a wreck; trees all crushed and broken, power and telephone poles slammed to the ground, roofs caved in--no part of the city unaffected. I think all the "modern sophisticated elitist 'intellectual'" liberals in this liberal city finally got a taste of what living in a socialist country is like.

I used the stove then, sir, for heat.

But no need for that now, as temperatures are rising, and I can wait until tomorrow to have the furnace repaired.

[franksolich]

No, that was my main concern, but everyone who checked out the situation said this place is so well insulated it can stand a few days--not just one day--without heat.

[SamAdams76]

Most of my family lives in Northeast Alabama along the Rte 431 stretch...Huntsville, Guntersville, Albertville, Boaz...I was just talking to my mother who lives up on Sand Mountain near Albertville. They were getting snow flurries last night from the same storm that's been whacking us all weekend!

Anyway, I just got in from a marathon 2-hour shoveling session with my two sons. Here are a couple of pics...the photos don't do the snow depth any justice because of poor lighting but just for comparison, my older son (the one with the Patriots cap) is six feet tall and the drift he is standing beside is easily up to his shoulders!

Here's a view from the end of my driveway looking towards my garage...when and if the sun comes out later, I'll take more pics. That should show better the size of the snowdrifts in my yard.

It appears that the heavy snow is over for my area. I'm just glad to be shoveled out and now I can look forward to roast turkey and a full afternoon of football!

[franksolich]

<<this place out on the lone prairie so well-insulated that the natural gas bill for December (natural gas heat, natural gas stove, natural gas hot water heater) was.....$29.

[don-o]

Nice pics - and good looking boys as well.

All East Tenn in the lower elevations got was about a half inch in about thirty minutes yesterday. However the mountains to the south are obscured, so they may still be getting flurries.

Good news for the ski resorts, who have had a bad tear so far.

[don-o]

year, of course.

[Phinanceguy]

Blizzard of 78 was nothing compared to the BLIZZARD of 77 that hit Buffalo NY. It took 2 weeks to get the City reopened. Now that was a BLIZZARD!!!!!

[LowOiL]

Awesome pics. I have only once in my life seen snow over 10". Back in 1993 we had a freak blizzard in the south (worked it's way up the northeast). We had 20" locally (Mentone area, on the other mountain, Lookout). I will never forget it. Around here Ice storms are worse than snow most of the time. The Sand Mountain regions probable receive about the same amount in March 1993.

It was an heavy wet snow and did not shovel very easily. Looking at your pictures, I notice how white the snow remains even after being moved. Unfortunately snow looks nasty here when shoveled, but it does melt fast.

I still have an old sled my uncle gave me as a child. It hangs in the shed and hopefully one year soon my two boys will have the pleasure of getting to sled. Me and the wife went sledding a few years ago (no kids) and I have to admit, it now hurts to wreck and those little jumps kill the rib cage areas when you land. Time to pass the sled to more vibrant kiddos. LOL...

[sissyjane]

> Now if I can just think of a way of keeping the beer cold.<

Ummm....wouldn't the snow outside help???

[don-o]

The one in 93, in upper east Tenn, we got 20 plus; and was the only time I ever saw thunder snow. The sky lit up green; and I got my butt inside. Did not know but what the snow might conduct the chage to my head!!

[to_zion]

Cranston, R.I. here too! We're off of Phenix Ave/Natick Ave (near Wilbur). The snow is still coming down now with lots of blowing and drifting. One plow came in made a single pass and left. A few SUVs are out and about, but to where I don't know as everything is shut down. I hope classes are cancelled until Tuesday!

Take care!

[to_zion]

22" here so far in Cranston R.I. too and still coming down and blowing.

[clyde260]

Blizzard? What Blizzard? We wuz robbed!

City Island - da Bronx here, and all we got was 10". 10 measly inches! And all the talking head weatherpeople are telling everyone in TV land that they called it right!

&#$!@)*^ bastages! They had to FIND a snow drift in Queens that was 33", and put it on camera with a yard stick for proof.

This was no Blizzard, at least not here. :(

[Coldwater Creek]

I would keep a drip going just in case. I live in the South and when it gets down in the teen's even with the heat on we have had the pipes under the house freeze. NOT FUN.