Baby it'll get cold outside!

[JackLuis]

Millions in eastern United States brace for monster blizzard

The eastern US braced Friday for a monstrous blizzard that has prompted thousands of flight cancelations and the looming shutdown of Washington’s public transportation system.

The US capital and the surrounding area could see up to two feet (61 centimeters) of snow accumulate in a short time from Friday to Saturday, coupled with fierce winds and blinding squalls, weather experts said.

The federal government in Washington is closing at noon Friday because of the storm. As several states made frantic preparations, as far south as Kentucky the governor said he too was shutting down government offices on Friday.

So far more than 4,500 flights originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday within, into or out of the US have been cancelled, according to the flight monitor flightaware.com.

Tens of millions of people could be affected by snow, and millions more by ice and other dangerous conditions, the National Weather Service said.

Get some wine in the cupboard and food for the weekend folks. It sounds like a remake of Frozen for the east coast!

 

[PennLady]

I'm pretty much ready, I think. Been attending to various things all week and even managed to avoid major crowds at the stores. I'm near Philly and we're expecting 12-18", which is... well, a lot of snow for us.

Only two things. First, I'm supposed to take PennGirl to a roller skating outing tonight, which a large part of me hopes is cancelled even though the snow isn't suppose to start until about 11pm. Second, looks like my birthday dinner out will be postponed, but that's okay, I have a lasagna ready to go...

Stay safe everybody.

 

[49greg]

yikes!

Generally out here in the prairie states, the weather goes from West to East. Well we haven't had much weather for a week or more - except for lots of very cold coldness, and a dusting of less than an inch a few days ago.

So when I read this about the East Coast I wondered where the weather there came from and how it missed us. So I went to the NOAA site and looked at the radar. Ohmygosh, they get weather from the South and it looks bad.

Not to say we don't get it from the South here, usually it's a case of a front dragging warm gulf moisture into the cold air up here, but it still goes generally West(ish) to East(ish), or however a large rotation pulls weather as said rotation moves East.

 

[GoldenMaia]

Had to re-arrange flight plans home but looks like things will be good so long as the storm only goes till Sunday. Thank goodness this is the weekend.

Be safe out there!

 

[PennLady]

Roller skating is on... better get some padding...

 

[FantasyXY]

Where I live now, when we get big snow storms like they are predicting in Washington, we just bust out our bigger 4x4's and go.

I lived in the DC area for one winter, and most of my colleagues still live and work there. I know all too well how even the smallest of snow storms can cripple that city.

Surviving a storm like the one they are predicting can turn living into something that more closely resembles winter camping.

 

[sr71plt]

It's only been snowing for three hours here in central Virginia, but we're already socked in for the duration. Even if I shoveled my drive, I wouldn't be going anywhere in any direction until at least Monday. There's already so much snow that snow isn't the issue anymore; it's how long the power will hold and how long after it will take to come back on again.

 

[PennLady]

It's only been snowing for three hours here in central Virginia, but we're already socked in for the duration. Even if I shoveled my drive, I wouldn't be going anywhere in any direction until at least Monday. There's already so much snow that snow isn't the issue anymore; it's how long the power will hold and how long after it will take to come back on again.

Good luck and I hope the power stays on. We aren't supposed to get snow until pretty late, after 9pm, so it's gray and cold but clear here. Trying to decide if I need that one last trip to the store... probably not, really.

 

[sr71plt]

Good luck and I hope the power stays on. We aren't supposed to get snow until pretty late, after 9pm, so it's gray and cold but clear here. Trying to decide if I need that one last trip to the store... probably not, really.

Don't bother. The shelves of your store are stripped already.

 

[Hypoxia]

We've had heavy wet weather here in California for some weeks while y'all Back East were sweltering. Now ya got some weather. That's nice. Suck it up. Note that Global Warming means more energy in the atmosphere, more weather, nastier weather, stormier storms, hotter heat, changing patterns, yada yada. Like boiling a frog. Don't inhale.

 

[Handley_Page]

Good Luck to all affected.

 

[1Browneyedguy]

I guess we've had an easy/ mild winter... Am I prepared? Well the supermarkets were packed this morning... I went shopping 2 days ago...my snowblower is working, have extra gas.
Pleanty of food and water. Dog food and treats
I guess I'll be closed

 

[Hypoxia]

In a few days, local weather will not matter.

In a few days, we will receive our new turbodiesel housecar.

In a few days, if we see a lousy forecast, we'll just drive away to a cozy spot.

In a few days, if the power goes down, we'll start the RV genny.

In a few days, I won't pay attention to weather bitches.

Have you bought enough eggs, milk and bread yet?

 

[Saxon_Hart]

I was just going to point out that it's going to be in the 60's in my area, but I do hope everyone in the path of this storm is safe and comes through it in ship shape.

 

[Ewobbit]

There is a soup commercial right now that makes my wife crack up every single time.

In the background, a radio announcer is talking about there being record snowfall as a mother and her three children are shopping for groceries. Mom puts a bunch of soup cans in the basket. Then he says something else I can't ever quite catch and she pauses for a moment and then puts more soup cans in the basket.

Meanwhile, the kids are acting like normal kids. Hanging off the basket, picking on each other, etc.

As she's walking away, the announcer says "And schools will be closed" and her hand shoots out to grab a bottle of wine without even turning her head.

It's awesome.

On a side note, I had already incorporated a gigantic snowstorm in my VD story. So, I'm, I think, understandably excited about the possibility of people being socked in by snow on 14Feb.

 

[JKendallDane]

I lived in the DC area for one winter, and most of my colleagues still live and work there. I know all too well how even the smallest of snow storms can cripple that city.

February of 1974 I was in DC attending a week-long government studies program for high school students. Wednesday night the sky began crapping out snow like rain in a cat five hurricane and didn't stop until there was ten or twelve inches on the ground.

They just hung out the closed sign for the day because nothing was moving...not even the two snow plows and one salt truck the city allegedly owned.

.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

Just saying a plea to the gods not to let the power go out. Please?

 

[TxRad]

Be safe out there guys.

One of the local power companies put 50 linemen and 25 trucks on the road headed east and north. It's a payback thing for the help we got during the last two hurricanes.

 

[PennLady]

Made it through the skating (didn't even fall!). However, there was just enough snow on the roads to make driving a little bit of a challenge. I slid a couple of times, and saw one accident (not very serious and no one appeared to be hurt) and drove at 30mph or less the whole time. Tomorrow I don't think anyone will be driving.

 

[sr71plt]

Be safe out there guys.

One of the local power companies put 50 linemen and 25 trucks on the road headed east and north. It's a payback thing for the help we got during the last two hurricanes.

That was very nice of them. Our snow has stopped at about six inches but is supposed to start up again tonight and go through much of tomorrow.

 

[Troutguy]

I'm looking at clear skies and a beautiful moon here in the Great White North.

But I've been through a blizzard or fifty. Hope my neighbours in the US of A are properly prepped if it turns out to be a doozie.

 

[curl4ever]

My best wishes to all that the storm doesn't disrupt safety, but gives people an excuse to snuggle (and write some stories!).



- curl

 

[JackLuis]

Out here in La La Land the rain is gently falling, I hear the raindrops falling on the palm leaves outside my window. It might get real cold here (45F) tonight.

We're going to get snow in the Sierras thru Saturday, Squaw Valley has enough snow to last until the end of the season and more coming! Skiers are ecstatic as the last three years they only got to ski about three weeks a year.

I'll just stay down here in the Great Valley, hope the reservoirs fill up and drink some wine.

 

[Hypoxia]

Big honking raindrops have been splitter-splattering here on the central Sierra Nevadas' western slope. Reservoirs filling -- good. Burnt-off areas in last year's fire zones washing away -- expected. Almond-growers etc down in The Valley will keep pumping groundwater from unreplenished aquifers; we need a decade's steady rain to counter that. Hell in a handbasket, I tell ya.

 

[colddiesel]

Down under, it has rained buckets on the east coast for the past month, and ditto to the monsoonal areas in the north. Here in Western Queensland it's as dry as a witches tit and has been for most of the past two years.

We have no mains electricity here and rely on an old slow speed diesel to generate power. It is a twin cylinder similar to the single cylinder in my AV.

Good luck with the snow - I wish we could send you some of our heat.