This “Blizzard for the Ages” Headed for the East Coast Is Very Much the Real Deal

[brooklynite]

Source: Slate

After a record-setting warm spell to start the winter, East Coasters could be forgiven if they started to worry that it was never going to snow again. Fear not, oh dendrite devotees, for Mother Nature has something special planned this weekend.

A few days ago, weather models began to hint at the potential of a major East Coast blizzard. As of early Tuesday morning, those models are way more insistent.

Since early Saturday, nearly every single run of every major model has shown the potential for a foot or two of snowfall on a track to hit somewhere between Northern Virginia and Boston. What’s amazing—perhaps even more so than the impressive potential snow totals—is that all the major weather models are already locked in so far in advance. Simply put: There’s definitely a big storm coming, it’s just the details that are still being worked out.



Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/01/19/east_coast_blizzard_will_impact_washington_new_york_boston.html

[FSogol]

1. WOOT! That'll be my chance to drink all the Ales left over from Christmas and New Years.

[Vinca]

2. Ugh. I miss 50 degree winter.

[Fuddnik]

41. You can have mine. I'm missing the 80's.

Floriduh has been wacky too.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Oh, man, that looks ugly!

Anybody who lives in that area, batten down the hatches and be sure you have enough food and warm clothing for a few days. Don't go out in it and whatever you do, don't try to drive in it. I've seen blizzards. They suck.

[woodsprite]

18. Already made a protein and carb run.

I'll do a veggie run closer to the weekend. I'm planning on making a big pot of italian sausage veggie soup. If the storm lasts long enough, I'll make a batch of chili on Sunday.

The checker at the grocery store thought I was nuts making a storm run so early in the week. I can make a veggie run at the local co-op and circumvent the regular pre-storm crowd at the chain grocery store.

Hoping to get some "thundersnow". During the day, it's just a neat thing to see. At night, it's awesome! Hoping the kids get to see it. We don't get it often around Delaware.

[hollysmom]

4. got to buy a chicken, need to make chicken soup!

need to clear the driveway of crap as well. so much to do so little time.

[B2G]

5. Blizzard for the Ages might be overdoing it a bit...

but I did warn all of those East Coasters last month that winter would hit hard in January.

Back then they were alarmed by the warmth. Now they'll be alarmed by the snow.

Lol.

[elleng]

11. Right, they're often forecast like that

and the details don't pan out, but we never know!

[B2G]

15. True! I'm now hearing the Carolinas might get smacked as well.

Bring it on!!

[A Simple Game]

25. The forecasts for Northern New York have become so hyperbolic

I don't even pay attention to them anymore.

[haele]

6. Oh dear, the boss and deputy boss are both in DC this week.

They actually left two weeks ago, and were hoping to get everything wrapped up Friday and head back the next day. Hope they can get their work done and get back sooner, like today.

There's a ton of stuff stacking up that requires review and signatures, and we're already tired of putting people and meetings off until they get back. The longer they are out, the harder it becomes to stay on schedule.

Haele

[elleng]

10. They could wait til Thursday, imo,

which is what I'm doing. I'm already here, in southern MD, but will travel up to a suburb so I'll be closer to civilization.

[ancianita]

7. Finally a shutdown excuse for Republicans based on reality.

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

[mahatmakanejeeves]

14. Lovely pic. You won't be able to get it looking like this this week, because

the dome is being restored. It's covered in scaffolding right now.

Capitol Dome Restoration Project

[ancianita]

35. The more for the snow to stick to, cuz if you think there will be any outdoor work done...uh, uh.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

52. There will be lots of outdoor work done.

The plow and sanding crews will be working around the clock.

Don't forget to shovel out around your nearby fire hydrants.

[ancianita]

70. Ha ha, well, that will be the only work going on. Those outdoor crews and Obama.

[Joe Nation]

8. Thanks O-bama!

[KansDem]

13. Don't you mean...

Last edited Tue Jan 19, 2016, 04:39 PM - Edit history (1)

"Thanks, Snowbama!!"

[Tracer]

9. After last winter's 9 feet of snow ...

... we bought a big snowblower and were thinking that we'd never get to use it, since there is only 2 inches of snow on the ground.

So, bring it on! We are ready!

[rocktivity]

12. Must go out and stock up on the three B's

Batteries, booze, and birth control.


rocktivity

[malthaussen]

55. No bacon? n/t

[magical thyme]

65. no, no, no....beer, bacon, bread.

beer, bacon bread.

[Botany]

16. New Germany State Park ..... Western, MD

Bring it on!

[NJCher]

19. wonderful photo!

Doggies are having a ball!


Cher

[Paper Roses]

27. Love your dogs, not the upcoming weather. Last year in N.E. Yikes, not again! n/t

[Botany]

29. Not my dogs .... I stole it from the internet

My black lab and me will make to Western MD sometime soon.

http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/newgermany.aspx

To climb a Mt. on X-country skis and then have a nice long run down the
backside w/the park being all but empty is a joy.

[Paper Roses]

32. Any dog(especially Labs) is a good dog. Keep warm. n/t

[Fuddnik]

43. Retrievers love snow for sure.

When I live up north, I had 2 Golden mixes. One half lab, and the other half newfie.

Got up one morning, and we had about 6 inches overnight, and had a fine layer of freezing rain on top. After they figured out their first few crunchy steps, they took off running, and sounded like a herd of bison running around the yard.

[Judi Lynn]

68. Adorable! Joyous. Thanks. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

84. Cute doggies!

[Tab]

17. Wood pellets, snowblower, and peppermint schnapps

And wired up to my van for power outages.

What's not to like?

[Warpy]

20. Nothing could come close to last year for sheer, relentless quantity

and nothing will come close to 1978, when a massive snow hurricane came over the city and squatted for a couple of days. 3-4 feet of snow from one storm is no joke.

Once they got used to the idea, my cats loved deep snowfalls. They'd make deep trenches to their hunting grounds and all I could see out in the yard were the tips of their tails above the snow when I'd call them in for feeding time at the zoo.

[Paper Roses]

34. Here in '78, here last year. Think last year was worse.

I think you were in the Boston area during the 'blizzard'. At least that one was a one time big mess but last year, it went on and on. No sooner did the plow come and clean out than we had the next mess. I had a 12 foot pile at the end of my driveway that stayed there until April. I guess this next storm has potential to be another biggie. My kitty and I are ready!

Lots of good books, cat food on hand, plenty of frozen stuff. Extra blankets. Now, if only we don't lose power.......

[Warpy]

38. Right, I'm glad I missed last year.

I had to slog home from Mass. General to Jamaica Plain more than once when the city got clobbered and the T shut down. I think it would have been my regular transport last year unless I wised up and bought myself some cross country skis.

There is nothing cozier than a cramped Boston apartment when you're watching the snow fly past parallel to the ground, cup of hot chocolate at your side and kitty in your lap.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

60. The one a couple years ago was bad....

February of '13?

The problem with last year was we just got hit with waves.....one big storm every week.

[NutmegYankee]

72. I remember that storm. Feb 8&9, 2013. Weather channel called it Nemo.

That dropped 30 inches on me.

[zazen]

36. yipes--where the hell was that? n/t

[Warpy]

40. Boston, 1978 and last year

I was on Cape Cod and the eye of that thing parked right over us for a whole day. It was bizarre being in bright sunshine and calm winds with the black wall of clouds just a few miles away. We still got almost 3 feet of snow. We dug out and went to work and only found out later about the total travel ban in the eastern part of the state.

[zazen]

44. ugh! 2 ft of snow here in Raleigh shut school down for 3 weeks in 2000

I can't imagine getting that on a regular basis.

How humans coped with the snow and cold before modern conveniences is a reality my comfy, pampered a** doesn't want to contemplate.

[Warpy]

49. It was easier when I didn't have a car to dig out

Most cities actually remove snow and either park it in a vacant lot or dump it into a body of water. Boston just plows it into the parked cars and it's illegal to shovel any back into the street. People get very possessive about the parking places they've shoveled out and mark them with old furniture and scrap lumber. Park in one of those and someone will charge out bash the car windows with a hockey stick (true story, not me).

I was snowed in here in NM when we had a freak 18 inch snowfall. This town has no snow plows.

[Fuddnik]

47. I remember that year in Cleveland.

All the guys who had pick-ups w/snow plows sitting around the bar with really big wads of cash in their pockets. The next fall, everybody and their brother went out and bought trucks with plows, and every luxury upgrade they could get on them. We didn't have shit for snow that year. But, a glut of used trucks w/plows.

[alfredo]

57. In Lexington, Ky we did a thriving cross country skiing business in the late 70's.

Now we are lucky to get enough snow for skiing, and the snow melts quickly. We used to have snow cover over much of Jan-Feb.

[RKP5637]

79. That was the storm wherein I lost my car's automatic transmission in Boston trying to get unstuck.

I was doing all the right things, but I had to get unstuck and pushed it more than I should have. Big car, rear-wheel drive, heavy front end, light rear end, and hence snow tires were worthless.

[Warpy]

83. Ya gotta rock that sucker!

Somebody actually did a song with that title, got airplay in the city.

My ex and I had 2 cars. The auto transmission car stayed parked.

[dgibby]

50. I was a student at GMU then, living in a townhouse on a cul-de-sac in Annandale.

My front door faced west, and when I opened it the next morning, I was staring at a wall of snow! That's one storm I'll never forget.

I'm living in the Alleghany Highlands of Va. now, and some models are predicting 3 and 1/2 ft. of snow for us this weekend. I'm guessing there won't be a loaf of bread or a gal. of milk left on the shelves by Thursday.

[Renew Deal]

21. 5"-8" for NYC is no big deal

[MissMillie]

31. EXACTLY!!

I'm not even sure that would put NYC in the top 10 of snow storms

[Qutzupalotl]

22. Yikes. Be safe, brooklynite. eom

[NotHardly]

23. Weather Porn has become a thing ...

It is something I began noticing about the same time I noticed headlines in papers and blogs began to have a severe tendency to use bombastic and overly bombastic terms in headline leads... you know, term uses like ... terrible, horrific, shocking, alarming/alarm, and others. I am sure you can name them too. Headlines now are a lot like "sham-wow" commercials, more yelling to get your attention or create attention.

Weather porn = the basic "Mother Nature is about to or already has killed, maimed or injured someone" and frequently with gratuitous photos or video attached. It is weather and it varies. Not climate but weather. A bit like weather stations/bureaus afraid that if they don't glam up their presentations, no one will care about the weather anymore.

[zazen]

39. only positive is Weather.com/Weather Underground use it to educate about climate change

On the one hand I've been worried they'll overhype stuff.

But over time people get hooked on being crisis junkies and return to the sites. I really appreciate that WU has taken a leadership role in getting the masses to slowly start paying attention to climate change--and today is a case in point. Big blog post about record extreme weather events this past year. People keep posting on the blog post about this snowstorm because we humans think in immediate terms, but WU is at least getting more people to connect the dots than otherwise was happening.

[Roland99]

24. My sister's last weekend in R.I.

two weeks' time she'll be down here in sunny F-L-A!

[Fuddnik]

48. It's a friggin Siberian 55 in Tampa today.

Whats your neck of the woods feel like?

[Roland99]

74. My car read a frigid 44F this morning in my driveway

halfway between Orlando and Clermont

[smirkymonkey]

76. Are you kidding? 55-65 is my ideal temperature!

It's below zero up here in Boston w/ the wind chill.

[bullwinkle428]

26. SNOWMAGEDDON 2016!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

50/50 chance of it fizzling out into something minimal or less, based on past history.

[smirkymonkey]

75. That's what they are predicting for New England, at least.

It's supposed to hit the mid-Atlantic states much harder but apparently buy the time it's gets up this way it may end up blowing out to sea.

[Nye Bevan]

28. Prediction: 6 inches in Central Park.

The earlier these things are hyped, the more they tend to fizzle.

[MissMillie]

30. Yeah, not buying it.

OK, DC area might see 10 to 12 inches...

but according to this Boston's going to see 2 to 3 inches.

And I can remember getting 3 FEET in one storm in Massachusetts, in APRIL no less (1997).

[redstatebluegirl]

33. My brother and sister in law are laying in supplies.

He just had hip replacement and is not doing very well at age 73. I worry, but they say they are fine.... As long as they have food, the generator, gas and stay inside.... My brother can't shovel and neither can my sister in law. Hopefully someone will come take care of them at their home.....if not, I'll call one of my former students to go check on them...

[gregcrawford]

37. A foot or two? ho hum...

... wake me up when you have to kneel to fill a bird feeder 7 feet off the ground, and wild turkeys can peck at your kitchen window while you're washing dishes.

[NutmegYankee]

56. It piles up like that over multiple storms.

And in some years it has piled up.

[gregcrawford]

62. Up here in Vermont...

... we've had in excess of 48" in 24 hours. Not a common occurrence, but it does happen. And I wasn't exaggerating about the bird feeder; I got pictures! Somewhere...

And the turkeys are a riot to watch. The hens and poults come in first, then the jakes. When any chance of landing on the dinner table looks remote, the toms will make an appearance, and some of those boys are BIG! They'll chase everyone else off and gorge themselves. One of my favorite watercolors is one I did from a shot out of our kitchen window. The only drawback to their visits are the poopsicles they leave that our dogs L-O-V-E LOVE! Yuck. Kisses from the pupsters were NOT appreciated after a conclave of turkeys (yes, I know that's not the official name of a group of turkeys!) under out feeder.

When I first moved to Vermont, there weren't ANY turkeys; now they're ever' damn where.

I went turkey hunting once. You're sittin' in the woods tryin' to look like a bush and sound like a bird. You're beggin' to get your ass shot off, and I damned near did!

Your handle suggests you're from Connecticut. I spent a lot of my formative years around the Nutmeg State. After several decades in the Green Mountain State, I get hives from all the people in CT.

[NutmegYankee]

63. I'm in Southeastern Connecticut.

It's quieter over here and much lower in population. It's not as quiet and remote as Vermont, but it's not urban either. The most snow I had in 24 hours was 30". Since I'm only up in the hills, the snow pack usually melts down to a three foot height, but you can walk on it.

As for the turkeys, yes, they are exploding in population all over the region. I saw more last year than ever before.

[gregcrawford]

64. I used to live in Stonington...

... though only for a year. I have always loved Mystic Seaport and the Joseph Conrad! even worked there briefly, then we moved to New Milford, where I graduated in '65.

[Sophiegirl]

42. Heading out tomorrow

To stock up on batteries and basic supplies. Since my kitchen is electric, we bought a small kitchen propane burner a couple of years ago. If we lose power, which is possible because of forecasted winds, we'll have something to cook on and make coffee or the occasional hot toddy.

DC looks to be in the crosshairs and the last time we had a really crippling snow here, I slipped on an icy patch and broke my wrist clean in half. So, I make sure to be well stocked because I don't go out for any reason.



Also have enough firewood to last throughout the event.

Stay safe this weekend folks....and warm.

[retrowire]

45. Great

Looking forward to it being 30 degrees in my old piece of shit house.

[RoccoR5955]

46. AFAIC snow is a four letter word.

And I hate shoveling it.
I sure hope it hits further south than New England.

[NickB79]

51. Warm air holds more moisture

Too many people equate heavy snow to bitter cold, but it's usually when the temps are in the 0-20F range that the heaviest snow falls.

We just came through three nights of -20F here in the Twin Cities, the coldest of the year so far, but still nothing compared to what winters used to be 20-30 years ago. Any snow that falls when it's that cold comes down as light fluff.

[pangaia]

53. NOAA.GOV

NYC.. looks pretty calm

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=New+York&state=NY&site=OKX&textField1=40.7198&textField2=-73.993&e=1#.Vp6zUFKrGoU

Boston-
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Boston&state=MA&site=BOX&textField1=42.3583&textField2=-71.0603&e=0#.Vp6z3VKrGoU

Washington, DC- not so good.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Boston&state=MA&site=BOX&textField1=42.3583&textField2=-71.0603&e=0#.Vp6z3VKrGoU

[justiceischeap]

54. Gotta get the bread and milk!

[Judi Lynn]

69. Glad he decided to make that video and share it. (Hope he got that bread and milk.) Thanks. n/t

[Odin2005]

58. Given how moronically hyped up snowstorms are nowadays...

...call me skeptical.

[bigwillq]

59. Yuck

I dislike snow. I live in CT. I don't mind the cold, but I dislike snow. It just ruins everything. lol
I have to work Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I'm hoping I can work from home.

[jpak]

61. But it's going to miss Maine

and we need the snow....

[happyslug]

66. Here is the National Weather Service map on total snow on the ground, but it is only for today

http://www.weather.gov/ctp/pnsmap?type=snow

National Weather Service (NWS) prediction (Please this is prediction of precipitation in the form of WATER, if the water comes down as snow, expect higher numbers:



http://www.weather.gov/ctp/winter

NWS prediction for next three days, NWS only goes out three days:

?1453253739

http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/national_forecast/natfcst.php?day=2

[Oneironaut]

67. Yawn!

As far as snow storms go, the Northeast is used to them. It's funny how sites play every storm up like "The storm of the century!!!" only to have 8 inches to a foot fall in total. Wake me up when it's 3ft+. Everything else happens every year, and is totally normal.

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

71. Let's start throwing snowballs in the Capitol again

[ileus]

73. Are we rewinding to 1993?

Otherwise this is just another boring storm that won't stop our Xterra much less my Jeep.

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

81. Welcome to global warming

[JustAnotherGen]

77. I'm in horse country NJ

I think this thing is going up I-95 and we'll get snow - but nothing historic.

I'm more worried about coast flooding.

Disclaimer - I'm from Rochester and went to university in the Buffalo area so I won't freak out until it is white out conditions within 3 feet.

I tried driving to work (living in a suburb of Rochester at the time) in 1998 in that shit and let me tell you - it's no fun going through a red light when you don't know it's red - because you can't see it.

[smirkymonkey]

85. I grew up in upstate NY and I remember snowstorms so bad that you

couldn't see past the hood of the car. I think the only reason I'm still alive is because there just weren't enough people out on the roads to make it dangerous.

[B2G]

78. Now they're talking ice in the Carolinas

Potentially a lot.

NOOOOOOO!!!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

80. What to do if you see someone in need of shelter during freezing weather

What to do if you see someone in need of shelter during freezing weather

By Perry Stein January 19 at 12:10 PM
@perrystein

....
Here’s what to do if you are in need of shelter, or see someone in need of a warm place to stay.

D.C.

Call the emergency DC Shelter Hotline at [phone] or 311 if you or someone else needs shelter. Officials from the United Planning Organization will provide transportation to the appropriate shelter.

Two warming centers will also be open:
•Sherwood Recreation Center: 640 10th St. NE (women only)
•Emery Recreation Center: 5801 Georgia Ave. NW (co-ed)

For a full list of shelter sites click here.

Maryland

In Prince George’s County, the shelter hotline number is 1-888-731-0999. A list of warming centers open in the county can be found here.

In Montgomery County, the county crisis hotline number is 240-777-4000.

Virginia

Arlington County’s emergency winter shelter is open overnight and can be reached at 703-228-7395. It’s located at 2020-A 14th St. N.

Fairfax has a number of emergency shelters throughout the county. If you or someone is in need, call the county’s non-emergency number at 703-691-2131. A full list of shelters can be found here.

Alexandria’s winter hypothermia emergency shelter can be reached at 703-548-7500, ext. 231. For additional shelter services, call 703-746-5700.

[Va Lefty]

82. Monster Lizard ravages East coast