SNOWPOCALYPSE II is coming.

[Steve]

Seeing those pictures tells me why my Dad, who was born in DC and grew up outside Bowie in Upper Marlboro, has steadfastly refused to move out of Florida for the rest of his life.

I, of course, was born here and raised here, I've visited up north on occasion, and due to timing I have never experienced even a first hand, non-television look at this "snow" you people keep blabbering about.

[Aaron]

No. Those were the raw temperatures. Windchill on top of that.

Damn, talk about bitter.

[AMT]

It's darkly amusing.
Yesterday in KY it was 35, with the rain washing most of the snow away, so our office... opens 2 hours late and closes 1 hour early.

Today, the weather is -1 with wind chill, all that rain is now ice, and a lot of the secondary roads are still bad (saw several cars slide around on my walk to work (I walk because I like the exercise (I also like (()) marks))... so our office schedule is normal operating hours.

I have the most schizophrenic regional manager...

[Pu-239]

Been working from home this week- was crazy enough to commute to Maryland yesterday, but it's still snowing right now (I hate working from home, remote desktop irritates the fuck out of me).

Missed my 2 grad class 2 weeks in a row due to university closures, and haven't been able to accept lab demos either for a week

[MKSheppard]

The Icy rain has now turned into a blizzard. LIVE PICTURES WILL BE FORTHCOMING.

The Wind Died down a bit between then and when I took pictures

[Highlord Laan]

-1 is cold?

Ametures.

[General Zod]

-1 is cold?

Ametures.

If you're trying to be witty, you could at least have the decency to spell correctly.

[RedImperator]

-1 is cold?

Ametures.

If being a pussy about the cold (PROTIP: he was complaining about icy roads, not cold) means never having to live in Nebraska, I'll take it.

Anyway, speaking of ice, this storm seems to be dropping sleet and freezing rain, which is a serious problem. From what I've been reading on the Inquirer's website, the regional infrastructure is really starting to creak. There's travel restrictions now in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, SEPTA is promising to operate "as long as it can", and by all reports the highway departments are just getting overwhelmed in a way they weren't in the last two storms.

[Aaron]

Hopefully the freezing rain won't persist, as even up here in manly central that shite collapses power poles and all kinds of things required for humans to live comfortably.

[Themightytom]

Seeing those pictures tells me why my Dad, who was born in DC and grew up outside Bowie in Upper Marlboro, has steadfastly refused to move out of Florida for the rest of his life.

I, of course, was born here and raised here, I've visited up north on occasion, and due to timing I have never experienced even a first hand, non-television look at this "snow" you people keep blabbering about.

Dude you're missing out! My daily commute would be boring if I didn't have to tunnel my way to work bugs bunny style on occasion.

Although DC is really trumping NH for snow this winter, serves them right for dismissing climate change out of hand

[Simon_Jester]

My fellow Canucks are exaggerating things. We seldom get a large dumping like that, we get lots of snow, yes but it's typically a gradual buildup. The odd time we get a large dumping to be sure but the difference between us and the US is we have the kit to deal with it.

For example, I have a snowblower. That I use about 6 times a year, it's really only around to clear out the odd large fall. Everyone else on the street has one as well, just in case.

That's what I figured. To get amounts of snow this large, you need a storm that (in above-freezing temperatures) would drop very heavy rains. Unless you happen to live in the snow equivalent of the Amazon rainforest, you're not going to get snow like this every day.

I suspect the difference is that in Canada the snow doesn't melt, or melts very rarely and in small amounts, during the winter. Whereas we got a half meter back in December and except for a few mountainous piles left by heavy equipment, it was all melted off within a week or so.

I think it had more to do with the American economy shutting down due to a pathetic "snowpocalypse" like that. We've had similar levels of snow here in Poland, and business continued as usual, though I won't deny there were problems with cars breaking down, accidents, power lines going out, etc.
But empty store shelves? Running out of bread?

Now there, you have every right to mock us. As I said, they'd be taken seriously, but they wouldn't be SNOWPOCALYSPE. If I'm reading Shep right, the last time the area got something this heavy was in 1919; we don't prepare for snow on this level any more than we prepare for earthquakes.

If we'd gotten a few inches on each day, which is far more common, everything would be in basically working order, because that's more in line with what the infrastructure is prepared to handle. But getting it all in two big whacks puts an excessive strain on the equipment, especially when the second one comes in just after everyone has managed to clear the roads from the last one. There may also be design aspects- things designed to keep working in heavy snow there that aren't so designed here.

Again, we live on the same latitude as Lisbon; I doubt they'd handle a freak snowstorm like this any better than we would.

[General Zod]

That's what I figured. To get amounts of snow this large, you need a storm that (in above-freezing temperatures) would drop very heavy rains. Unless you happen to live in the snow equivalent of the Amazon rainforest, you're not going to get snow like this every day.

I take it you've never been to Colorado.

[Aaron]

That's what I figured. To get amounts of snow this large, you need a storm that (in above-freezing temperatures) would drop very heavy rains. Unless you happen to live in the snow equivalent of the Amazon rainforest, you're not going to get snow like this every day.

I suspect the difference is that in Canada the snow doesn't melt, or melts very rarely and in small amounts, during the winter. Whereas we got a half meter back in December and except for a few mountainous piles left by heavy equipment, it was all melted off within a week or so.

A good portion of our winters are spent in temperatures where it cannot snow (below a certain amount, -20 IIRC it can't snow), so we get snow and then it sticks around. Then we get a week of mild temperatures, it melts a bit and then snows some more, and then another snowfall.

Thats what happens in my area (Ottawa Valley), so outside right now is a thick layer of ice with some fresh snow on top. It's not uniform across the country of course. I'm from the Vancouver area and in 19 years we had only one decent snowfall that I could make a snowman and snowcave out of.

[[R_H]]

About 5cm fell here (South-west Germany/North-west Switzerland). The weather has been strange the past week or so. Snow, then nice, then rain, then nice and now back to snow.

[LadyTevar]

I have to stop making fun of Virginia now... West Virginia is finally getting some of the storm now.

My DC-living Sis-n-Law has declared this storm to be SNOVERKILL

[Cairber]

The weight of the snow is starting to frighten me a little; I was shoveling the driveway and suddenly thought to myself "I have never had to move a tree branch to walk down the driveway"... I just hope we don't lose a power line.

[FSTargetDrone]

Anyway, speaking of ice, this storm seems to be dropping sleet and freezing rain, which is a serious problem. From what I've been reading on the Inquirer's website, the regional infrastructure is really starting to creak. There's travel restrictions now in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, SEPTA is promising to operate "as long as it can", and by all reports the highway departments are just getting overwhelmed in a way they weren't in the last two storms.

Yup, there is a travel ban in Delaware after a State of Emergency was declared. In PA, all the major highways have apparently been closed.

Roof collapses are becoming more and more of an issue.

Here's the neighbor's snowman, complete with beer:



Record Snowfall:

Posted on Wed, Feb. 10, 2010

Round 2 begins, paralysis sets in

By Peter Mucha, Kathleen Brady Shea and Amy Rosenberg

Inquirer Staff Writers

Snow is piling up the through the Philadelphia area, prompting officials to close highways and begin shutting down some mass transit services.

Today's heavyweight bout of winter weather entered it second round with the a series of withering blows and was quickly followed by the announcement that Philadelphia public schools would remain closed tomorrow.

Pennsylvania closed the Schuylkill and Vine Street Expressways and the Blue Route at 2 p.m. SEPTA has halted most of its bus service. Trains, buses and trolleys still running are experiencing cancellations and delays.

The same mass transit story is being played out in New Jersey, where NJ Transit is struggling to keep its buses, trains and light rails operating.

The Philadelphia International Airport closed its runways about 1 p.m.

The Postal Service suspended deliveries and collections at noon.

Scattered power outages have been reported throughout the region.

The weight of old and new snow on roofs was a matter of concern and a several collapses were reported, including part of a roof on a modular home in Upper Frederick, Montgomery County. No injuries have been reported.

Before the second of two winter storms - a potentially explosive nor'easter - started dumping snow on the region this morning, there had been a lull that a brought a mix of rain and sleet.

The first round left about seven inches of snow in some places and played some havoc with the morning rush hour, but did not paralyze traffic or mass transit as tens of thousands stayed home.

But round two, packing a bigger punch than the overnight storm, had prompted schools, government offices and courts to announce they were closing for the day hours before the first snowflake fell last night.

And it is this monster that appears certain to set a new record for snowfall in a single winter season following last weekend's 20-plus incher.

A National Weather Service blizzard warning is in effect until midnight for heavy snow and high winds that have the potential of creating whiteout conditions.

At times, two or three inches an hour will fall, adding up to 18 to 20 inches alone since last night for the I-95 corridor, from Wilmington to New York City, said Bob Wanton of the National Weather Service.

Thunder and lightning were reported in some Pennsylvania suburbs.

Wanton said, "The heavy accumulating snow will be ending during the evening hours."

This means that anyone who made it to work this morning will have a much harder time getting home tonight, if they can make it at all.

Officials also are urging caution in shoveling because this snow is wetter and heavier than last weekend's snow.

New Jersey Gov. Christie declared that a state of emergency had existed in South Jersey since Friday and gave state, local and county authorities the power to restrict traffic and take other special measures as needed.

Delaware also declared a state of emergency, allowing only emergency vehicle and essential personnel, including doctors and nurses, to use the state's highways.

In issuing the blizzard warning at 4:30 a.m., the NWS teletype bulletin offered this advice:

NEAR-BLIZZARD OR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE RARE FOR OUR AREA ... SO IT IS LIKELY THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT REALIZE THE PERIL THAT EXISTS IN VENTURING OUT IN SUCH STORMS. LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ... AND DRIVING WILL BE HAZARDOUS AT BEST DURING THIS WINTER STORM TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT TRAVEL BE CURTAILED DUE TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ... AND ONLY DRIVE IF IT IS TRULY AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

The snow started accumulating about 8 last night in Philadelphia.

As of 10:30 last night, three inches had already fallen in Delaware County, two inches in Mount Holly.

PECO reported about 1,400 customers lost power this morning, about 1,200 in Northeast Philadelphia.

PSE&G said about 1,800 of its customers scattered throughout New Jersey were without electricity,

At the Shore, which was hard hit by the weekend storm, about 11,000 Atlantic City Electric customers remained without electricity this morning, down from 32,000 yesterday.

Bridget Shelton of Atlantic City Electric says there were some additional minor outages in Glassboro and Winslow Township this morning.

"We continue to work around the clock there," said Shelton. "With the layer of snow and the layer of rain that can tend to weight down the power lines"

But at 11:30 a.m., the utility pulled its crews off the streets because of high winds.

Their trucks were parked near the Wildwood Convention Center, which is being used as a shelter, and the crews will stay on the island until it is safe to begin working again.

Ed Harshaw, commissioner of public works in Wildwood, was on hand at the center and helped several people in wheelchairs into the shelter.

The Red Cross set up cots in two ballrooms, one designated for people with special needs.

John Siciliano, the director of the center, said they were prepared for up to 400 people, but it remained to be seen how many more would arrive after the first 30 or so.

There's easily 1 foot of snow out there, where I am.

[White Haven]

Don't worry Tev, we'll keep making fun of West Virginia here whatever happens.

[MKSheppard]

SPARTAFREEDOMERICA IS UNDER HEAVY ASSAULT!

Pic 1
Pic 2

[Darth Wong]

Man, it looks like you finally got a decent snowfall. It pisses me off that we haven't even had one of those here yet this year. It's shaping up to be a really shitty winter for snow here. We haven't even gone sledding yet.

[aerius]

Those goddamn Americans stole all our snow, and they don't even know how to appreciate it.
Bunch of ingrateful motherfuckers.

[Themightytom]

SPARTAFREEDOMERICA IS UNDER HEAVY ASSAULT!

Pic 1
Pic 2

You might want to start thinking about clearing that roof off

[Darth Wong]

Those goddamn Americans stole all our snow, and they don't even know how to appreciate it.
Bunch of ingrateful motherfuckers.

Worse yet, they expect us to feel sorry for them. Oh no, you poor Americans, you got the only damned thing that makes winter any fun! Boo hoo!

Seriously, without snow, winter is just nothing more than a big gray frigid bore.

[General Zod]

Those goddamn Americans stole all our snow, and they don't even know how to appreciate it.
Bunch of ingrateful motherfuckers.

Worse yet, they expect us to feel sorry for them. Oh no, you poor Americans, you got the only damned thing that makes winter any fun! Boo hoo!

Seriously, without snow, winter is just nothing more than a big gray frigid bore.

You're welcome to our snow. If it wasn't for the fact I was tied down to my job at the moment I'd move somewhere that hardly saw any.

[Darth Wong]

Worse yet, they expect us to feel sorry for them. Oh no, you poor Americans, you got the only damned thing that makes winter any fun! Boo hoo!

Seriously, without snow, winter is just nothing more than a big gray frigid bore.

You're welcome to our snow. If it wasn't for the fact I was tied down to my job at the moment I'd move somewhere that hardly saw any.

You have clearly lost touch with your inner child. Any child's first instinct upon seeing snow is to jump in it.