SNOWPOCALYPSE II is coming.

[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.

[General Zod]

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.

We didn't have that much snow where I was growing up either. Unfortunately Denver sees buckets of it every year.

[Formless]

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.

We didn't have that much snow where I was growing up either. Unfortunately Denver sees buckets of it every year.

And just try getting in or out of Boulder during a serious blizzard. Fun.

[FSTargetDrone]

I love this. I want more! There's talk of another storm early next week. We'll see...



The Mini is almost buried. There was actually a lot more snow on it, but some of it has slid off the sides.



Bushes outside the window getting weighed down.



Philadelphia has front-end loaders clearing the streets around City Hall.



Oh, our Canadian neighbors could probably use some of this stuff. I hear there's something of a snow shortage in Vancouver. The Olympics will be starting soon!

[Darth Wong]

I guess they don't have enough plows. My favourites are those little baby plows that are just wide enough to clear a sidewalk. There's something comical about those little baby snowplows trundling along on residential sidewalks.

[FSTargetDrone]

I guess they don't have enough plows. My favourites are those little baby plows that are just wide enough to clear a sidewalk. There's something comical about those little baby snowplows trundling along on residential sidewalks.

Yeah, I haven't snagged a picture of it yet, but aside from 2 full-sized pickup trucks with plow blades, the apartment complex here has a small, gas-powered 4X4 vehicle with a tiny plow blade on the front. The next time it comes around I'll take a picture.

They are loading dump trucks in the city with some of those front-end loaders. The dedicated plow trucks are all probably elsewhere in the city and the highways.

EDIT:

The visibility in the area has dropped to something like a 1/4 mile in the last hour or so. The wind has really picked up and at times the snow is almost blowing horizontally. Large drifts are building up on the roof of each building here and I'm hoping the snow starts to slide off or blow off before it becomes a problem...

[PeZook]

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

I can say I did. It's kind of sad, but I hate snow with a burning passion. Probably has something to do with the fact I don't have time to just go and have fun with it, there's always something more important to do, so it ends up just being an annoyance on my way to/from work, shopping, etc.

Being an adult sucks ass sometimes, man.

[FSTargetDrone]

Well Kent, as of now, the death count is zero. But it's expected to shoot up at any moment.

Actually, I shouldn't joke about it, because there have been a few deaths, mostly people with heart conditions who have been out shoveling snow. Really though, we get this kind of snow so infrequently here. Yes, a lot of people overreact, but it will all be dealt with. A few days of missed school or work doesn't really matter because everyone is getting affected like this. Everyone should just sit tight indoors. When the governor says to stay off the roads, he isn't doing it for laughs. Again and again they tell people not to shovel snow if they have a weak heart, not to take unnecessary risks by slipping on ice and such. But some people apparently know better.

[Lonestar]

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.

Record winter storm set + inter-jurisdiction bickering + not nearly enough plows/chemicals + Snow tires and chains being illegal +"your job is essential to the guv'ment, I don't care if the Rapture is under way get your ass in"= One sad Lonestar.

[FSTargetDrone]

They suspended mail service in some areas. If the mail isn't being delivered, I don't know why anyone working in any job other than power generation/repair (and such), emergency, heath-care and vital government services needs to be anywhere.

Washington DC Metropolitan Area

Due to the storm the Postal Service is suspending delivery and collections throughout the region. The decision effects delivery and collections for all of Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia down to Richmond and west to Charlottesville.

Virginia

Blizzard Warning in effect until 7:00PM

Local Postal operations including retail, delivery and collections are suspended today Wednesday February 10. This affects postal operations in ZIP code areas beginning with 201, 220-227, 228, 229, and 244.

Maryland

Blizzard Warning in effect until 7:00PM.

Due to the winter snow storm, the Postal Service announced that it has suspended mail delivery and collections for today. There will be limited retail service. The closure affects postal services in the ZIP Code areas beginning with 206-209 and 210-219.

The dock roof at the Solomons Main Post Office located at 13946 HG Trueman Road, Solomons, MD, 20688 collapsed today. Customers and employees are entering the facility through the front door.

The Mechanicsville Post Office is closed and delivery was suspended following roof damage from heavy snow accumulations. The Post Office serves the 20659 ZIP Code. Delivery operations resumed Tuesday Feb. 9, but the Post Office will remain closed until repairs are made.

Washington, DC

Blizzard Warning in effect until 7:00PM.

Local delivery and collection operations are suspended today Wednesday February 10. There will be limited retail operations with limited hours throughout the area. This applies to all postal operations in the ZIP Code areas beginning with 200.

West Virginia

The Marlinton and Cass, WV, Post Offices, 819 4th Avenue are temporarily closed due to flooding. USPS has not scheduled a re-opening.

Texas

The Port Arthur Post Office, 345 Lakeshore Drive, Port Arthur, TX, 77640, is temporarily closed. It was evacuated due to a tanker ship collision in the Gulf of Mexico, near the Post Office.

Pennsylvania

Because of the escalating storm conditions, Central PA postal officials announced a suspension in delivery and retail operations effective immediately for Post Offices in the following Zip Code areas: 173, 174, 175, and 176. The counties affected by this are Adams, York, and Lancaster.

The Holmesburg Postal Store, 8232 Frankford Ave., Suite A, Philadelphia, PA, 19136-9998 has been temporarily closed due to an accident involving an out-of-control vehicle that crashed into the facility’s lobby.

[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.

Record winter storm set + inter-jurisdiction bickering + not nearly enough plows/chemicals + Snow tires and chains being illegal +"your job is essential to the guv'ment, I don't care if the Rapture is under way get your ass in"= One sad Lonestar.

Since when are snow tires illegal? Snow tires just use a different kind of rubber and have deeper wider treads. They are in no way comparable to snow chains, which tear up the road. Just use snow tires and drive slower, leaving more space.

If your legislators are so stupid that they can't see the difference between snow tires and snow chains, then, well, you shouldn't have elected them.

[Aaron]

Possibly he means studded snow tires, which are illegal in Ontario as well IIRC.

[Sea Skimmer]

This is maybe the snow storm ever around Philly, the last storm was thicker, and the 96 storm was much thicker, but this one is as wet as snow can be and its fallen heavy enough to totally cover the trees, and now the wind is picking up. In the space of a 10 minute walk earlier, covering less then a block I saw one limb being sawed up the street, I witnessed and called in another limb tearing down power and phone lines, and then as I came back I saw another limb snap off and fall in a yard. Since then I’ve heard a snap at least every 20-30 minutes hour.

If we get some major windgusts at the end of this storm a lot of trees wont survive. The only saving grace is the snow has been so wet it plows easily, and doesn’t drift as much as it might otherwise. So the roads aren’t too awful. Not that it matters with so many uncleared limbs and downed wires.

Possibly he means studded snow tires, which are illegal in Ontario as well IIRC.

Illegal a whole lot of places. You just can’t trust people to switch wheels the moment the snow is off the road surfaces. At least snow chains can come right off while you are driving on a trip.

[FSTargetDrone]

Hm, the mail trucks around here (Pennsylvania) have snow chains. My mechanic is the guy who installs them. Same goes for Police vehicles, I believe. Maybe it only applies to privately-owned vehicles?

[Darth Wong]

At least it's still snow. Ice storms do the same thing, only worse, and you don't get the benefit of being able to play in snow afterwards.

[FSTargetDrone]

Yeah, I'm going outside to shake off the tree by the corner of the building before it hits the window. The wind is steadily blowing very hard.

[Wing Commander MAD]

Here in western PA, things are pretty bad. Monday the governor declared a state of emergency and the National Guard has moved in to Pittsburgh. We have thousands without power across the western part of the state and thus heat (unless you happen to have a wood burnging stove), though fortunately warming stations have been set up. Roughly half a dozen deaths in the greater Pittsburgh area, from people trying to heat their homes by alternative means. Large portions of the the city road works have apparently been rendered impassable for the last five days. Public transportation in the city has been heavily disrupted, if not canceld outright throughout much of the city last I heard. I wouldn't be surprised if the city of Pittsburgh and most of the other communities in this portion of the state have completely exhausted their supplies of salt, as that nearly or did actually happen last year. From what the weathermen are saying this is the worst the area's been hit since the Blizzard of '93. My yard easily has 1-1.5 ft. of snow in it. I'm sure they'll be referring to this as the Bizzard of '10 (doesn't quite sound right though) or maybe the Blizzard of 2010 in the future.

In short, Pittsburgh is getting its ass kicked.

Honestly, I kinda like all the snow, not the problems of course, it seems likes its been years since we got a proper snowfall here. I'm tempted to take my dog to play out in the snow, but seeing as he's only a beagle it's literally over his head everywhere except the driveway, which has has the snow blower run over several times in the last week. Heck the dog had to sorta tunnel his way outside to do his business Saturday .

[Darth Wong]

Honestly, I kinda like all the snow, not the problems of course, it seems likes its been years since we got a proper snowfall here. I'm tempted to take my dog to play out in the snow, but seeing as he's only a beagle it's literally over his head everywhere except the driveway, which has has the snow blower run over several times in the last week. Heck the dog had to sorta tunnel his way outside to do his business Saturday .

I would recommend getting out the shovel and digging a few snow trenches in your backyard so your dog has a variety of places he can go, if the snow is going to hang around for a while. If possible, dig them along the usual routes your dog takes in the backyard, and try to dig them far enough to reach his usual pee spots.

[Sea Skimmer]

At least it's still snow. Ice storms do the same thing, only worse, and you don't get the benefit of being able to play in snow afterwards.

Well, we already had 25 inches of snow on the ground from the last storm. We had a really bad ice storm in the mid 1990s too, and I’m not sure it was this bad just because before that ice storm we’d had some other storms that knocked down a lot of the loose and dead stuff out of hand. But I also don’t really know much about what going on outside of what I can see and hear. It does seem the wind may be slowly knocking the snow off the trees before I can freeze up.

All day long I’ve constantly heard emergency sirens every time I was outside. That’s a real bad sign since they turn them off once they get to the scene. No one has even been able to come by to put out road cones around the downed wires totally blocking the street around the corner and its been nearly four hours now. I am greatly concerned because if someone hits those wires in a car, not only is that fucked for them, but it would also mean I lose power.

[FSTargetDrone]

There's about 20 inches out there now (including from last weekend's storm). Discounting some melt between storms and some of it blowing around, that's still a lot!

[Lonestar]

Since when are snow tires illegal? Snow tires just use a different kind of rubber and have deeper wider treads. They are in no way comparable to snow chains, which tear up the road. Just use snow tires and drive slower, leaving more space.

If your legislators are so stupid that they can't see the difference between snow tires and snow chains, then, well, you shouldn't have elected them.

Actually, I was referring to metal-studded snow tires, not pure rubber ones. But no one has the pure rubber ones here either because, you know, it never fucking snows like this. On Saturday this was the worst February since 1922, by now it's the worst since the 1890s. When you have such long gaps the locals, and the government, tend not to make the same kind of investments that folks in the Frozen North do(and we have places like Albany beat this winter for snowfall, to put it in perspective).

Hm, the mail trucks around here (Pennsylvania) have snow chains. My mechanic is the guy who installs them. Same goes for Police vehicles, I believe. Maybe it only applies to privately-owned vehicles?

Maryland, the District, and Northern VA you can't have them. I had originally thought that this was to limited local jurisdictions, but my dotted-line boss lives in Hagerstown, Bum Fuck Egypt, in the mountains and he can't use them there either. Dude actually ended up buying a Bobcat to clear his property. You know how I cleared my way out? With a stamped piece of tin and a shaft of wood.

They suspended mail service in some areas. If the mail isn't being delivered, I don't know why anyone working in any job other than power generation/repair (and such), emergency, heath-care and vital government services needs to be anywhere.

In my case it's because we support comms circuits for dudes overseas, and they rarely have snow days in, say, Iraq.

All day long I’ve constantly heard emergency sirens every time I was outside. That’s a real bad sign since they turn them off once they get to the scene.

I've seen NG Humvees driving around, is Philly at that point yet?

[FSTargetDrone]

Pennsylvania's National Guard has indeed been deployed:

Pennsylvania National Guard on snow patrol

By Brad Rhen

Staff Writer

Lebanon Daily News

Updated:02/10/2010 05:10:15 PM EST

The Pennsylvania National Guard is playing a key role in responding to snow-related emergencies across the state.

More than 1,200 guardsmen were on duty Wednesday afternoon, but officials expected that number to rise as the snow piled up.

"We're going to go over 2,000 guardsmen on duty to provide support for the storm," said Maj. Cory Angell, a spokesman for the National Guard. "We're staged at armories across the state and standing ready to help support missions."

About 250 Humvees were being used, with an additional 549 available to support missions. Also, 28 Humvee ambulances were in use.

At the Lebanon Armory on King St. in South Lebanon Township 14 personnel, six Humvees, and one truck were standing by, but they hadn't received any requests for support as of 4 p.m., Angell said.

The missions have actually been ongoing since the first storm hit overnight Friday and into Saturday, Angell said. So far, guardsmen have conducted more than 200 missions statewide, he said.

"Things like moving people who need to get to medical facilities but ambulances can't get to them," he said. "Also, Humvees are co-locating with Pennsylvania State Police to help them move around and help them respond to things."

Guardsmen are also assisting in blocking on-ramps to interstate highways that have been shut down.

For the National Guard to get involved, municipalities must first contact their county emergency management agency. The local EMAs then contact the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, which in turn contacts the National Guard's emergency operations center at Fort Indiantown Gap.

"That chain is important because you want to exhaust resources at the lowest level before you go higher," Angell said.

No air missions were being conducted Wednesday, but, Angell said, there were air mission in the days in between the two storms.

"Certainly we have the ability to provide support with aviation assets, but at this point we are not, and that's mainly because of the weather," he said.

Not sure about Philadelphia specifically.

[Wing Commander MAD]

Honestly, I kinda like all the snow, not the problems of course, it seems likes its been years since we got a proper snowfall here. I'm tempted to take my dog to play out in the snow, but seeing as he's only a beagle it's literally over his head everywhere except the driveway, which has has the snow blower run over several times in the last week. Heck the dog had to sorta tunnel his way outside to do his business Saturday .

I would recommend getting out the shovel and digging a few snow trenches in your backyard so your dog has a variety of places he can go, if the snow is going to hang around for a while. If possible, dig them along the usual routes your dog takes in the backyard, and try to dig them far enough to reach his usual pee spots.

We've been letting him just go in the driveway (same as every winter it gets too high) and getting it with a bucket and shovel afterword. The whole digging thing was saturday night when the worst of it was falling, but before anyone had an apportunity clear their driveways Sunday morning. Come spring, or whenver the snow melts completely I'm sure he'll have a field day exploring and marking all his newly reclaimed territory.

[Lonestar]

BY the way, it wouldn't be a real SNOWPOCALYPSE without a crippling shortage of condoms.

[Cairber]

The lights keep flickering...I am a little worried that we are going to lose power. If we do, I have no idea what we will do since all the roads are closed, they haven't plowed our street (and there's about 2 feet on it) and we have no source of back up power. When the power went out to customers in the snow storm last week, many of those people didn't have theirs back when THIS storm hit.