Icy, Snowy Apocalypse Watch (really)
Update Friday morning: Apocalypse canceled. Whatever snow we get is expected to turn to rain. Little accumulation expected. Highs in the low 40s.
Nicely played, Mother Nature. Ha.
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Update update: The situation has now been downgraded to a "winter storm advisory" with accumulations in the 3-7 inch range. Wintry mix tonight, switching over to snow. Hazardous driving. All that stuff. Until it changes. Again.
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Update Thursday afternoon: The impending Icy, Snowy Apocalypse has been upgraded to a winter storm warning, lasting until early Saturday morning. Accumulations are projected to be in the 5-12 range.
The ever popular wintry mix is expected to start this evening, switching over to snow during the night. Accumulations of one inch per hour possible. Hazardous travel. Possible power outages. You know the drill, we're all going to die a frosty death. Until Saturday, when it's expected to be 45.
Or, of course, this all fizzles. Watch the track of the storm and the rain/sleet/snow line. And hope for plain rain.
Shovels at the ready.
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Not quite ready to accept that this is actually happening, the Icy, Snowy Apocalypse Meter has been dragged out of the barn where it had been stored for the season.
Here's the (paraphrased) forecast:
Today: "Ample amounts" of sunshine. Warm. Snow? You've got to be kidding!
Thursday: Rainy with a chance of some snow. Still, temps in the mid-40s.
Friday: A "significant" Nor'easter makes its way up the coast, bringing rain and freezing rain overnight, turning to snow in the morning. "Moderate to heavy" snow at times. "Hazardous" traveling conditions and "potential for power outages." Temps in the mid-30s. Blustery. Snow into the evening.
Saturday: Sunny. Mid-40s.
Sunday: About the same.
We're still a few days out from all this, so things could change. And you know the deal with these coastal storms -- they track a little farther east, we get little or nothing; a little farther west and we get dumped on. Also worth watching: where the rain/sleet/snow line falls.
Hey, at least it's not snowing in May. (Yet.)
By the way: We're now at 86.3 inches of the snow for this season. It's the 15th snowiest season on record.
Necessary note: You should take this all with an enormous bag of rock salt. AOA has absolutely no weather forecasting expertise. At all. That said, the world will probably not end because of some snow. Most likely.
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Comments
Nice update to the Storm Meter. :-)
... said Jessica R on Mar 30, 2011 at 11:16 AM | link
I'm excited!
I still don't understand why we're supposed to hate this weather. There are enough things to be down about in this world, why pick something so magical and fun to whine about?
Learn to love it or move south, I say!
... said Sophie W. on Mar 30, 2011 at 11:31 AM | link
Looks like it'll all melt Saturday, which means Friday night is your last chance to go sledding!
... said ethan on Mar 30, 2011 at 11:39 AM | link
I think I'm going to flip my lid if it goes down like they're saying for Friday. Since mid-March, I've adopted a "wait and see" attitude, since many times they can't predict tomorrow's weather accurately.
... said donna on Mar 30, 2011 at 11:39 AM | link
Always expect snow until May. It will come.
... said Olivia on Mar 30, 2011 at 11:45 AM | link
Am I the only one who starts talking like a salty old Gloucester fisherman after hearing the word "Nor'easter?"
I'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad fish! Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycod...
... said Rob on Mar 30, 2011 at 11:46 AM | link
Amen, Sophie! I think it's funny when people who have lived here all their lives* act shocked by the possibility of snow in March/April. It's New York. It's still just March/April. It's not only possible, it's likely. It's like being shocked that Florida is warm in July.
* Full disclosure: I haven't, but I've endured Russian winters, and this one was a breeze by comparison.
... said James on Mar 30, 2011 at 1:43 PM | link
I think that some people, although not necessarily shocked, are no longer looking forward to the idea of getting another foot of snow at this point in the year. And not everyone relishes the idea of sledding on Friday night, especially if they already have plans that may have to be put off.
Overall, this has been a hard winter and I think even winter-lovers (I am) have the right to feel it. I have lived in Upstate NY for 35 years and I know I'm ready for some Spring weather!
... said donna on Mar 30, 2011 at 2:15 PM | link
I am fully comforatble with winter weather and enjoy it but I don't like to be teased. If you're gonna snow in April, Mother Nature, stay cold from October to May. Then when you've got it all out of your system, warm up. It's much more bearable that way plus most winter activities need good snow not the crusty, half melted snirt we have right now due to these warner days. I'm just sayin'
... said Chrissy on Mar 30, 2011 at 3:14 PM | link
This is the nature of weather. I love it!
Getting mad about stuff doesn't serve much of a purpose unless you can actually make a difference, and all the whining in the world (at mother nature via facebook?) won't make the snow and rain stop, so why bother stressing? I really pity those who get so miserable.
Dress warmer, drive more carefully, play outside in the rain or snow, and relish the surprises that living in the Northeast can bring! If not, you should seriously think about moving, because Nature doesn't care if you hate shoveling.
... said Laura on Mar 30, 2011 at 3:58 PM | link
Oh for f---'s sake, will this never end?!?
... said Slacker on Mar 30, 2011 at 4:32 PM | link
My tulips!!!! Crocuses, too... :(
... said Lu on Mar 30, 2011 at 4:44 PM | link
Grumping about the weather is a time-honored tradition. Snowier-than-thou's are never gonna win this one.
Frikken' snow!
... said Elizabeth on Mar 30, 2011 at 7:55 PM | link
Honestly, I don't mind the snow and the cold. The only thing that will really upset me is if this extended winter means that our spring is only a day or two before we are hit with the heat of summer.
Although I am jealous of my friends in LA who have fresh fava beans growing in their garden as we speak. Luckily I enjoy winter storage vegetables, grains and dried legumes. But I will really relish the first fresh produce of spring.
... said Daniel B. on Mar 31, 2011 at 9:19 AM | link
Snowier-than-thous? The late, great Col. Sanders (yeah, that guy) said "There's no such thing as bad weather, just different kinds of good weather". I'm in complete agreement. One can shout at the clouds their whole life but that won't change a thing. Given a choice between whining or making snow devils the choice seems pretty obvious to me.
... said Rich on Mar 31, 2011 at 9:28 AM | link
If it makes you feel better, replace "snowier than thous" with "sanctimonius lecturers".
Either way, you still need a shovel.
... said Elizabeth on Mar 31, 2011 at 12:05 PM | link
We could get snow in April! And in other news, pots and kettles are still black.
... said B on Mar 31, 2011 at 12:38 PM | link
Hmm, more like "whinier-than-thou" for those who just need to reserve the right to grump. All over the world this week, people are fighting for their lives and struggling to recover from natural disasters. Suck it up, folks. Rich, now that's a nice quote.
... said Sam on Mar 31, 2011 at 1:42 PM | link
Rich, thats a great quote.
Albany's about to be Snowier-than-thou-ever-thought! Sorry, whinier-than-thou's.
... said Sophie W. on Mar 31, 2011 at 1:52 PM | link
Elizabeth...haha!
This has turned into quite the philosophical discussion on whether or not it's okay for someone to feel like they're done with winter. Some comments don't sound very tolerant of anyone that doesn't share that person's view of breaking out the old sled one more time. In essence, those comments are hatin' on the comments hatin' on the snow...which kinda seems to go against the spirit of tolerance that some comments are strongly suggesting others are missing.
... said donna on Mar 31, 2011 at 4:17 PM | link
April Fools!
... said Diana on Apr 1, 2011 at 6:56 AM | link
Donna- exactly.
The take-away here is that its not ok to complain about weather, that is shallow and churlish and ungrateful.
Yet somehow it is ok to complain about people who exercise their right to express their point of view, and sit in judgment of them. But do be sure to state that in addition to judgment and complaint your mind contains higher thoughts about more important things. Things that you are certain other people aren't thinking about, the low-minded plebes.
Puh-leeze.
... said Elizabeth on Apr 2, 2011 at 5:10 PM | link