More snow. Hope everyone's OK.

[Atash Hagmahani]

Apparently we're hitting record amounts of snow in some places. None here, yet, just a little nippy. I'm going to watch the forecasts.

In preparation for snow, those of you who have to commute to work might want to see if you can arrange to telecommute on bad weather days. American commutes tend to be ridiculously long. I know at least one guy here has restrictions on what he can do outside the office.

[Lady Lilya]

My husband worked from home today, and might tomorrow too.

[The Future]

Its not bad.  It's weather.  As if in sympathy, we are having a rare winter storm today.  Hurricane force gusts (up to 70 knots) and a steady 45 knots.  Quite something to see.  With already unseasonably cool weather upon us (mid to high fifties) this just adds to the mix.  One of my wall gardens was struck again - swinging at the bottom so much it threw the potting soil and plants out.....time to start that again, tying it down this time....

[Lady Lilya]

"Bad" is dependent on having goals.  Something can be "bad for" something.  This weather is bad for smooth commuting.  It is good for making snowmen and snow-forts. 

[MountainMeg]

And sledding!   

Mountainmeg reporting from Blizzard City, PA!  We got lots and lots and lots of snow.  School was canceled Friday, delayed Monday, dismissed early on Tuesday and closed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Monday is a holiday.  Fun, fun, fun with stir crazy kids.  We got around 2 ft in the first storm.  Another foot in the 2nd storm with 30MPH+ winds.  We had a 6' drift at the kitchen door!  Hubby is a federal worker and had half days Monday and Tuesday and was off Weds-Friday.

Got ourselves dug out today.  Our neighbor just showed up with a backhoe and is digging out everyone's mailbox and right side berm so the snow plows won't put it back in the driveway.  Fresh cookies for him tomorrow!

[Ryder]

Nice to know people with heavy equipment.

[The Future]

This is a footnote.

A few months ago I talked with the top guy in charge of the weather forecasters here about the terminology his people were using in the forecast E.g. "threat of rain".  I asked him whether "promise of rain" would be a more appropriate term.  He said according to their standards, they are supposed to use neutral terms such as "chance of rain".  Given the proliferation of people who beleive there is such a thing as inherently bad weather (and I am not picking you Atash on you anyone else!) I would say that our weather people have been flaunting the rules.

[Atash Hagmahani]

OK, I won't call it "bad weather" anymore. But how about "dangerous weather"?

People are more likely to die in blizzards, than on sunny days with blue skies, mild temperatures, and gentle breezes.

[Lady Lilya]

We didn't have a blizzard.  We had a lot of snow, but for it to be a blizzard requires winds of a certain speed. 

[The Future]

dude, i said i wasn't picking on you.... 

[MountainMeg]

*WE* got a blizzard!    Weather service called off the blizzard warning at 10pm as winds had fallen below "blizzard speed".  Could have fooled me!

[MountainMeg]

Oh goody!  Another storm system is on it's way.  We're right on the line so either 3-6" or 6-10" heading our way starting tomorrow.