Nasty weather

[altivo]

National Weather Service issued a red-flagged blizzard warning for much of Illinois today, with the exception of the northernmost tier of counties (which includes us here, of course.) I think they underestimated, though. The city schools were closed, and we usually close the library when the schools close, but the boss decided to open up. I passed over roads with drifts nearly a foot deep in spots to get in.

However, the blowing snow and near whiteout continues. NWS still hasn't called it a blizzard here, but the snow has drifted so badly against our back doors that they can't be opened easily. I've been told to leave at noon, and we're putting out announcements that the building will close at 4 pm so no one has to travel after dark. All evening events are cancelled.

My advice to anyone who can avoid it: don't try to drive in this stuff. It's really bad, between poor visibility and bad surface conditions.

Comments

I know I know

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

I just ran the snow blower the entire length of our driveway one pass in a veritable blizzard of blown ice and snow. But if I do not, Bear cannot get up the drive way when he comes home.

Yes, I know and yet am feeling energetic and not hurting so am doing it again in a few minutes after I warm up and get energy again.

Imp

Re: I know I know

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Jeez. You be VERY careful. I really doubt you should be doing that just yet.

Re: I know I know

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dearest Rider.

We are in serious trouble here. Bear is about shot between work and home work chores. That is all I could do and the snow thrower is all ready and gassed up for when he comes home. I am gonna probably take another nap now. Was not bad but it is drifting so fast you can hardly tell where I just did two long passes with the snow throwing machine so think it is a waste of time and energy at this point. I will keep the wood stove going though so that is one less chore he has to cope with when he comes home exausted already. Just hope he can make it up the damn driveway when.

Doing ok.

Impers

Re: I know I know

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, if he can get off the road and into the driveway, he should be OK for now. The walk to the house isn't all that bad.

I'm glad you are feeling well enough to tote wood and blow snow around, but I'd hate to hear that you had a relapse of some sort. Go as easy as you can.

[wolfgrowl.livejournal.com]

I'm doing well at avoiding snow!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'll take snow over hurricanes and tropical storms, thanks.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Oog. A whole lot of no fun, that.

Here in Fairmont the storm pretty much missed. The 4-6 inch accumulation was maybe as much as two, over two days - and the nice light fluffy stuff at that. Amazingly, the plains winds didn't pick this time to take it and make a "ground blizzard" where there is no new snow falling, but enough in the air to make things quite difficult. School closing here are rarely, if ever, for a great amount of snow, but they happen for even a little snow if there is a significant wind.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is one of those storms that is heavier south than north. Yesterday's was the other way around. I suspect St. Louis got plastered today.

[zenicurean.livejournal.com]

Forget the War on Terror, we need a War on Snow.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Actually, we need to take some of those politicians who have been capitalizing on the terror thing and stick their heads into a snowdrift. Hold them there until they cool off and quit kicking...

[zenicurean.livejournal.com]

But, but... revolutions always eat their children. There'll be bigger and bigger snowdrifts, which'll turn into huge piles, which will turn into traffic-blocking death mounds, and finally we'll be ski jumping off dead Congressmen.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

It hasn't started here yet. I just saw on the weather radar there's a funny hole in the snow pattern from St. Clair Shores to Howell, pretty narrow but enough to take in both work and home for me. I'd say there's something wrong with the radar were it not for the fact that I can see there's no snow falling outside the windows.

But it's snowing down toward the Ohio border, so it might still get this far north. I'm already mentally prepared for a 2-hour drive home (usually takes 1/2 hour).

If your area isn't in blizzard conditions, it sounds awfully close.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Snow has stopped falling here at the moment, but the wind is picking up and the temperature is dropping. I estimate we had about four inches overall since early this morning, though it's hard to tell because of the drifting.

[marzolan.livejournal.com]

Wow.. That'd be enough to like... bring us to a halt for a month!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Nah, it would melt in two days down there.

We have about eight inches of accumulation on the ground here, which is probably more than we've had (at least to stick around for more than a couple of days) in several years. Blowing and drifting is going to be a problem tomorrow, even though the snow is supposed to end by midnight.

The blizzard warnings will probably turn into flood warnings, because the rivers don't stop running even in the cold we had last week. What happens is they get icepacks that build up and then break like a dam bursting...

[marzolan.livejournal.com]

Eee... no major rivers local, but one creek that tend to cause surprisingly large scale flooding when events happen... but we don't have to worry about that from snow usually.

[corelog.livejournal.com]

Sounds like one of those "interesting" conditions, to be sure. :P Hope ya get home okay and stay nice and warm. *hugs*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yup, got home fine but it took twice as long as usual. You know conditions are really bad when everyone actually slows down. No illegal passing, no tailgating. It was amazing.

[songcoyote.livejournal.com]

Yet another reason to be glad I'm on the Left Coast :)

...though I must admit I'd love to be able to have the sort of land and home I could buy for half the appraised value of my house!

...but on the gripping hand, I'd be too far from the ocean for comfort.

You have a good life, but sometimes I'm glad it's not mine ;)

Light and laughter,
SongCoyote

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, at least we don't have earthquakes. Or the Governator. ;p

[songcoyote.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. At least the latter is (ostensibly) temporary ;)

A few weeks ago we actually had about 6 noticeable earthquakes in a few days. Not damaging, mind you, just noticeable (they sure do startle the dogs and cat). I recall from my reading that these little temblors are a good thing in that they are a gradual release of pressure rather than a sudden one. Especially with that in mind they're kinda fun, actually :)

Every place has its good and bad, even my dream retirement spot of Hawaii. I'll take the few bad things there, though, since the good is so damn good, at least for me and my sweetie.

Light and laughter,
SongCoyote

Hawaii?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I gather you plan to retire independently wealthy. Quite a goal.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*hides from the evil snow* I'm becoming more and more glad it doesn't snow at all where I live O.O Hope it clears up for you quick.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Now, now. Snow itself is not a bad thing at all. It's very beautiful, actually, and most of the time would be neither harmful nor dangerous. We only make it so by fighting it and trying to overcome it rather than accepting it as nature's way of telling us that it's time to slow down and ease off a bit. The issues with snow are purely cultural. In areas where it falls, it serves important ecological purposes and we need it.

I don't mind the snow; in fact I like it. I do mind the way that our society insists on rushing about to nowhere for no good reason and gets all offended when a snowstorm gets in the way.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I don't like it...it's cold and wet *warms his paws on the stove*
You horses are very strange....must be all those oats ;)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Obviously you never noticed that mice are much easier to find and catch when there's snow on the ground. They become obviously visible and leave little trails of footprints with tail-drag marks.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Yus but they have cold feet then, not as nice to eat.