BS: Blizzard of 2016

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 05:19 PM

We're expecting (Wash DC) 'only' 1-3"... but wet and nasty. It will cause the usual chaos here tonight & tomorrow, then back to sunny Wed morning.

I still have 4' piles the plows left last week.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,CupOfTea, no cookies
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 02:58 PM

No Blizzard in Ohio at the moment (February has just started) but the one enjoyable thing about the white stuff coming down thick and wet and all drama queen melting on contact, is watching yet another Pilipino priest avidly take pictures of the novelty. I suppose he'll take more pictures when the stuff actually sticks. About the time they get used to it, their stay is over, and we get another one to ooh and ahh and learn how to drive in the nasty stuff.

I sympathise with the east coast getting dumped on, but know that our turn can come any ol' time. "Lake Effect" can only be worse if you live in Buffalo.

Joanne in very wet Cleveland

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,(golt) gnu on laptop
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 08:52 PM

Here we go again. Looks nasty for NS.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 08:52 PM

And on Facebook I just saw that 4 towns including my own in Kent County have already cancelled school for tomorrow. I don't know about the rest of the state.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 08:37 PM

Some Rhode Island towns including mine have already announced parking bans. Here, they go into effect at 7 AM.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 12:18 PM

Not that much more snow coming, inland, this week....and it will get really cold. The ski resorts will be happy.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: gnu
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 01:28 PM

We only got 35cm yesterday and the wind was only 30-50kph AND it was mostly a daytime storm. I can take it... once a week.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 12:55 PM

It's pretty as a picture here, and blinding in the sunlight. God Bless The Snowplow Trucks.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 03:27 PM

Cleaned my car off once already. Now I'm watching more snow covering it. More snow on the way? Can't think about that. One day at a time.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 02:01 PM

....and the discouraging thing is that another storm system is forecast to swing over us, with more snow, right after we have had a minute to plow.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Donuel
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 12:52 PM

I saw how the snow sticks to every single branch and surface

Yikes

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 12:48 PM

Heart-attack snow, that's what it is. Heavy and wet. At the Weather Channel, Jim Cantore calls this stuff "White Mud."   

One town over, where the power went out, I drove down Main Street and saw the FIRE....with the snow falling thick and fast. The fire was in the power lines, with power trucks and fire trucks around it and lights flashing. Oh, the drama.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Jan 16 - 02:53 PM

Am bracing ourselves, north of Providence, for the next snow dump. Temperature in the forties Fahrenheit today, so plenty of slush and melting. Kicked the last lump of solid ice out from behind the front wheel of the car this morning, in its designated parking space.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Jan 16 - 07:58 AM

I need a Honda blower, the wheels on the Ariens are too small.


7 years ago I made a carport near the back door. I bought a six inch aluminum and steel pillar pointy roof canopy reinforced with iron in the tubing and poly propylene corrugated panels for reinforcement. I even added some oak struts to the metal canopy supports.

I then added
a 8 foot a tilted flat roof extension made entirely from bamboo, nylon string and the plastic panels.

The metal structure failed in slow motion under 3 feet of snow but the bamboo half of the car port has stood solid undaunted.

The bamboo I grew myself and was free. The anodized aluminum structure was $500 + .

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 04:48 PM

3C, sunny, no wind. 6C tomorrow. Rather odd here in NB.ca.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 03:37 PM

Donuel... make sure you do the annual maintenance on a wheel drive. I have a Honda with a hydrostatic drive (expensive but my arthritic back LIKES IT!) so I don't have to rip things apart as often. On the other hand, if you get a Honda with a track drive stuck, don't call me for help. You can get them out but it's more difficult that a wheel drive.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Penny S.
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 03:36 PM

Acme - Norway was on a cruise to see the solar eclipse and the Aurora. Iceland was another cruise to see vulcanism, though unfortunately we couldn't land at Heimaey, and Surtsay had only one teeny tiney steam outlet up at the top while we went round it several times. And I've got to go back because the shore excursions didn't give us enough time to really enjoy the geysir and the hot pools and the geology in general. Or the history.

There was a lecturer on board. In the first hour he went from the formation of the island up to 1942. He managed to criticise the first Viking settlers (he did acknowledge the Irish got there first) for wanting to have a government with no king. That sounded like anarchy, says he - I don't think there were any Americans on board. Then he left out all the interesting saga period, the relationships with the Nordic monarchies and religious changes, and the way the Icelanders coped with events like Laki, because he wanted to tell us about the way the island was occupied by the Allies during WWII. In the second lecture, he did more about that, and I seem to have forgotten if he did about the cod and the 12 mile limit, because he finished by telling us he would describe Johanna Sigurdurssdottir and we could make up our own minds about her - which I took as code for him thinking she was a bad thing. I wasn't sure whether it was because she came up through the trades unions or because her second marriage was to another woman.

I could have done with more lectures about sagas and history and geology.

I wasn't doing anything particularly serious or educational, though the eclipse trip was teeming with astronomy teaching.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 02:28 PM

Unreasonably doubting science is rather like doing religion, actually.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 02:03 PM

They are not reasonable people.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Stu
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 01:10 PM

"Global warming caused by CO2 bullshit. It is an emperors new clothes scenario run amok."


"How much? Where? All that is speculation, an excuse for inaccurate predictions.
Why is Antarctic ice increasing in this hotter ocean?"


Now this is interesting. They now stud why people like Edgar don't believe in climate change despite the overwhelming evidence, and the fact they are experiencing the impact themselves. Have a read of this fascinating article on the subject: Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science?

This doesn't cover those who's motivations for contesting science may be less innocent and more disturbing (the hydrocarbon industry, creationists, ISIS etc) but it does give insight into how these ideas are formed.

So we need the Edgar's of this world too teach us why we often think the way we do. What we don't need is them buggering it up for the rest of us because of their endless personal incredulity and witless gullibility.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 11:00 AM

gnu was right. I had a loose forward clutch cable which made forward progress fail.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 10:30 AM

Well evidence that the climate is changing can only be cumulative. If records get broken at an ever-increasing rate, or drought occurs at much more frequent intervals or becomes more severe over decades, or floods occur far more frequently than in the past, or the frequency or severity of tropical storms show long-term increases, that's evidence. One massive snowstorm on its own is evidence that you've just had snow. Unprecedented snowstorms over about ten winters in your region could be evidence for climate change. It's quite interesting to read about the fairly dramatic and sudden change in climate in the southern part of Western Australia, most of the changes happening in the last forty or fifty years. It that permanent or just a glitch? There will never be an end-point at which we can be certain one way or the other, but the evidence there, and in many parts of the world, is accumulating. Anyway, we're getting your snowstorm on Wednesday you'll be pleased to hear, but by then it will be just a bit windy and pissing down.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 09:58 AM

I think (as Steve suggested in passing) that the name 'global warming' gets confused with the term 'climate change'.

Fact is that the globe/planet/Earth is warming. We know this: that's it, that's all. I suspect--but don't know for sure--that the oceans' are contributing to climate change. But many people are confusing climate with weather (à la climate's what ya expect and weather's what ya get sorta thing).

Weather is local and fairly specific. When a town ten miles away has snow and my town has none that's weather. It has happened often before and I expect it'll happen again. But other events are combining and seem to overwhelm whatever were the normal checks and balances that kept the system functioning in a manner we've come to think of as normal. We know about holes in the ozone layer and that that was initially scoffed at by people but is no longer. Virtually and literally, everything we do affects this planet in miniscule or gigantic ways, and please make no mistake about that. I don't know enough science--and even if I did most people wouldn't understand it--to prove that climate is changing, so I depend on scientists to keep me informed. Most scientists think we have changes happening to the world's climate.

Instead of arguing that what we see and experience happening isn't, maybe it's time to accept the planet/globe/Earth is in trouble and denying that is a big part of the problem. I hope TS Eliot was wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Jan 16 - 03:38 AM

55 degrees Fahrenheit predicted for today in North Kent, England. That is pretty warm for January. I may even cut the lawn after finishing my tax return.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 11:38 PM

I'm all dug out here in Rhode Island. We got about 9 inches in my part of the state. My digging out is not a big deal because I live in a condo where our fees include paying for plowing and shoveling. We still have to clean off our cars and do some additional shoveling because what the workers do is minimal, but they did a better-than-usual job this time.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 08:56 PM

In Bristol UK I think we have only had about one week of white frost but now it is back to being quite balmy again. I don't think I can ever remember a winter so mild especially as it has followed a pretty dry winter the year before. The usual Christmas skating rink at my local Mall actually melted throughout the Christmas holiday causing the skaters to swish around in the water rather than skate. But the temperatures are back into double figures again and was nice enough today to stop for a quick one and sit in the pub garden, orange juice of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 07:20 PM

Got back from Richmond (the London one) to Bude this evening to find that today's max in my garden had been 16.0°C. It's midnight now and still 13.2°C. Dammit, shorts and t-shirts again tomorrow. May even go commando. I hate overheating.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 06:29 PM

Penny, I'm interested to read about your travel and observations. What took you to those locations?

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 05:39 PM

The Gulf Stream is now 7 degrees warmer than Average!

Ergo more snow.


When the snow is higher than the intake of the snow blades it is inefficient and the wheels bog down making it too hard to push.
Still that is a good idea to check you tube hints.

SO...
Screw the sidewalk. We cleared the driveway and our section of the street has been plowed.

Now we can telecommute in peace.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 04:32 PM

Well, Penny, I suppose that global warming is what's driving climate change. We're actually talking about both, I think

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 02:39 PM

It's close to 60*F here today...

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Penny S.
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:56 PM

And, to add anecdotes to confuse the issue, in March last year I was in Norway, up at the top, where the Sami were glad that the spring was coming early. The ice on the lakes on the Lofoten islands was just breaking up. In August, I was in eastern Iceland, where we were told that the summer was coming late, and the ice on the lakes was just breaking up. (To be truly scientific, I have to point out that the respective lakes were at low altitude on the Lofotens. and higher up on Iceland.)

Same latitudes, totally different years' weather.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Penny S.
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:49 PM

Oh bother - that didn't work. Can someone fix it? Please?

---

We're here to make corrections, but nothing appears to have gone amiss in that post? ---mudelf

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Penny S.
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:48 PM

Do read all the science before jumping up and down and going on about no global warming.

It isn't global warming that is being talked about now. It's climate change. And that change is related to an increased amount of energy in the atmosphere. Which means that more moisture is drawn up into the air, which is also becoming much more active. Warm moist air moving northwards and meeting cold Arctic air moving south is going to cause dumping of that moisture as snow.

Places are going to have more extreme winter weather. And more extreme summer weather. And, basically, more weather.

Those of us who depend on the North Atlantic currents for warmth are going to meet problems. That's you on the Eastern Seaboard on the west of the Atlantic, and us on the east of the ocean. We're going to get more like Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:45 PM

Edgar, it isn't speculation. It is fact.

http://www.oceanscientists.org/index.php/topics/ocean-warming

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:33 PM

You're arguing from ignorance, Edgar The Guest. One hardly knows where to begin, so one won't. The information you refuse to consider is all out there.

I understand that one of the biggest risks of being killed in a US blizzard to is to offer to help someone who's stranded.

By the way, anyone wanting to use one snowstorm as evidence against global warming may be interested to know that I was in shorts and t-shirt in sunny London this morning in a near-record 16°C, or 61°F. And that December was by far the warmest in England since records started over 300 years ago. But I won't use either fact alone in evidence to support man-made global warming, as that isn't what scientists do.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:16 PM

"125 feet of sidewalk to shovel low enough to then use a snow blower"

Well, you may need to research techniques for using a snowblower. Try You Tube or...

Advance the blower at rapid pace into the snow for 1'. Back it up and knock the overhanging snow* down with a long handled shovel. Repeat (in a manner appropriate).

* If it's too fluffy to create an overhang, advance the blower slowly and put your weight on the handle bars to raise the mouth slowly to allow the snow to "cave" slowly into the mouth of the blower. Stop when the wheels/tracks begin to ride up on the snow or spin in the snow. Reverse and clear as appropriate.

(I realize that is a brief and sketchy description but I hope it helps.)

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 12:19 PM

Thanks for asking, gnu. Brilliant blue sky, and blinding sunlight on several inches of new snow. The road crews are brilliant as well, great job of plowing. I had to drive the car -- carefully -- through the storm yesterday evening, and that wind made visibility poor. Glad it's over.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 11:42 AM

yes, we had no power lines down where we are, although a neighboring bowling alley caved in.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,Edgar
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 10:34 AM

"Our oceans at present have absorbed a great deal of the heat"

How much? Where? All that is speculation, an excuse for inaccurate predictions.
Why is Antarctic ice increasing in this hotter ocean?

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 10:08 AM

"Instead, global temperatures were no warmer than today."

Our oceans at present have absorbed a great deal of the heat.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,Edgar
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 10:00 AM

Greg the ritual defamer, never addressing the facts presented but personally attacking the person presenting the facts.
Mean spirited and hostile. All he needs is a name to attack so he can sidestep discussing the facts.

I nominate GF for the Saul Alinsky Mean Spirited and Hostile award.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Greg F.
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 09:51 AM

Edgar the unready.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 08:52 AM

Time to clean off the car and start on the
125 feet of sidewalk to shovel low enough to then use a snow blower

If this had been a wet snow 5 times heavier than what we got we would have had collapses.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: GUEST,Edgar
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 08:00 AM

Global warming caused by CO2 bullshit. It is an emperors new clothes scenario run amok.
"To the consternation of global warming proponents, the Late Ordovician Period was also an Ice Age while at the same time CO2 concentrations then were nearly 12 times higher than today-- 4400 ppm. According to greenhouse theory, Earth should have been exceedingly hot. Instead, global temperatures were no warmer than today. Clearly, other factors besides atmospheric carbon influence earth temperatures and global warming."

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 06:15 AM

Janie is fine, and is of course (being Janie) fully prepared.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 06:08 AM

So, how are youse doing down there?

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:38 AM

It's stopped - people here are being sensible, everybody who is out is out on foot. Many with sleds.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: Hrothgar
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:05 AM

It snowed here 16,000 years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard of 2016
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jan 16 - 06:06 PM

I just hope all heed the warnings and stay safe and sound. People who are not accustomed to "weather" tend, apparently, to dismiss it. At least nine dead? WTF? When a state of emergency is declared and you are told to hunker down... DO IT!