Big January Blizzard

[Torvald Von Mansee]

I am in the D.C. area. This will be great "fun."

[Platapus]

I had to snicker at the shoppers here in North Virginia doing their "survivalist" shopping.

You could not buy any bottled water. The shelves were empty and I saw shopping carts filled with nothing but bottled water $$$

When was the last time anyone in North Virginia ran out of potable water because of a snow storm? Certainly not in the 21st century that's for sure.

I could understand if one lived out in the country, but here, in North Virginia, the only country around here is the club.

Picking up a supply of food to last this weekend I can understand, but to stockpile 20 gallons of water? Do these people understand that water does not store well for long times in those plastic jugs? It gets a bit skunky after a while. I would sooner drink the water out of my 75 gallon water heater if something really happens to our municipal water supply.

If you run out of water, just take your largest pot, fill it with.... oh, I don't know, may be the snow and put it on your gas stove, because no one can remember the last time municipal gas was interrupted by a snow storm either up here.

It's a snow storm, not a nuclear attack by zombie politicians. Take reasonable precautions, stay inside and prepare for the worst--- meaning that you may have to sit down and read a book by a window for a few hours.

People here in North Virginia are a hoot. Coming originally from the North East, where they really have bad winter weather... every year, I spend a lot of my time shaking my head ruefully and wishing I had bought stock in toilet paper and bottled water supply.

On a more serious note, if you are in the snow area, please watch your pets. If you need several layers of heavy clothing and you are still cold, think about your dog. Also please wash your dog's feet, as if you take them outside, there is a chance they can be walking in the various anti-iceing compounds and most of them are not good for dog's feet.

Signing off now. I don't know if I will be back, depending on this storm.... ach, who am I kidding, our internet will still be on (we have underground lines here).

Stay safe, but stay smart at the same time.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Finnish Railway's biggest enemy is winter... in Finland.. which comes every year.

VR's ability to fail year after year is truly impressive. Could it perhaps be that they and State have cut too many corners in rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance respectively? (yes, thats somewhat rhetoric question)

Originally Posted by Dowly

Same can be said about southern Finns. Really, winter comes every year, how are you not prepared for it?

Indeed! "Talvi yllätti autoilijat" (Winter surprised motorists) is propably most popular newspaper headline ever...

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Platapus

On a more serious note, if you are in the snow area, please watch your pets. If you need several layers of heavy clothing and you are still cold, think about your dog. Also please wash your dog's feet, as if you take them outside, there is a chance they can be walking in the various anti-iceing compounds and most of them are not good for dog's feet.

I can only echo this sensible advice, some people keep their dog out in the back yard, but while it's like this it's better to bring it in to the warm. If you don't want it to mess up the furniture then invest in an indoor dog cage or even a child gate to keep them in one room. But don't leave them out in the cold. Same goes for cats, although they generally come and go as they like, but keep an eye out for them nonetheless.

Those outside the US can watch weather chasers streaming their experiences here:
https://tvnweather.com/live

Currently one chap is at Roanoke, VA watching the snow come down, and there's two more in the Washington/Baltimore area moving into position.

Stay safe and stay warm folks. And keep an eye on the older folks in your neighbourhood too if you can, in times like this they can struggle to survive.

[Mr Quatro]

Washington DC is closing down all of it's offices today at noon ...

Oh wait a minute it's 12:30 now ... I'm out of here

[August]

Originally Posted by Subnuts

Some pro-tips from a lifelong New Englander:

• Make sure to buy at least $100 in Banquet frozen dinners for every inch of snow forecasted.
• Be sure to arrive at the grocery store two hours before the time the snow is forecasted to begin, when there is no more shopping carts or salt left in the store.
• Never, ever shovel your sidewalk. Doing so is a sign of weakness.
• Don't slow down when you're driving. If you go off the road, there's plenty of soft fluffy snow to land in.
• Make sure to continuously blare your horn at every pedestrian who has elected to walk in the street, rather than in three feet of snow.
• If you lose power, call every restaurant in the area to see if any of them have a generator, because you bought nothing but frozen dinners and can't heat them.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

Washington DC is closing down all of it's offices today at noon ...

Oh wait a minute it's 12:30 now ... I'm out of here

Mr Quatro on his way home:

[mapuc]

Hope that your meteorologist, has miscalculated the reading and it will not be as severe as predicted.

Markus

[GT182]

We're supposed to get 12 to 18 inches of snow here in northern Delaware. I'm as ready as I wanna be. LOL

The snow blower is not on the Kubota. Wouldn't take long to do IF I need it.
Just got my weekend supply of Wawa donuts.
Shovels are in the garage safe and warm.

If the power goes out... let it. The Generac generator is sitting there already to run. We'll be the only ones with power in out neighborhood.

Now.... if we do get all this snow, I can tell you one thing. It'll be gone by Tuesday. Well maybe Wednesday.

[Jimbuna]

Most importantly...everyone stay safe.

[Torplexed]

I wouldn't mind some snow. Around here it comes disassembled.

[Oberon]

Yeah, we tend to just get the left-overs too. Too much salt in the air.
Thanks North Sea.

Meanwhile scientists have manage to prove that an ice age was not the reason for the extinction of the dinosaurs:

https://twitter.com/GinoTheGhost/sta...17458555076609

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Torvald Von Mansee

I am in the D.C. area. This will be great "fun."

Keep us posted as long as you have power

[fireftr18]

I'm on the border of the storm path. So far, we got about 4 inches of snow, expecting more. To all of you who are making fun of those who panic and over prepare, and those who don't know how to drive, we have them too. We make of fun of them also. For us, the schools were called off because of the forecast, I was off anyway, and my wife took off work early. Where we live, we have to stay prepared, so it's really just another day for us. We just planned on staying home until the streets are cleared.

[Buddahaid]

Nothing but rain, rain, rain, rain, light rain, rain again, more rain, rain....

I'm addicted to Billie Holiday now, and other torch songs that go with, did I say rain?