02-02-2011, 12:23 PM | #1 |
High King at Annuminas Administrator
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Wyoming - USA
Posts: 10,752
|
How's the weather...?
Epic blizzard hitting Chicago as I write.
Chicago's record snow is 23" in 1967. I was here in town for the second - a 21.6" on New Year's Day of 1999. There was also a pretty heavy one in 1979. They were watching this system for the past several days - saying it might be another major one. They say that a lot - and sometimes nothing comes of it, so we made preparations, but didn't count on it. The weathermen delivered THIS time. I think about three things converged on Chicago at once - a major storm system from the west, a mass of moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico and a real oddity - very strong winds from the east (our prevailing winds are from the west - and that's almost always what we have). It started yesterday afternoon - around 3:00 or 4:00. Slight snow at first, but really strong winds. I read in advance they might be 50 mph, I saw this morning there had been gusts of 70 mph. They've been expecting maybe 15' to 20' waves to come in from Lake Michigan - potentially flooding Lake Shore Drive and freezing. So at first the wind was blowing around like crazy - not staying much on roofs, drifting heavily on the back side of things, from the eddys. There was even thunder and lightning! Some people lost power from wind damage - but we're good there. Sometime around 6pm or later, snow started falling at 2" to 3" per hour. This morning - still some wind gusts, but overall, less wind - more snow. It keeps coming down. I'll be watching for accurate snowfall amounts, and won't be surprised if we've already passed the record. Most of our back yard looks like it has over two feet of snow. I let the dog out and she dove into the snow ahead - then turned back and gave me a funny look. We think she's part husky, but we've spoiled her by keeping her indoors. Unfortunately - a good friend of mine was coming home from a little south last night. He got to where he had to choose between Lake Shore Drive and expressways. The expressways had a sign indicating it was a 3 hour trip, so he decided to take the Drive, figuring it was still early in the storm - this was about 5pm. He made really slow progress for about three hours, then was not able to go anywhere - and he sat, gas running low, phone battery running low, car rocked by the winds. There had been some accidents, the city had closed Lake Shore Drive - and they just were not able to get all the cars off quickly because of the conditions, the snow, the stranded (and abandoned) vehicles, etc. He finally got 'rescued' and put on a bus this morning at 5am - then took an el train home. Honestly - I would have gone for him and tried to meet him on a side street, but I think I would have gotten stuck out there. So... soon we'll have to start our clean-up. It's supposed to trail off by about 3pm today. But meanwhile - it's actually very spectacular and wonderful (if you're not sitting in your car stranded someplace).
__________________
My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!! |
02-02-2011, 12:32 PM | #2 |
High King at Annuminas Administrator
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Wyoming - USA
Posts: 10,752
|
Oh - and to top it off, temps are dropping sharply tonight. Zero or below (Fahrenheit) straight temperature. The wind chills are there now - those will be REALLY low when the straight temp goes negative, because the winds are continuing.
The Ice Dragon has struck!
__________________
My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!! |
02-02-2011, 12:49 PM | #3 |
The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium)
Posts: 14,363
|
Quickly, call Gandalf!
Sounds like a rather spooky weather situation you're in. Snow, strong winds and lightning and thunder do sound rather epic. I don't think I've ever even seen one foot of snow around these parts.
__________________
We are not things. |
02-02-2011, 01:10 PM | #4 |
Entmoot Attorney-General,
Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 3,891
|
A blizzard eh? A perfect excuse to stay indoors all day with many a nice, hot cup of chocolate
Good luck riding it out!
__________________
An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻ |
02-02-2011, 01:42 PM | #5 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 401
|
Not bad here-about 18 inches of snow on average and not much ice. The blizzard passed through with what we call "thundersnows." Basically it snows violently and thunders at the same time. It amuses me that it's 15 degrees F now, while on Saturday it was 74! The weather here is SO unpredictable!
__________________
Elleth Valatari "We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour, while materialistic 'progress' leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil." — J.R.R. Tolkien |
02-02-2011, 02:19 PM | #6 |
Elven Maiden
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,309
|
The storm in Northern Indiana is not that bad really. We had worse earlier in January. I guess maybe I don't care too much about blizzards though, I like lightning storms the best. I'm still heading to the gym today. School (i.e. work) was closed, yay, but the gym is the one that you get a key to so you can go any time. So it doesn't matter if they're closed.
__________________
~~eat until you can't anymore, play until you drop, sleep the day away, laugh, cry, yell, just live live live!~~ |
02-02-2011, 04:08 PM | #7 |
Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Not where I want to be ...
Posts: 15,254
|
Yes, I heard Chicago got hit really hard! That's a lot of weather!
Here in Phoenix we're having high winds and cooler temps - the high will be 49, which is quite cool for us.
__________________
. I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! |
02-02-2011, 04:13 PM | #8 |
Elven Maiden
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,309
|
So before going to the gym I had to shovel myself out... well there's my workout for the day I guess! So much snow.
__________________
~~eat until you can't anymore, play until you drop, sleep the day away, laugh, cry, yell, just live live live!~~ |
02-02-2011, 04:51 PM | #9 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mirkwood, well actually I live in North-west Scania, Sweden
Posts: 9,481
|
Windy and rainy!
|
02-02-2011, 04:58 PM | #10 |
Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ
Posts: 6,433
|
IT'S SO COLD HERE!!!!!!!!!
I wanna see some snoooooooooooow. |
02-02-2011, 05:00 PM | #11 |
Entmoot Attorney-General,
Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 3,891
|
Well isn't that good ol' Scania for ya!
Still, better than Illinois blizzards or Queensland cyclones, så klaga lagom
__________________
An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻ |
02-03-2011, 01:08 AM | #12 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mirkwood, well actually I live in North-west Scania, Sweden
Posts: 9,481
|
oki, buddy. Indeed we are fortunate!
|
02-03-2011, 01:43 AM | #13 |
Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA
Posts: 10,820
|
We got your blizzard today.
__________________
Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle |
02-03-2011, 02:06 AM | #14 |
Salt Miner
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: gone to Far Harad
Posts: 987
|
70 inches (178 cm) of snow so far along the coast of Massachusetts, with more on the way. The snow on the sidewalks and beside our driveway is piled above my head.
Last edited by Alcuin : 02-03-2011 at 02:07 AM. |
02-03-2011, 02:23 AM | #15 |
Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Not where I want to be ...
Posts: 15,254
|
Gwai - where are you now? Are you still in Santa Paula?
__________________
. I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! |
02-03-2011, 04:46 AM | #16 |
Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA
Posts: 10,820
|
Toronto! Land of the theatre, and home of the draconic alcohol-sale laws!
__________________
Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle |
02-03-2011, 01:46 PM | #17 |
Elven Maiden
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,309
|
What are your alcohol sale laws? Here we can't buy on Sunday but we just drive up to Michigan (maybe half hour away).
Second snow day in a row. The first one I was happy, the second one I'm more worried about only working one day this whole week. But I guess there's nothing I can do about it, so I'll just sleep in until right now and then have powdered donut holes and a beer for breakfast.
__________________
~~eat until you can't anymore, play until you drop, sleep the day away, laugh, cry, yell, just live live live!~~ |
02-03-2011, 02:16 PM | #18 |
Quasi Evil
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maryland, US
Posts: 4,634
|
Was looking forward to tons of snow but all we got was freezing rain... But probably for the best. Last week when a snow/sleet storm hit right at rush hour it put the city (Washington, DC) into gridlock. They announced early dismissal from the Fed. Government and everyone panicked and left at the same time. I left at 4 and didnt get to my house till 11pm only to find no electricity for the next 28 hours... What fun...
__________________
"People's political beliefs don't stem from the factual information they've acquired. Far more the facts people choose to believe are the product of their political beliefs." "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." |
02-03-2011, 02:22 PM | #19 |
Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA
Posts: 10,820
|
A government bureau (the LCBO, Liquor Control Bureau of Ontario) is the only legal purveyor. Kinda freaked me out at first, but even more when I realized: monopoly = not a whole lot of sales.
__________________
Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle |
02-03-2011, 07:19 PM | #20 |
High King at Annuminas Administrator
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Wyoming - USA
Posts: 10,752
|
My wife sent me this link:
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...NRLL>1=42007 I heard from someone that the snow measured at O'Hare Airport was 20.2" - which makes this our third highest snowfall of all time. So now I've been here for two of the top three! But this one of course had the extreme winds and thunder and lightning.
__________________
My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!! |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Some Poems | elvendrummer87 | Writer's Workshop | 429 | 11-28-2012 07:09 AM |
Don't like the weather? - Sue God | MrBishop | General Messages | 15 | 09-27-2007 10:03 AM |
weather in NZ | eowyngirl14 | General Messages | 5 | 07-16-2004 11:06 AM |
Anyone else see the weather in the Kansas City area? | Gwaimir Windgem | General Messages | 13 | 05-05-2003 10:41 AM |
Chit Chat & What not... | Tar Melian | General Messages | 84 | 05-12-2001 01:02 PM |