Guin, Better Get Out Your Cross Country Skis....

[Lord Jim]

Or harness up the sled dogs...

With potentially historic blizzard looming, Governor Deval Patrick urges people to stay off roads



With a powerful blizzard expected to blanket Massachusetts with up to 3 feet of snow, Governor Deval Patrick ordered non-emergency state workers to stay home, urged people to get off the roads by noon Friday before the storm intensifies, called for all local school districts to cancel classes, and announced that the Boston area’s public transit system would shut down.

The nor’easter arriving Friday morning could drop 2 to 3 feet of snow that would be lashed by winds gusting up to 65 miles per hour into drifts as deep as 5 feet, the National Weather Service said this afternoon.

Issuing blizzard warnings for all of Eastern and Southeastern Massachusetts, the service warned that the potentially historic storm would pose a threat to people’s lives and property and that conditions would deteriorate quickly as the storm develops Friday.

“The sooner you can be off the roads the better,” said weather service meteorologist William Babcock. “You want to give yourself some time to be at your safe spot before the storm hits its strongest.”

Forecasters said that heavy snow, blowing and drifting, could cut visibilities to a quarter-mile, causing white-out conditions. The winds, which could reach 65 miles per hour, could also damage trees and structures and bring down power wires, causing scattered power outages. Temperatures will be in the mid-20s and the forecasters cautioned people to stay indoors.

A National Weather Service snowfall total forecast map issued this afternoon shows a swath of the state north and south of Boston getting more than 2 feet of snow, with amounts tapering off somewhat to the west and south, where the island of Nantucket is expected to get only up to 6 inches and the outer Cape only as much as 8.

The forecasters are also warning that the storm will produce moderate coastal flooding Friday evening and moderate to major coastal flooding Saturday morning. Large waves, along with a 2-to-3-foot storm surge, are expected to devour beaches and flood shore roads. They also may put shoreside homes at risk during the Saturday morning high tide.

Flanked by a number of other top state officials at a late afternoon news conference today, Patrick urged people to stay off the roads after noon, saying the brunt of the blizzard would start to be felt between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday.

He said drivers in recent storms had been cooperative, but “if I have to order the roads be cleared, I will.”

In addition to letting state workers work from home, Patrick encouraged private employers to let their workers stay home.

The MBTA will shut down at 3:30 p.m., with the last trains and buses leaving from downtown at that time, said Transportation Secretary Richard A. Davey.

Davey said highway crews would be out in force tonight and into Friday morning, treating roads with rock salt and brine, then the crews would be briefly rested “because we’re expecting our crews to be working pretty darn hard” during the peak of the storm later Friday.

Patrick also said he had called up 500 National Guard members to help in storm recovery efforts, who would be able to join with 500 full-timers already working on Friday. Another 5,000 to 6,000 were slated for training over the weekend. That training has now been canceled so they will be available, he said.

Patrick outlined a number of safety measures that people should take, including obeying any evacuation orders, having plenty of food and water on hand, and getting a full tank of gas before the storm hits. The governor also suggested that people should check on elderly neighbors and shut-ins.

“Be a good neighbor, everybody,” he said.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan said that all four major utilities that supply the state with electricity have begun extensive preparations. He said the utilities are “at the highest level of bringing in outside resources” to assist.

Sullivan added that while all providers have thorough plans in place, “the utilities will be measured by their response on the ground.”

Patrick reminded people that power restoration efforts would not begin until after the storm ends.

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan urged people to make sure their flashlight batteries are fresh and that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. He also said to make sure that all exterior vents are cleared to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.

And, Coan cautioned, in the event of a power outage, “battery-operated flashlights and candles are the safest way” to provide light. He said generators should be kept outside, and gas and charcoal grills should not be run in enclosed spaces.

Patrick said officials will constantly monitor the storm’s trajectory and respond accordingly.

“Mother Nature is so unpredictable,” he said. But, at the same time, he said, “This team has had a lot of practice. We work very, very well together.”

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino urged people to stay off the roads Friday and canceled school, and he was far from alone as scores of other school systems around the state followed suit.

http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/02 ... story.html

[Guinevere]

Oh really, I hadn't heard



It's not the snow I'm worried about -- there will be a lot, we won't go anywhere, and that's that. I'm worried about the big storm surge, and high winds. They are predicting gusts in Boston and the surrounding coasts of up to Hurricane strength -- 75 MPH. Waves by Saturday morning could be over 20 feet. That's tough tough weather for my little beach town. Just pray we all come through safely, as do our homes and other property. The good news is that my house has survived all the storms since 1900 when it was built, including the horrific blizzard of 1978. Hopefully this one won't be as horrific or as historic.

[Sue U]

Good luck, Guin, keep warm. Looks like RI is going to get socked pretty good, too, so Jarl will have to bring the cats in.

[Scooter]

Wow, I thought we were getting bad because we're expecting over a foot today. Hope everyone stays safe.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Had some snow this morning which changed to rain and now it's snowing again. No wind yet, but they are saying it is coming. Leaving work at 4pm so hopefully it holds off til after that. I started the tractor yesterday to make sure it is ready to plow. Will pull it out of hte shed tonight and position it on the driveway so it is ready to clear the driveway tomorrow.


Stay safe Guin

My wife was on her usual weekly grocery run yesterday and some lady wa buyng $500 worth of food. The lady commented how little my wife had (about $100 worth of groceries, normal for the week) that the storm was coming and she should stock up.

Panic buying is what leads to shortages. I saw gas lines this morning as people are still skitish from Sandy. I got 1/2 a tank, the tractor and generator are full as is a 5 gallon can. By sunday all will be "normal" or close to it.

[Gob]

May get some rain here today, may. Some. Perhaps.

Best of luck Guin, we'll be thinking of you.

[Crackpot]

It's all passed us now. Shoveled snow well a good portion anyway I'll finish tomorrow

[Jarlaxle]

Still snowing here. Blarg. Now I miss Marm...he loved this kind of weather. (Crazy damn dog...)

[Guinevere]

Be safe, Jarl and oldr -- its only going to get worse as the night progresses.

[Joe Guy]

Still snowing here. Blarg. Now I miss Marm...he loved this kind of weather. (Crazy damn dog...)

Marmite?

[Jarlaxle]

Be safe, Jarl and oldr -- its only going to get worse as the night progresses.

I'm not going anywhere. Liz should be home soon...she was up against her HOS limit at 6.

[Lord Jim]

Massive power outages as Northeast blizzard turns deadly



A blizzard predicted to be of epic proportions is pounding the Northeast, already bringing more than 2 feet of snow to some areas and cutting power to 650,000 homes and businesses.

More than 28 inches of snow had fallen on central Connecticut by early Saturday, and areas of southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire notched 2 feet or more of snow — with more falling.

The storm is being blamed on at least four deaths in New York and Canada. In New York, a 74-year-old man died after being struck by a car in Poughkeepsie; the driver said she lost control in the snowy conditions, police said.

Hurricane-force wind gusts are sweeping the area, and a gust of 76 mph was recorded at Logan airport.

More than 5,200 flights in the region have been canceled through Saturday, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. New York City's three major airports and Boston's Logan Airport are closed. Flights were also canceled at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, where nearly a foot of snow was forecast. Amtrak suspended southbound service out of Boston and northbound service out of New York City on Friday afternoon.

STORY: Airline cancellations soar in blizzard

The brunt of the storm is not expected until later Saturday, the National Weather Service warned. Blizzard warnings are in effect for the New York City metro area and many coastal sections of New England.

Police in New York say hundreds of cars have gotten stuck on the Long Island Expressway because of the blizzard conditions and dozens of disabled motorists are still on the road. The Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway are both shut down in Suffolk County except for emergency vehicles. The snow also caused a 19-car, four-hour pileup on I-295 near Cumberland, Maine. Several people had minor injuries, police said. In Vermont, which could get 4 to 16 inches of snow, the storm was being blamed for a series of crashes on I-89 in Bolton and South Burlington. Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2 ... o/1904347/

[oldr_n_wsr]

Took me 3 1/2 hours to get home friday. Left at 3pm and didn't get home til 6:30-6:45. 35mile trip. Where I work (Westbury NY) only got about a foot of snow but at home (Farmingville) we got about 30 inches. A neighbor lent me his snow blower thankfully and I was able to dig out by saturday afternoon. I have the plow on my garden tractor, but I couldn't even get it out of the shed. IT's good for 6-10 inches, but can't do 30 inches.

Had a foot of snow by the time I got home friday night. Couldn't get teh car into the driveway, so I just gunned it and launched it onto the front lawn. Took two hours to dig it out but at least it was off the road so they could plow. They had the LIE west lanes closed saturday and sunday to clear the snow and still there were only 2 lanes (it's usually 3 plus the HOV lane) in spots. The eastbound side is still closed (at least as of this morning) for snow clearing. My daughter works out east in Riverhead, so I don't think she is going in to work today.

Some roads are OK, some roads are still impassable. Went to an AA meeting last night and the twon it was in (Patchaugue) was all clear. They have a real town government. Even barely used side streets were fully plowed.

Bald Hill near me, county road 83 was still closed last night. People couldn't make it up the hill and got stuck. They evac'd stranded motorists to the local firehouse and they spent the night there. An AA buddy got stuck there and didn't get his car out til Sunday morning. He spent friday night in the firehouse. 83's overpass of the LIE was jammed with stuck cars and saturday the town had a payloader with fork lift blades on it picking up cars and putting them on the side wo they could clear at least two lanes (its usually six lanes wide, 3 in each direction).

But we didn't lose power. My brother in Coram lost power and I was going to bring him my generator but he said don't bother as his road was still not plowed by yesterday afternoon and the nearest road that was plowed (that he knew of) was about 1/2 mile away. It's a heavy generator and carrying it 1/2 mile was out of the question. He has a fireplace so they at least stayed warm.

It's raining today os now there will be flooding then it will freeze tonight so it should be a real good mess.

Hope you are well and made it through Guin.

And after all this, we only got about 6 inches up at the lake house so snowmobiling still won't be good.

[Guinevere]

Thanks for the good wishes folks. As I suspected, the real danger was the flooding, not the snow. Two feet of snow or so, but in my neighborhood it was mostly washed away by 25+ foot waves crashing over the seawall and massive flooding. Neighbors lost their homes, or had significant damage. I had some minor damage (broken glass), and rock, sand, cobble, and debris all over my property. It will take heavy equipment to move it out -- but luckily a neighbor has the stuff and will help me get it done.

Thank god for our little town power company (the one with enough foresight to build two wind turbines) -- we had power back by Saturday night or Sunday morning. while most of the rest of the South Shore is still out and freezing. People stayed off the roads and things are slowing getting back to normal (or as normal as possible, considering their individual situations).

[oldr_n_wsr]

Glad you're OK Guin

Hearty lot we are.

[Gob]

Seconded!

[MajGenl.Meade]

So that's the cross country water skis then?

Glad you're OK Guin - good luck with the stone/debris removal

What's your neighbor got? - John Deere with a bucket?

[Guinevere]

Glad you're OK Guin

Hearty lot we are.

I've earned a rather salty gem for my tiara!

And MGM, the neighbor has a bobcat, and friends with a front-end loader. Between them, it should be taken care of.