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The DC area is getting hit hard with snow now. Driving conditions aren't too bad, but there's six inches to a foot of snow in many places. My weather apps reported that DC proper had a tornado last night. Not sure what that's about. Weather like this reminds me why I drive a Subaru.

FireGryphon wrote:

The DC area is getting hit hard with snow now. Driving conditions aren't too bad, but there's six inches to a foot of snow in many places. My weather apps reported that DC proper had a tornado last night. Not sure what that's about. Weather like this reminds me why I drive a Subaru.

Having spent 2 years in the DC area: 6" of snow there is like 36" of snow in places that are used to it!

We had 7 earlier (will probably be 8" when all is said and done - we live just southwest of the DC beltway). Not the normal pattern for storms in the area, higher accumulations to the south and west (usually north and west). Schools are closed tomorrow, but wife and I work from home so will be working while the munchkin is off school.

chuckula wrote:

Having spent 2 years in the DC area: 6" of snow there is like 36" of snow in places that are used to it!

Yep, it’s still like that. It would be absurd, but the drivers around here have no idea how to handle snow in any amount.

On the flip side, DC almost never closes its free day car— I mean, public schools when it snows despite inadequately plowing the streets in the neighborhoods that need it the most. Most snow days have classes 1/3 the size normal.

Schools are closed tomorrow which has made my wife happy, since she gets off.
Still not sure if my job is open or not since OPM seems to be on shutdown hiatus.

"Employees should refer to their home agency for guidance on reporting for duty.
(Posted on December 26, 2018 at 12:00 AM)"

MileageMayVary wrote:

Still not sure if my job is open or not since OPM seems to be on shutdown hiatus.

"Employees should refer to their home agency for guidance on reporting for duty.
(Posted on December 26, 2018 at 12:00 AM)"

I'm in the same boat in regards to OPM. Boss said on Friday to use your best judgement. I told him I would just do what the schools do. I might also just wait for it to warm up a bit then go in late. I'm out in Leesburg and just have to go to Tysons.

NJ was spared from most of the snow that hit DC over the weekend. Does not look like we'll be so lucky with this next weather event coming across the US through the week into next weekend: https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/ ... -late-week

These next 30 days are generally the crappiest of the year, regardless of where you are. Hooray.

Officially we got 10.6" over the weekend. My deck has more like 13", according to my trusty tape measure. We're in for more snow starting Thursday. Hooray?

My kid's birthday party is coming this weekend, and it promises to be "interesting". The past three years his party has been outside with shorts and T-shirts and highs in the 60's. 10 insane boys running around like crazy outside and it was a blast. This winter? Looks like we are in for a big old storm of a foot or more possible. Hopefully the kids can make it to the house! I will probably have to provide shuttle service with the ATV from the road to the house as our driveway is a nightmare.

liquidsquid wrote:

I will probably have to provide shuttle service with the ATV from the road to the house as our driveway is a nightmare.

That alone will make for a memorable party.

Party favor requires 5 ft cleared per kid?

Usacomp2k3 wrote:

Party favor requires 5 ft cleared per kid?

LS lives in Western NY and things there are much the same as here (NW VT). For those who are truly rural with driveways that would be challenging in perfect weather, winter means parking the cars at the main road junction and using ATVs/snowmobiles/side-by-sides to move from car to house. It's not even considered odd 'round here.

Usacomp2k3 wrote:

Party favor requires 5 ft cleared per kid?

I like how you think. I can also volunteer a 2yo with far too much energy.

ludi wrote:

Usacomp2k3 wrote:

Party favor requires 5 ft cleared per kid?

I like how you think. I can also volunteer a 2yo with far too much energy.

I had my 7YO in mind.

Captain Ned wrote:

Usacomp2k3 wrote:

Party favor requires 5 ft cleared per kid?

LS lives in Western NY and things there are much the same as here (NW VT). For those who are truly rural with driveways that would be challenging in perfect weather, winter means parking the cars at the main road junction and using ATVs/snowmobiles/side-by-sides to move from car to house. It's not even considered odd 'round here.

This Florida boy can’t relate. Although some of these late season rainstorms make my in-law’s mile-long nigh impassible with low-riding cars. Even my van struggled in the mud and almost got stuck multiple times.

I live in Big Rapids, MI and on the way to work I went through a section that registered -16F according to the car's thermometer.

I started the car in -11F at home.

Talk about a cold morning for West Michigan!

Aranarth wrote:

I live in Big Rapids, MI and on the way to work I went through a section that registered -16F according to the car's thermometer.

I started the car in -11F at home.

Talk about a cold morning for West Michigan!

I'm 3 hours south-east of Chicago and it's still -1 here even after the sun has come up.

Wind chill of -40 this morning

It was -17F this morning when I went out the start my truck. Got to work and the furnace in the office had quit.

I'm literally running an encode on my laptop to keep my hands warm.

I had to cardboard the truck radiator. The idle temp reached down to about 90f and I couldn't even stay warm.

Reading through this thread really makes me appreciate more the weather in Dallas compared to Detroit where I grew up. I'll take the hot days in the summer over the cold days in the winter.

TurtlePerson2 wrote:

Reading through this thread really makes me appreciate more the weather in Dallas compared to Detroit where I grew up. I'll take the hot days in the summer over the cold days in the winter.

Hmm......question for the folks in the far south: Do mosquitoes and other insects stick around all year? The cold sucks, but it's nice to get a reprieve from annoying bugs.

The Egg wrote:

TurtlePerson2 wrote:

Reading through this thread really makes me appreciate more the weather in Dallas compared to Detroit where I grew up. I'll take the hot days in the summer over the cold days in the winter.

Hmm......question for the folks in the far south: Do mosquitoes and other insects stick around all year? The cold sucks, but it's nice to get a reprieve from annoying bugs.

I'm not currently in what most would describe as the South, but I have lived in the South and no they don't stick around all year. I mean, it's 40F in Dallas right now and it's getting down to ~freezing at night. That's too cold for mosquitoes.

DancinJack wrote:

The Egg wrote:

Hmm......question for the folks in the far south: Do mosquitoes and other insects stick around all year? The cold sucks, but it's nice to get a reprieve from annoying bugs.

I'm not currently in what most would describe as the South, but I have lived in the South and no they don't stick around all year. I mean, it's 40F in Dallas right now and it's getting down to ~freezing at night. That's too cold for mosquitoes.

How about like Houston, Miami, San Diego?

The Egg wrote:

How about like Houston, Miami, San Diego?

Houston isn't that far off from DFW as far as winter weather goes (generally), but you'll have to consult someone else on the others. Guessing San Diego isn't bad regardless of season.

The Egg wrote:

TurtlePerson2 wrote:

Reading through this thread really makes me appreciate more the weather in Dallas compared to Detroit where I grew up. I'll take the hot days in the summer over the cold days in the winter.

Hmm......question for the folks in the far south: Do mosquitoes and other insects stick around all year? The cold sucks, but it's nice to get a reprieve from annoying bugs.

I killed at least theee mosquitoes last night. It definitely lightens. The problem is that when we don’t get a good freeze, they never die off, so they are bead in early spring. If we get a freeze, they are staved off for a few more months.

My commute started out at 30 F and dropped to the mid 20s as I drove inland at sunrise. There’s a reasonable chance that we may not get a much colder low this season.

-4F as I sit here this moment while girding up for today's attack on the snow piles. Thankfully the Green Beastie (coupled to a 54" snowblower) does all the work for me. I just try not to freeze. One must also pay close attention to the prevailing wind direction/speed.

Long week, but no need for details apart from my wife hit a deer with her 'Ru, so we now have an Elantra with all-season tires as a rental. They may as well be bald. It was -6 this morning and the driveway was all drifted in. Had do plow with my ATV to get stones up for traction. I got the Elantra down... decided the roads were too risky for that POS, tried to get back up and couldn't. Had to dig up the driveway more... finally got it back up.

We are busy giving the rental car place crap for giving us a southern car with wiper fluid the froze solid.

It looks like the Alaskan tundra outside right now. Yuck. Too cold to ski even.

liquidsquid wrote:

We are busy giving the rental car place crap for giving us a southern car with wiper fluid the froze solid.

Hey, I remember that. The '05 CRV we picked up a few years back was previously registered in Scottsdale. We bought it in Colorado in December. First thing I discovered after the next storm came along was that the rear sprayer didn't work. First temperate day to come along, it worked again. Flushed the the line with -20F rated fluid and no problems since.