Now We're Naming Snow Storms?

[cruisin]

Well, the NE is going to get hit again. But, the media is loosing it. Now we're naming snow storms? Snow storm Nemo? The coverage is 24/7! Storm of the century! Predicting 12" to 18" worst case scenarios. I remember 36" about 10 years ago, how soon they forget. And this can't be worse than the Halloween storm last year, that was about 10" - 12". At least it's February and the leaves are off the trees. Ran to the grocery store for bread, this morning, you'd think we were expecting to be house bound for weeks. Did cancel my hair appointment for this afternoon. I wouldn't get home until 3:30 and my driveway is very steep and slippery with even 1" of snow. So, not scraping the sides of my car on the rock walls lining the driveway warrant waiting until Tuesday for my haircut/color.

I do feel for the victims of Sandy, who are still homeless, however. This is weather insult on top of insult. Even though the most effected are those in the shore areas, and there will not be much snow there, there will be rain and potential flooding. Everyone stay safe and warm.

[Skittl1321]

Apparently the naming of snowstorms makes it easier to track them both now and for history. When we call everything "the Christmas Blizzard" and "Snowmageddon" it makes it hard to reference later. In the current time, it makes it easier for people to listen to forecasts, because they know the difference between "Nemo" (what you guys are getting) and "we're expecting some snow" (what we are getting). It also increases awareness as they track progress across the country and predictions change (like tropical storm and hurricane categories)

Quite honestly, I'm happy to have winter storm names just so the stations stop calling every bit of snow "Snowmageddon"- man that was getting darn annoying, now the name changes every time.

(Apparently The Weather Channel is doing the naming, and the national weather service doesn't like it though!)

[danceronice]

My dad's theory: They didn't get enough big hurricane names this year so they have to do something.

It's silly. You could just call it 'the blizzard of '79' or equivalent, or just accept it's called LIVING WHERE IT SNOWS. I mean, Boston gets two feet of snow? Been there, done that, at least this time Mumbles & Co got a clue and cancelled stuff in advance instead of recommending people leave work at 2 for a storm hitting at 3 so the roads would be completely packed and the plows couldn't get through, trapping people in the streets and on the freeways for hours. (I took one look at 95 and chugged home slowly on the side streets in my front-wheel drive, with no problems until I got stuck in my own driveway. A twenty-minute drive took two and a half hours, but I was luckier than my coworkers, one of whom got stranded less than a block from work and another got stuck on the freeway.)

Though it gave me a giggle when someone on the radio mispronounced Mumbles's last name as "Merino" (as in the sheep) instead of "Menino."

I understand a little freaking out by places that normally don't get snow (it IS a big deal if you're Atlanta and only have two snowplows for a major metropolis) but for areas that SHOULD grasp winter can mean HUGE snow, sheesh. It's like building in a flood plain and being surprised when you get wet. I live east of Lake Michigan, I'm going to get buried at least once per winter, it just happens.

[Skittl1321]

I just read an article that said "well, twitter needs a hashtag".

'the blizzard of '79'

Can't really do that. Part of 'living where it snows' is that there is usually at least 2 major storms, and quite a few minor ones...

[cruisin]

But 6" to 12" of snow is not a big deal here. It happens in the NE. We have plows. We pre-brine/saline the streets. My biggest issue is the driveway, but I have plenty of salt for after the plow comes.

[znachki]

(Apparently The Weather Channel is doing the naming, and the national weather service doesn't like it though!)

Oh yeah the NWS is not at all happy about it. As a government agency, they say it's up to them to do this sort of thing. What storm is considered noteworthy? They had a big blizzard move through the midwest a couple of months ago, but it didn't get named. On an objective scale it should have been, but because it's the Midwest, it didn't get named. According to many, it's more media than public safety.

Used to be, they'd certainly get named locally, but there was never a national name. I mean if I say "The Columbus Day Storm", most everyone in the Northwest knows what I'm talking about, but the rest of you probably wouldn't.

[Bostonfan]

It's the world we live in now. 24/7 news coverage, package and label it. Whatever. Snow storms are ho-hum for most of us in this area (although I still shake my head at the surge in milk and bread sales - and wine). Been there, done that is right. The real concern is wind (and icing, which isn't predicted for this storm) because lately power outages can go on for days. But large snow totals - that's part of living in the North. The days of being snowed in for days hasn't been around in many years. We've got plowing streets down to a science up here.

What's fun is when the rare snow storm happens further South in areas that shut down over an inch of snow because it's such a rare occurrence.

[Cherub721]

But 6" to 12" of snow is not a big deal here. It happens in the NE. We have plows. We pre-brine/saline the streets. My biggest issue is the driveway, but I have plenty of salt for after the plow comes.

The big deal with this one (at least in Long Island) is they are telling us to expect power outages a la Sandy that could last up to 24 hours. Some people are without power already! There's a possibility of gas shortages too... a lot of people are filling up the tanks and some stations are already running out of fuel.

[Aaron W]

It's only The Weather Channel assigning "official" names to winter storms. It's a ratings ploy. Just about any legitimate "scientific" meteorologist, is refusing to follow The Weather Channel (though I know they have some decent ones there, but they've probably been swept up by ratings demands too). Winter storms are completely different from tropical cyclones.

[Stormy]

My aunt just texted me and told me my town in MA is ground zero for the storm and we will get over 30 inches. I knew about the 30+ but ground zero?! LOL.

Danceronice, I remember that storm a few years back. We got stranded at our work until after 10 PM. Our office was up on a hill, and you go down the hill, take a left and then the highway was right there. The highway was so backed up that the hill got backed up all the way to the top. You literally could not leave the building since there was no place to go. It was nuts.

[Skittl1321]

I keep reading articles that says Europe has been naming weather systems for years, so the winter storm thing wouldn't be unusual there. I wonder if someone from Europe could comment on how that works.

[cruisin]

The big deal with this one (at least in Long Island) is they are telling us to expect power outages a la Sandy that could last up to 24 hours. Some people are without power already! There's a possibility of gas shortages too... a lot of people are filling up the tanks and some stations are already running out of fuel.

The problem is that is the media. They sensationalize everything. No big news, they create it. That said, I certainly hope that you don't lose power al la Sandy. Even for 24 hours, it' cold out! Last year, after the Halloween storm it was freezing, and no power for a week! As I said above, the people I worry most for, are the ones who are still without homes from Sandy. People around here were on long lines at gas stations yesterday. Where will they be going if we get a lot of show?

[Aimless]

It occurred to me yesterday that after the gas shortages following Hurricane Sandy, every major weather event on Long Island is going to trigger panic gas lines. A word to the wise (I'm excluded from that company--ten minutes wait this morning) to fill up *before* the day before.

The grocery store sold out of split peas because people are thinking soup. Lots of paper plates going out the door too, in case we lose power. Remember to grind some coffee if you need to! I forgot about that during Sandy and had to scrounge for ground coffee at Dunkin.

I'll be happily hunkering. Hope we don't lose power. At least I have firewood and am better prepared for outages after the Sandy experience. Have battery powered lights so I can read. Let's report on our status and experience m'kay? Love to you all.

[Karina1974]

I mean if I say "The Columbus Day Storm", most everyone in the Northwest knows what I'm talking about, but the rest of you probably wouldn't.

Yup... October 1987... I remember it well. Also the storms of March 1993, Christmas 2002, and December 26 2010 are a couple other ones that stand out for me, personally. Also the ice storm of February 2006, which almost caused the cancellation of a very popular music/dance folk festival I attend. Only year the association that organizes it ever lost money on that festival, but it still went on.

And as someone who has lived in upstate NY all my life (and comes from Scandinavian roots), I think it is plain idiotic that ANYONE in this region would spritz out over a routine winter storm. Make the preparations, take the necessary precautions, but DO NOT blow it out of proportion!! This isn't Irene or Sandy, snowstorms and blizzards are normal for this part of the country.

[cruisin]

Just did my 3 mile walk. And yes, I am that crazy . About 3", plows have not come through, very heavy and wet snow.

[Karina1974]

Just did my 3 mile walk. And yes, I am that crazy . About 3", plows have not come through, very heavy and wet snow.

I'm up in the Albany, NY area and we've only gotten a dusting so far, just enough to cover the ground. They *say* we're supposed to get the brunt of it in the later afternoon and the overnight. We'll see. I left my car at home and took the bus to work today. That's another sign of people's stupidity - forgetting all too quickly how to drive in snowy weather, and I don't have the time or patience to deal with fenderbenders when I live just off of, and work on, the bus line.

[Sofia Alexandra]

I keep reading articles that says Europe has been naming weather systems for years, so the winter storm thing wouldn't be unusual there. I wonder if someone from Europe could comment on how that works.

I can't really say how it works in the rest of Europe, but here in Sweden we don't name snow storms. More or less severe snowfall happens every winter, and sometimes the east coast gets "snow cannons", which is yer olde lake-effect snow, but not even the one that hit Gävle with 140 cm (~4.6 feet) of snow in '98 got a name.

There is, however, another type of winter storm that hits the western parts of Europe from time to time, and that's the windstorms. They get different names in different countries, and sometimes they're only named by the country that'll be the most affected by it. Windstorms are referred to by the date of their arrival by the Swedish meteorological institute, but they're given names by the Norwegians, and those names are often picked up by Swedish media. Just about everyone in Sweden will know which storm you're talking about when you say Gudrun, for example.

[znachki]

Yup... October 1987... .

Should've said Pacific Northwest... Columbus Day 1962 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day_Storm_of_1962

Still one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the US

But, this only points up what I'm talking about. I didn't know about your storm, you didn't know about mine.

[Wiery]

I'm definitely a little tired of hearing "Could be the worst storm ever..."


And yes, our city does shut down for one inch of snow. The kids love it...

[vesperholly]

Lots of paper plates going out the door too, in case we lose power.

Whaaa? My power went out a few months ago, and I could still wash dishes.

My workplace freaked last night and moved all our deadlines back two hours. When I left work at 12:30 am, the roads were bone dry. I'm in Buffalo - 6-12 inches is not a major storm by any stretch of the imagination.