Adventure? Blizzard!

[Catrin]

Well, they say we are going to have a blizzard - but they didn't say that until I was already in East Tennessee with my family for Christmas. I drove home on Christmas day but we had a very nice Christmas Eve and I did all of the cooking. I enjoyed that! They say we are going to get 10-15 inches of snow tomorrow with white out conditions. My employer is closed outside of emergency personnel - and they NEVER close for the weather (I work for local/regional government). I am from the south, I don't have much experience with blizzards though I've lived much of my adult life in the midwest.

I thought that this would be a good place to start a thread for the storms that will be crossing the country - pictures, reports, or anything else related (or not)

This sign is about 2 miles down the interstate from my apartment - and I've NEVER seen this before!

15848

[indysteel]

You're not planning on trying to make it home tomorrow as you originally planned are you? If I were you, I'd plan on staying put.

[indysteel]

DH and I are about 20 minutes from home now, from visiting his parents in Kentucky. We plan to work from home tomorrow. Our biggest order of business is coaxing our outside cat (another of our strays) into our basement. I can't bear the thought of him outside in this.

[Catrin]

I came home from Tennessee today :( I did have a very nice Christmas Eve with them though - as short of a trip as it was. The City County Building is closed tomorrow outside of emergency personnel - and that NEVER happens. In the 11 years I've been there, this is only the second time it's been closed due to weather. Good luck with your outside kitty!

[indysteel]

Oh, good. I'm glad you're already home. Now just hunker down with a good book and a fire!

We coaxed the cat into the basement, but it took some effort. In the middle of that, Brian realized he left my keys in the ignition of my car. We hadn't driven it since Sunday, so the battery was dead. That's the car with snow tires, so he had to jump it and is currently driving it around town. What a day!

[Crankin]

No adventure yet, but it sounds like you are having a real snow day. The storm is predicted to get here tonight, so I am seeing clients today. We are right on the edge of the area that is going to be 8+ inches of snow and the area that is going to have the snow turn to rain, freezing rain. Either way, 50 mph winds are predicted, too. I don't have to be anywhere until noon tomorrow, and it'a group supervision meeting, that I really need for my hours, but believe me, I will stay home if needed. I've already warned the 2 clients I have tomorrow that I may have to reschedule.
But... I just got an email from Windblown X Country Ski area, which is my favorite local (an hour away) ski area. They are predicting up to 14 inches there, so I know what I will be doing this weekend!!

[Catrin]

They are talking about something called "Thunder Snow" today - this is all new to this southerner! Thunder and lightening with snow? I've spent about half of my adult life in the Midwest, but I can't remember an actual blizzard since the late '70's. They say we had one here in 2007 - and I was here then, but I don't remember it. I don't have to return to work until next Wed, so I am just going to kick back today. Read, clean, perhaps rearrange my apartment, watch the snow fall. Pity the Gunnar is on the shop for a tuneup or I would put it on the trainer but I've some body weight WODs to choose from that I can do at home. I DID have the bright idea of going out to my car and pulling up the windshield wipers so they won't be packed against the windshield with a ton of snow. I am VERY thankful I chose to drive home on Christmas rather than today as they are having their own storms at home today and tomorrow...

[skhill]

I was planning on driving up I75 to visit family in Ohio tomorrow, but I'm reconsidering. I'm not very confident about driving in snow after putting my car in a ditch once... Here in central KY it's wind and rain right now but it's supposed to change over to snow as the temperature drops. Hang in there everyone!

[indysteel]

Ugh; I have to start shoveling soon. I hate shoveling. We have a good ten inches here with some decent sized drifts. DH is here, too, so hopefully we can make quick work of it.

[Owlie]

I was going to head back up to Dayton today, but everything down here is covered in a layer of ice and it looks like Dayton got hit harder than we did. Hopefully it clears up tomorrow so I can head up there and feed the kitty.

[Trek-chick]

I am at work and thinking the drive home will be a nightmare. Here in MI we are not getting it as bad but, the first "real" snow we get always turns into a hot mess. People forget how to drive in the stuff, especially since we had such a mild winter last year :(

My 20 min. drive home will probably take 2 hours.

[OakLeaf]

Yikes. Be careful all. Friend of mine went home to Cincinnati for Christmas and is now stuck there for a few more days - and he has AWD - so judging by his decision I think staying off I-75 is a good idea.

[Catrin]

I wanted a fire this afternoon, so I prepared for one. Opened the flue and put kindling in before stepping outside for a few pieces of nice cherry wood. Came inside to wet soot that had fallen down the chimney - now this was a surprise as it was recently cleaned and I've only had a couple of fires this year. Started the kindling...and noted the smoke wasn't drawing. At all. Nada, zilch, like the damper/flue/whatever you call it wasn't open. It, however, was wide open. Apparently the chimney must be clogged with snow...so no fire. I hurriedly pulled the wood out before it caught and had to keep the patio door open for a bit to give the smoke from my kindling some place to go. Unsure what to do about this, I had hoped to have a couple of fires this weekend. Last weekend I had a great fire and there hasn't been any drawing problems at all - so it must be the snow...

[Crankin]

Snow has commenced