Arctic dipping south

[Kathi]

We woke up to 10" of snow this morning. Schools are closed but it's the first time in 3 years. East bound I-70 is closed over Vail Pass as is Loveland Pass. Predictions are for heavy snow all day today until 5 am tomorrow. The radio announcer is giving snow depth reports for the ski areas and he's saying this is the "good news". 1-2 feet is expected by tomorrow.

Yes, we're used to it here and CDOT does an awesome job of keeping the roads clear. However, there's only so much they can do with the blowing, drifting snow on these passes. Usually, the passes are closed due to accidents and all truckers are required to use chains and are fined if they don't have them. The problem is when the passes are closed there is no alternative around them so motorists are stuck on the highway or in the few small towns.

Since winters have become so mild most Americans have forgotten what winter is like. I heard somewhere that in the past it's common to have winter's like this about every 10 years. That hasn't happened for awhile though. I lived in Cincinnati in the late 70's when the Ohio river froze and people could walk across it into Ky. I was a teacher and schools were closed for 2 weeks. I don't remember how much snow we had but a couple of Mormon kids from Utah helped me dig the car out. The main street near our house was frozen solid and I walked down the middle of it (actually slide down). I remember driving back from Michigan to Cincinnati at Christmas through snowstorms in Indiana. The worst was the ice storms, pretty but dangerous. We always had our snow days until the 90's. Then it got so we were lucky if we got 1 day off.

Enough for now, I'm going skiing. It's a powder day!

[ny biker]

We're coming out of the deep freeze here in the DC area. Last night was another very cold night, but today temps are expected to go above freezing and the next few days after today should reach the mid-high 40s at least. I think next week we'll be below average again but not below 20 at night. This morning I reprogrammed the thermostat back to the normal settings.

I'm hoping to go for a bike ride on Saturday. I'm a bit worried about all the salt on the roads -- some roads are so white right now that you can't see the lines on them. I'm wondering if it might make sense to put the fenders on my bike until after we get enough rain to clear away the salt.

[Catrin]

It is getting above freezing today, Yayyyyyyyy! Rain on Saturday!!!!

Possible HUGE winter storm next week, I've heard possibly 20-30 inches of snow. Local stations are actually not speculating on storm amount or track, they say it is "too early for a responsible forecast". That tells me there is a real possibility for a quite severe storm....hopefully not. I've never heard them say that before. The polar vortex is drunk and needs to go back home!

[ny biker]

It is getting above freezing today, Yayyyyyyyy! Rain on Saturday!!!!

Possible HUGE winter storm next week, I've heard possibly 20-30 inches of snow. Local stations are actually not speculating on storm amount or track, they say it is "too early for a responsible forecast". That tells me there is a real possibility for a quite severe storm....hopefully not. I've never heard them say that before. The polar vortex is drunk and needs to go back home!

Is this forecast for Feb 7-8? I'm reading that some are forecasting a blizzard for us on Feb 8, even though it's way too far off to be able to forecast anything accurately at this point.

In the northeast we often do see snow in mid-February, sometimes significant, sometimes not. But there's no point in worrying about that now.

[Kathi]

We skied in 22" of snow today. Still coming down, another foot predicted. Not many people were discouraged with the weather the parking lot was full.

[Crankin]

Thankfully, there is a prediction of "several inches" of fresh powder for the northern mountains in VT this weekend, which means there will be some snow for my trip on Feb. 12.
I haven't seen any predictions of a monster storm headed this way. I wouldn't mind it, though, especially since I won't be starting my new job full on until I get back from vacation.

[Catrin]

Thankfully, there is a prediction of "several inches" of fresh powder for the northern mountains in VT this weekend, which means there will be some snow for my trip on Feb. 12.
I haven't seen any predictions of a monster storm headed this way. I wouldn't mind it, though, especially since I won't be starting my new job full on until I get back from vacation.

I've heard different things since yesterday. Some say 6 inches in a couple of hours, some say more, but most of the local news forecasters aren't saying anything other than that we will have accumulation and that it is too early to tell how much. They don't usually mention it this far out, so we will see. Hopefully we will have a total miss!