The Crippling Blizzard of '16

[Crankin]

I'd say about 80% of the drivers around here have AWD or 4WD cars. I can't imagine living in a snowy climate without it. Of course, it doesn't help you stop (I also have super duper snow tires), but I couldn't drive up my street without it, let alone my driveway.
I learned to drive in the snow when I was 37. Enough said. I hate driving to begin with, so this was not a piece of cake for me. Obviously, most people don't need AWD in DC or the south, but to me, it is a necessity.

[Pax]

I like the rum idea. Do your work reading, enjoy a trainer ride, then settle in with a movie and a nice rum drink. Leave the snow and related issues to the neighbors and use you time to relax.

[Eden]

I dunno… where I grew up one or two good snows a year were not unexpected and the city didn't plow - just salt on the streets. It was totally an unwritten rule that you didn't park in a space in front of someone else's house that they'd shoveled out…(in many places there were few driveways). It's very nice of you to shovel other people's spaces, especially if they are able to do it themselves.

Out here there are few heavy snows in the lowlands - once every few years maybe, and mostly people just stay put, as they have little idea of how to drive in it, and even if you do have AWD, the city doesn't have the equipment to clear snow, the streets are steep and can get very icy and AWD doesn't help a person stop… We do have an ordinance that requires people to clear their sidewalks, but few people even own a snow shovel out here.

[ZoneFive]

From what I've been hearing, the bands of heavy snow are expanding northwards so your parents might very well be getting more snow than expected, too. We've got a weather radio that charges with a crank, so we've been able to keep aware of the outside world in snowstorms when the power's gone out -- that was very helpful the last two winters! I wish you full power and heat the whole time, and nice people to talk to when you go out to shovel!

[Catrin]

All of you in the path of the storm need weather-proofing, as follows:

1 cup strong peppermint tea
tablespoon Trader Joe's peppermint hot chocolate
dollop half and half cream
1.5 ounces Kraken Rum

There, you are now warm from the inside out You're welcome

Seriously, stay safe all of you! I STILL remember the blizzard/ice storm of 1993...

[OakLeaf]

Be safe, all.

[emily_in_nc]

Hope everyone in the storm's path will be okay. It really looks like a doozy. I called my mom in western NC today, and they'd only had 4" but more was supposed to wrap in behind it, so we'll see what she ends up with.

We had more blustery wind and heavy rain bands move through Florida today yet again, another El Nino storm, and there was a tornado warning near New Smyrna Beach. Pax, are you okay? I hope you didn't have any problems. We dodged a bullet yet again west of Orlando, but they say another one of these storms is due to come through next Wed/Thurs. Scary when I see the tornado aftermath videos and photos of Cape Coral and Ft. Myers in SW Florida, right where my g-parents used to live.