Storm Warnings

Now that I think about it, I think "Storm Warnings" is the name of a book I thoroughly enjoyed!

This is our current weather:

Winter storm warning remains in effect until 7 am est wednesday,
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 7 am est wednesday.
Snow, heavy at times, will continue this evening, with some sleet mixed in at times. Snow amounts are expected to vary greatly across the region by late tonight. However, overall storm total accumulations of 4 to 6 inches can be expected in most areas. In addition, strong northeast winds gusting up to 30 mph will create additional hazards of blowing and drifting snow. The snow will come diminish to flurries late tonight.
A winter storm warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet, and ice are expected or occurring. Strong winds are also possible. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible.

They weren't kidding, either. I think the wind was going faster than I was. I met a former co-worker for dinner, and the sky was merely ominous with potential fury on the way there in rush traffic. Even in heavy traffic, I arrived ten minutes early, with the slow time of about 45 minutes to drive 20 miles.

On the way home, the snow, sleet, etc, were so bad I never got past 30 mph. Most of the trip was at 25 mph, and often I couldn't see where the road was. Luckily, traffic was light and I was familiar with the route. I did not see, in the hour it took me to get home, one police car or salt truck or any kind of snow/ice removal equipment.

A particular hazard of this kind of weather is when the ice from sleet starts to build up on the wipers, causing the wipers to merely smear the windshield, and obscuring the driver's view. If the defroster isn't kept pretty active, eventually ice will form on the entire front window. We trade warm feet for a safe view sometimes. Nights like tonight, even with the defroster on high it isn't very helpful. I had to stop at red lights and leave the wipers off for a while, then put them on high with the hopes that the ice would fly off. No sense in getting out to wipe the ice off - the roads were too icy to risk a fall, especially in that wind. I would have had to pull over on a side street and carefully take my time to clear off the wipers and the window, if necessary.

I am still trying to find out what our seasonal snowfall has been this year. It has to be at least double the norm. While March often brings some ice storms, it doesn't usually bring large snowfalls close together. This is getting really, really tiresome!

As I said last year, Mother Nature needs to stop hanging around with Old Man Winter and hook up with Mr Sunshine before we all freeze to death up here :P

The dogs are so sick of it that they are peeing on the driveway if there is any snow on it. I totally understand their position. It must be difficult to squat, balance and pee on uneven snow banks that are partly ice. I do not intend to do a personal test on the theory.