Winter Storm Hercules Forecast: First Snowstorm of 2014 Targets Midwest, Northeast

[mountaineer]

It's pretty darn awful in our neck of the woods. Rained like crazy last night when the temp was still in the 40s and upper 30s, then suddenly turned to snow. Meanwhile, the wind started howling at over 30 mph and the temperature dropped to the low 20s by 8 a.m. today. I thought we were going to lose the roof. So now the roads have a layer of ice topped with a few inches of snow and the temperature will be in single digits by this afternoon, with wind chills well below zero. No sighting of Manbearpig yet, but I'm super serial that I'll get out the rifle if I see him.

[happyg]

I'll take our foot of snow over your ice! Most places are closed today. I don't see anyone out shoveling the snow. It's just too darn cold and windy.

[musiclady]

We're half way in between mountaineer and happyg.

We had three or four hours of rain last night before the temps dropped to 32 at around midnight (which got rid of most of the snow on the ground), then appear to have gotten about 2-3 inches overnight with temps dropping like a rock and a LOT of wind.

Right now it's about two below zero here with winds in the 20 mph range, making the wind chill somewhere around 35 below.

All schools and universities closed, and the temps are dropping throughout the day.

It's WINTER, folks!   As long as you're inside, it's fun!   ^-^

[mountaineer]

Mr. M made it to work, but who knows what the roads will be like by this afternoon. I'm going to venture out and see if there's any point to shoveling the driveway. I suspect with the layer of ice underneath, the answer is negatory!

[musiclady]

Mr. M made it to work, but who knows what the roads will be like by this afternoon. I'm going to venture out and see if there's any point to shoveling the driveway. I suspect with the layer of ice underneath, the answer is negatory!

We have an uphill driveway, and the most adventurous I'm getting is trying to walk up the driveway to get the mail.

If I start sliding on ice, I may wait for Mr. Musiclady to get it on his way home.  Haven't talked with him since he got in to work, but he'll drive in anything!   

[mountaineer]

Despite the repeated efforts of social service workers to get him to go to a shelter, John Gaither stayed in his tent on Olive Street, powering his laptop from a nearby outlet as frigid temperatures moved into St. Louis on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014

[DCPatriot]

Despite the repeated efforts of social service workers to get him to go to a shelter, John Gaither stayed in his tent on Olive Street, powering his laptop from a nearby outlet as frigid temperatures moved into St. Louis on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014

A lot of homeless will NOT stay at a shelter for safety and health reasons....in addition to their own issues.  His laptop would be history when he fell asleep, for example.

[mountaineer]

It was -5 in St. Louis today. I hope he went inside somewhere.

[Rapunzel]

Polar Vortex 1, USA 0 MT: @ObservingSpace Purple in this #NOAA graphic have 90% chance of #freezing temp on Jan 7


  I'm not purple......

[musiclady]

I think we're DEEP purple.

-19 right now in my backyard.

That's..................chilly!   ^-^

[Rapunzel]

I think we're DEEP purple.

-19 right now in my backyard.

That's..................chilly!   ^-^

I do feel bad for all of you.  It's actually amazing to see this much of the nation in a deep freeze.

[alicewonders]

It's 2 degrees here right now, supposed to dip to -2 in a couple of hours with a wind chill of -20.  My brother has to work midnite shift tonight at the refinery where he works - has to go outside.  Prayers for those who have to work in this!

[DCPatriot]

Wouldn't it be something if we had a polar shift and now North Dakota is the North Pole?




......carry on!   

[DCPatriot]

[DCPatriot]

[mystery-ak]

Currently in Decatur

-6°Feels like -26°

[Rapunzel]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/01/06/watch-a-water-bottle-freeze-seconds-after-being-exposed-to-the-polar-vortex/

Watch a Water Bottle Freeze Seconds After Being Exposed to the ‘Polar Vortex’
Jan. 6, 2014 7:18pm Oliver Darcy

A video uploaded to the Internet Monday appears to show a bottle of water freeze within seconds amid brutally cold temperatures in Chicago.

According to the YouTube description, the video was shot in minus 13 degree conditions on Monday. At the time of publication, the video’s view counter was stuck at 301.

The bitter cold temperatures are part of the “Polar Vortex” which is currently sweeping across the Midwest and Northwest.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTYsohr5Z-I

[DCPatriot]

[happyg]

I baked a cake and sat it in the freezer in the garage, and it was cooled within a half hour. Right now, it's -12 and windy, and calling for more snow. We already had 14 inches.

My oldest son couldn't get to work today because he road was closed. My youngest son works at the refinery and has to spend a lot of time outside in this stuff. So far, all is well, in that the power is still on and Dominion hasn't run out of gas.

[DCPatriot]

I baked a cake and sat it in the freezer in the garage, and it was cooled within a half hour. Right now, it's -12 and windy, and calling for more snow. We already had 14 inches.

My oldest son couldn't get to work today because he road was closed. My youngest son works at the refinery and has to spend a lot of time outside in this stuff. So far, all is well, in that the power is still on and Dominion hasn't run out of gas.

Where are you, happyg?

[happyg]

Where are you, happyg?

Allen County (Lima) Ohio, about 60 miles north of Dayton and 75 miles south of Toledo off I75.

[DCPatriot]

Allen County (Lima) Ohio, about 60 miles north of Dayton and 75 miles south of Toledo off I75.

AH!  The Dayton Flyers!  LOL!

Was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. 

Now the rest of the country gets to know what we deal with every year.   (I hate the cold)

[musiclady]

It's 2 degrees here right now, supposed to dip to -2 in a couple of hours with a wind chill of -20.  My brother has to work midnite shift tonight at the refinery where he works - has to go outside.  Prayers for those who have to work in this!

Indeed!  Prayers for all who have to be outside, and for those who have lost power.

It's one thing to enjoy the bizarre, frigid weather from inside a warm house, but to be outside is downright dangerous.

btw, our thermometer is now registering -20!!!!!

For the middle of Ohio, that is COLD!

(And the wind is still howling out there!)

[happyg]

AH!  The Dayton Flyers!  LOL!

Was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. 

Now the rest of the country gets to know what we deal with every year.   (I hate the cold)

My son lives in Amsterdam, near Albany, so I got a good taste of Buffalo snow. Never again! The snow stuck to my headlights, and I couldn't see anything, and I couldn't pull over. A cop pulled me over, cleaned off my headlights, and guided me to the next exit where there was a motel. That is the last time I drove there in the winter.

[DCPatriot]

Indeed!  Prayers for all who have to be outside, and for those who have lost power.

It's one thing to enjoy the bizarre, frigid weather from inside a warm house, but to be outside is downright dangerous.

btw, our thermometer is now registering -20!!!!!

For the middle of Ohio, that is COLD!

(And the wind is still howling out there!)

As long as you have electricity/heat...we're all good!