Meteorologist's dire warning as arctic bomb to blast up to 20 INCHES of snow across bulk of America:

[libertybele]

High 69F. [/b] Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Sunday Night
Low 32°F

Huge swing.  Me no like!

Down south here we were at 34 the other night - just above freezing with enough wind to knock over my golden dewdrop tree.

I don't like it either, but better than a cane.  Much better.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

As the days go by  our snow totals keep upping... figures. 

[libertybele]

For y'all up their in the Snow and Ice Cone of uncertainty, I hear the stores are sold out of toilet paper.

.... and paper towels ....

[libertybele]

2" of ice is practically impossible. (puts meteorologist hat on)

In order to get ice (freezing rain), you have to have a very specific atmospheric setup: a narrow layer of below-freezing air at the surface, another layer of warmer than freezing air above that, and an overall atmosphere that is conducive to convection to wring the water vapor out of the atmosphere. That kind of setup is inherently unstable. For one, when water freezes, it releases latent heat into the atmosphere around it. Dump a substantial amount of freezing rain into that shallow layer and it eventually warms up enough that it reaches equilibrium. Not to mention the sheer amount of liquid coming down pushes and mixes the air around it.

Thanks for the info @jmyrlefuller

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Sometime in the 2000's NH had a nasty ice storm, people lost power for like weeks and weeks and weeks.

[jmyrlefuller]

The other thing is that a lot of the forecast models we use don't always handle all of the physics scenarios and have to simplify some of the calculations. That especially comes into play when there's a complex system like this where just a little bit of a difference in any direction can change the outcome drastically. This storm we're talking about is still a few days out. From my experience forecasting, and admittedly it's been a few years since I've done this regularly, that 4-6 day window is notorious for being imprecise.

The data I am looking at does indeed look like this could be a significant ice storm generally along the mid-South. That time frame is only now starting to come into range of the shorter-range models (out 2-3 days). which generally have higher resolution and handle the complex physics better.

The other caveat, though, is that, well, this is the south we're talking about. The ground is inherently warm, and that below-freezing layer you need for freezing rain usually happens when the air has already been below freezing for at least a few days and the ground is frozen. We don't have that scenario here. So if there is an ice storm, it's more likely to be in the form of graupel or sleet pellets that freeze in the air.

[240B]

Checked on my CB radio, my battery backup power, my portable TV with antenna, and my multiband survival radio.
I have more food and general supplies than I could use in a year. All set, just counting down to the blackout.

[Sighlass]

2" of ice is practically impossible. (puts meteorologist hat on)

In order to get ice (freezing rain), you have to have a very specific atmospheric setup: a narrow layer of below-freezing air at the surface, another layer of warmer than freezing air above that, and an overall atmosphere that is conducive to convection to wring the water vapor out of the atmosphere. That kind of setup is inherently unstable. For one, when water freezes, it releases latent heat into the atmosphere around it. Dump a substantial amount of freezing rain into that shallow layer and it eventually warms up enough that it reaches equilibrium. Not to mention the sheer amount of liquid coming down pushes and mixes the air around it.

Thanks @jmyrlefuller ... some models now saying this is moving Northward and less chance for us... as much as I hate to admit it @Hoodat may have the last laugh saying this would happen, while I dug in with my screaming chicken act.

Just in case, I filled up 5 gallons of kerosene for backup and another load of wood. Kerosene was 7.00 a freaking gallon. Store gallons were $10.00 a gallon and most 3 places for kerosene were sold out.

[berdie]

I will not lie. I get severe anxiety with these forecasts. Icemegdon '21 left me with PTSD.  That kinda causes me to be angry. lol. AND double up on my BP meds.

I almost want to leave and go to Fla or Cali for a week or so. But I can't leave my house. The pipes might freeze and flood the house. I've done all I can to prepare. The propane delivery did not arrive (another BP pill). The lady at the company tells me not to worry...they will be here before the freeze.

I really hate getting old and worrisome and what if? in my imagination.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Checked on my CB radio, my battery backup power, my portable TV with antenna, and my multiband survival radio.
I have more food and general supplies than I could use in a year. All set, just counting down to the blackout.

Good choice for the radios, cb, satphones, various FM (FRS) mode and Ham radio band radios are good. One thing I don't have is a generator... i've never needed one.

[libertybele]

I will not lie. I get severe anxiety with these forecasts. Icemegdon '21 left me with PTSD.  That kinda causes me to be angry. lol. AND double up on my BP meds.

I almost want to leave and go to Fla or Cali for a week or so. But I can't leave my house. The pipes might freeze and flood the house. I've done all I can to prepare. The propane delivery did not arrive (another BP pill). The lady at the company tells me not to worry...they will be here before the freeze.

I really hate getting old and worrisome and what if? in my imagination.

I'm the same way @berdie -- I worry -- relying on what someone tells me, leaves me unsettled.  You can always wrap your pipes (Home Depot or Lowes sell foam wraps for pipes) -- I did it here a couple of years ago when we got a freeze. ... or you can let your water trickle so that pipes don't freeze ....

You've done all you can to prepare -- pat yourself on the back and indulge in something you've been craving. 

Nah, you may be getting older, but I'd say wiser as well.

P.S. Praying that you get your propane delivery in time  (Think positive)!

[libertybele]

Checked on my CB radio, my battery backup power, my portable TV with antenna, and my multiband survival radio.
I have more food and general supplies than I could use in a year. All set, just counting down to the blackout.

 

[240B]

Panic buying frenzy empties stores ahead of 'worst winter storm ever' that could make trees EXPLODE

Daily Mail
By JOE HUTCHISON
21 January 2026

Panic buyers have begun to strip the shelves of grocery stores as a historic storm forecast to be the coldest in American history barrels down on 200 million people.

Storm Fern is forecast to bring temperatures of -50f and up to 24 inches of snow to much of the United States from Friday - and many of those in its path are stocking up.

Megan Monroe-Eaves shared footage online of her local Walmart in Cullman, Alabama, which had its dairy section raided prior to her arrival.

A long row of largely empty fridges in the supermarket were seen in the video, which she captioned: 'My local Walmart because someone mentioned snow and ice.

'Time for milk sandwiches. I'll never understand panic buying, please tell me this is just a south thing.'

Another woman, known online as Jen George, posted a video outside of a grocery store in North Texas and explained how panic buyers were out in force on Monday.

She said: 'It's Monday and people are out there packing there carts out already, and I'm thinking lets keep some for us and other people.

'They're going crazy, and I understand because of the past and things that have happened, but we know here in North Texas that the weather can change like that.

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15485091/Frenzied-panic-buying-winter-storm-trees-EXPLODE.html

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Worst winter storm ever'?

This is just news cycle trying to stay to stay relavent, and to backup tje climate kooks.

[DCPatriot]

Worst winter storm ever'?

This is just news cycle trying to stay to stay relevant, and to backup the climate kooks.

Totally agree! 

Still going to Wegman's tomorrow though...before these schmucks clean out the WHOLE milk.   

[240B]

I should buy a pallet of toilet paper. According to Americans, the most important survival item you can have in ANY emergency is lot of toilet paper. LOL!



I wonder what they did with all of it? Funny stuff. I never understood it.

[240B]

Good choice for the radios, cb, satphones, various FM (FRS) mode and Ham radio band radios are good. One thing I don't have is a generator... i've never needed one.

The radio has all the emergency bands for government weather updates and news. It is a blessing because it breaks the silence and makes us feel 'connected'.

I am very lucky to have a gas stove. No matter what happens, I don't have to worry about heat or cooking.

[roamer_1]

I will not lie. I get severe anxiety with these forecasts. Icemegdon '21 left me with PTSD.  That kinda causes me to be angry. lol. AND double up on my BP meds.

I almost want to leave and go to Fla or Cali for a week or so. But I can't leave my house. The pipes might freeze and flood the house. I've done all I can to prepare. The propane delivery did not arrive (another BP pill). The lady at the company tells me not to worry...they will be here before the freeze.

I really hate getting old and worrisome and what if? in my imagination.

Worst case, shut off your water and open every spigot, including any hose bibs That leaves your hot water heater, and little else. You can shut off and drain your hot water heater too, but that can get a little technical. After that, pour a dollop of Rv antifreeze down all your drains and toilets.

Fixed.

Now you have to live out of bottled water and throw it out in the yard till the storm passes.

A composting camp toilet (wood shavings and a 5 gal bucket), and a big ol wad of down comforters, a couple bags of Snickers Fun Size, a camp stove, and some Chef Boyardee Ravioli, and the big Little Buddy propane heater, and you're all set. Handywipes for an alcohol bath if it is looking like more than a week...

You'll be fine. 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

It got down to -15 a few years ago, no frozen pipes but my old well quit working, we dug out a new well with a submersible pump, was a good opportunity for the upgrade. Here in NH they run all the pipes through the middle of the house by code I think. If you have a shower spigot on an outer wall it's suscetible. No reason for that IMO.

[Smokin Joe]

If the forecasts are even partially right, this is NOT just winter weather, the same way a hurricane is NOT just another rainstorm. 
ALL the forecasts are predicting dangerous weather on the way.

In North Dakota, winter is always dangerous. Expecting nighttime temps of near 30 below for a couple of days. They used to be fairly common. Dress for the weather, drive patiently, and I already have the vehicle (block heater) plugged in.

[240B]

State of emergency declared in multiple states as blizzard threatens to blanket 30 states and 200 million people brace for coldest storm EVER

Daily Mail
By MELISSA KOENIG
22 January 2026

A state of emergency was declared in several states ahead of a massive winter storm that could bring more than a foot of snow to much of the country.

More than 200 million people across parts of 30 states now face winter storm warnings from Friday through Sunday.

Meteorologists were expected to issue more within the next couple of days and upgrade some to winter storm warnings as the storm approaches.

When the blizzard hits, temperatures are expected to plunge as much as 30 degrees below normal in the Dakotas and Michigan, with the wind chill falling between 35 and 50 degrees below zero in some parts, according to the Weather Channel.

The National Weather Service now warns that 'nearly everyone east of the Rockies' will see some effect from the snow, ice or cold from Friday into early next week.

A state of emergency is now in effect in South Carolina, allowing state officials to mobilize resources, activate the National Guard and coordinate response efforts, and in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott activated the state emergency response resources on Tuesday to prepare for the storm.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein also declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, telling residents: 'A winter storm is approaching and now is the time to prepare.'

'Please get ready. Get everything you need in advance of the storm and have a plan in case your power goes out,' he urged North Carolinians, encouraging them to 'stay home and off the roads this weekend unless absolutely necessary, so first responders can do their jobs safely and effectively.'

Maryland Governor Wes Moore made a similar plea to residents as he declared a 'State of Preparedness' to boost the state's response and collaborations for potential impacts from the storm.

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15486213/State-emergency-declared-winter-storm.html

[escapeefromtaxachusetts]

Was -4 degrees here in suburbs of PHilly yesterday and predictions are varied but likely 12 inches plus......

[mountaineer]

It will be 0 degrees here Saturday morning. By evening the snow will come: 6-10". *sigh*

Darn. Much as I wanted to get my surgery out of the way Monday, I've postponed it till Feb. 4. There's no way on earth we'd be able to negotiate the 1.1 miles to the main road, since our road won't be plowed till Monday at the very earliest.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

ChatGPT said 4-8 inches for me. Could be worse.

[mystery-ak]

ChatGPT said 4-8 inches for me. Could be worse.

Well our forecast changed...up to 3in Sat and another 3in Sun....I am sure it will change again..

[rustynail]

Will the coming 'Hell Storm' start the conversation about the pressing need for voting by internet?

[verga]

Needed some milk yesterday to make dinner. In Food Lion Milk and Bread were gone.

[Wingnut]

I should buy a pallet of toilet paper. According to Americans, the most important survival item you can have in ANY emergency is lot of toilet paper. LOL!



I wonder what they did with all of it? Funny stuff. I never understood it.

Sold it on ebay like they did when dumbasses horded hand sanitizer during the great Covid hoax of 2020.

[mountaineer]

A thorough examination:

https://twitter.com/ryanhallyall/status/2014337216814706989

[verga]

A thorough examination:

https://twitter.com/ryanhallyall/status/2014337216814706989

Yeah we are right in the path of it. Central Western Virginia

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

My wife's a snow removal machine, she had the entire driveway done before i got home this morning. She's just really into it for some reason.

[berdie]

I'm the same way @berdie -- I worry -- relying on what someone tells me, leaves me unsettled.  You can always wrap your pipes (Home Depot or Lowes sell foam wraps for pipes) -- I did it here a couple of years ago when we got a freeze. ... or you can let your water trickle so that pipes don't freeze ....

You've done all you can to prepare -- pat yourself on the back and indulge in something you've been craving. 

Nah, you may be getting older, but I'd say wiser as well.

P.S. Praying that you get your propane delivery in time  (Think positive)!

Propane delivered this morning! I had all the pipes wrapped in '21 after everything froze even with the water dripping. If the electricity stays on it will be o.k. And I don't run out of BP meds, lol.

[berdie]

Worst case, shut off your water and open every spigot, including any hose bibs That leaves your hot water heater, and little else. You can shut off and drain your hot water heater too, but that can get a little technical. After that, pour a dollop of Rv antifreeze down all your drains and toilets.

Fixed.

Now you have to live out of bottled water and throw it out in the yard till the storm passes.

A composting camp toilet (wood shavings and a 5 gal bucket), and a big ol wad of down comforters, a couple bags of Snickers Fun Size, a camp stove, and some Chef Boyardee Ravioli, and the big Little Buddy propane heater, and you're all set. Handywipes for an alcohol bath if it is looking like more than a week...

You'll be fine. 

Thanks for the encouragement. I absolutely could not live where you live. And I find it unfair that we have to have insanely hot summers and still have this in the winter.lol  I am the point of being tired of hearing about it and just want to get it over with!

[roamer_1]

Needed some milk yesterday to make dinner. In Food Lion Milk and Bread were gone.

Surprisingly, powdered milk is almost always available. Now, powdered milk is nigh on awful for drinking, but it works fine for cooking. Even mixed with ice cream to make a shake, you can't tell the difference.

You might consider keeping some around. And I will bet you money it's on the shelf right now.

[libertybele]

Surprisingly, powdered milk is almost always available. Now, powdered milk is nigh on awful for drinking, but it works fine for cooking. Even mixed with ice cream to make a shake, you can't tell the difference.

You might consider keeping some around. And I will bet you money it's on the shelf right now.

When we were raising our kids when they were young and we were low on money --  powdered milk was relatively cheap and that's what we used a lot. IMO not bad in taste if your drink it very cold. 

We have several 10# cans of powdered milk. It will do in a pinch for sure.

[libertybele]

Propane delivered this morning! I had all the pipes wrapped in '21 after everything froze even with the water dripping. If the electricity stays on it will be o.k. And I don't run out of BP meds, lol.

Yay for the propane delivery!  You'll be fine.   Think positive.

[roamer_1]

It got down to -15 a few years ago, no frozen pipes but my old well quit working, we dug out a new well with a submersible pump, was a good opportunity for the upgrade. Here in NH they run all the pipes through the middle of the house by code I think. If you have a shower spigot on an outer wall it's suscetible. No reason for that IMO.

It drives me crazy watching folks on the yootoobs... Down south, they run their pipes right through the attic... ABOVE the insulation. 

Muy malo dood. Then a deal like this comes along and they wonder why their pipes exploded and flooded their house. All that is prevented by putting the pipes INSIDE the heated, insulated space.

It ain't that hard. I live in an old cabin with 2x4 walls,. Now, I have a butt-ton of insulation in the ceiling, but them walls are always only gonna be R15. That ain't real good by today's standards.

But it'll go -30, and does so (or nearly so) all the time. When it gets that cold it takes some money to keep it heated, and the furnace is on nearly all the time - But the wood stove will still cook you outta here, and then the furnace never comes on.

My point being, it ain't that hard. ANY building code ought to allow forthe pipes to be inside the insulated space. That's a no-brainer anywhere you are.

[roamer_1]

In North Dakota, winter is always dangerous. Expecting nighttime temps of near 30 below for a couple of days. They used to be fairly common. Dress for the weather, drive patiently, and I already have the vehicle (block heater) plugged in.

We ain't gonna get ANY (grumble, grumble). It's nearly breakup and we have maybe 3" of crusted snow and ice. There should be 3-4' of standing snow down here in the valley by now.

We're gonna pay in fire this summer if we don't get some snowpack by march. 

[Free Vulcan]

Been hoping for a good freeze with no snow for the garden's sake. We are going to get it for sure.

Grandma was born in 1919, she said growing up they had not TP, so what they did was put a goodly amount of water in a bucket with some bleach and a washrag, and changed the water every day. Wasn't glamorous but it got it done.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Propane delivered this morning! I had all the pipes wrapped in '21 after everything froze even with the water dripping. If the electricity stays on it will be o.k. And I don't run out of BP meds, lol.

We had ours delivered about a month ago, still need to pay it actually, heh...

I don't understand why gas is so cheap but propane is expensive... one is a byproduct of the other AFAIK.

[roamer_1]

My wife's a snow removal machine, she had the entire driveway done before i got home this morning. She's just really into it for some reason.

I LOVE plowing snow. But of course, that's a plow on a pickup, and all my shovels have motors. It's about 6 swipes with the pickup and I am all plowed out - I can even get the plow right up to the front and back doors. I seldom would use a shovel.

[roamer_1]

Thanks for the encouragement. I absolutely could not live where you live. And I find it unfair that we have to have insanely hot summers and still have this in the winter.lol  I am the point of being tired of hearing about it and just want to get it over with!

Yeah, you could live here. You and me would have a fine ol time. But I get it. Desert folks would rather face the heat. I'm a son of the mountains, and cold is in my very bones. The desert would dry me right up. I would be nothing but gristle and jerky. 

I imagine down there by you, when it gets so Gawd-awful hot, y'all know how to hunker down, and probably not go out till it passes...

Cold is the same thing. If you're geared right you can go out in it with no problem. But most folks just hunker down. Wait it out. That's why we all are still pantry oriented. I could very literally not go out of the house all winter, if need be.

You just plan ahead. a pantry that'll keep you at least months, maybe years... 4-6 cord of wood in the wood shed, A big ol jenny, just in case, and it'll all be fine.

[Polly Ticks]

All of the local guys are now saying 12+ inches here.  Lovely.

[roamer_1]

When we were raising our kids when they were young and we were low on money --  powdered milk was relatively cheap and that's what we used a lot. IMO not bad in taste if your drink it very cold. 

We have several 10# cans of powdered milk. It will do in a pinch for sure.

Yeah, same. I was pretty much raised on raw milk, even before we got our own cows. But when things were tight, you could always tell, because Mamma cut the raw with powdered (50/50) to stretch it out.

But that was damn hard times.I am sure she used the powdered for cooking long before she resorted to cutting the drinking milk. It's there in her recipes - she has a notation for how much powdered to use alongside the regular milk amount. She had it all figured out.

I still do that too - Might be just as easy to reach for the powdered for some things.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

When we were raising our kids when they were young and we were low on money --  powdered milk was relatively cheap and that's what we used a lot. IMO not bad in taste if your drink it very cold. 

We have several 10# cans of powdered milk. It will do in a pinch for sure.

Milk is cheap though, i can buy 1/2 gallon from Target for under $3. Powdered beef... now there's something they need to invent. That shit is expensive.

[corbe]

   I have limestone blocks stacked in the (true) 2X6 walls throughout my 100+ year old house, RF factor is dubious.
   But I have an old 40K BTU gas Dearborn heater in the living room which I will move into this weekend.

[Hoodat]

Yeah we are right in the path of it. Central Western Virginia

Your county borders WV.  With the way things are going down in Richmond these days, be grateful.  I can see everything west of the Blue Ridge switching states.

[verga]

Surprisingly, powdered milk is almost always available. Now, powdered milk is nigh on awful for drinking, but it works fine for cooking. Even mixed with ice cream to make a shake, you can't tell the difference.

You might consider keeping some around. And I will bet you money it's on the shelf right now.

When I was a kid we used to get our milk delivered. In Buffalo occasionally the trucks could not get through. Mom kept a carton of the powered milk in the cabinet. I seem to remember  it as being read and white, might have been Carnation. It didn't taste all that good.

[DefiantMassRINO]

There's shelf-stable milk ... extra pasturized ... usually located near the powdered milk ... I've seen it being used on one of ship cruises.

Yeah, it will be cold this weekend.  There may also may be snow.  Not unprecedented.  Ice and flooding are worse.

[verga]

Your county borders WV.  With the way things are going down in Richmond these days, be grateful.  I can see everything west of the Blue Ridge switching states.

@Hoodat Hey don't tease me or threaten me with a good time.