February 21, 2008
Oh Noes! Another Winter Storm Warning
If you didn't have enough fun with slipping and falling on the ice last week, the National Weather Service has exciting news for you: another winter storm warning has been issued from 10 p.m. tonight through 10 p.m. Friday. Normally we don't like to leave all-caps in blockquotes, but given the apparent need for D.C.-style winter weather panic, capital letters seem somehow appropriate.
A STORM MOVING IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL BRING PRECIPITATION INTO THE COLD AIR ALREADY IN PLACE OVER THE REGION. THE RESULT WILL BE LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT...FOLLOWED BY FREEZING RAIN FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT.LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS TONIGHT... LIKELY CLOSE TO 10 PM. ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT. THE SNOW WILL CHANGE TO FREEZING RAIN EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.
THE FREEZING RAIN WILL BE ON AND OFF DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY AND INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. SIGNIFICANT ICING...AROUND A QUARTER OF AN INCH... IS EXPECTED.
So basically, it's going to be bumper cars on ice out there tomorrow. Go ahead and check with your employer now about coming in late or maybe even telecommuting to avoid the mayhem. It's worth a shot, at least.
Photo by Pianoman75
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WE"RE ALL GOING TO BE MILDLY INCONVENIENCED!!!
uh, hellos. I want my ms paint impending weather of doom and destruction graphic. thank you!
Yawn. It should be law that any weather reports like this are illegal in DC.
i think the correct expression is "O NOES!!111111"
Quick, to the Soviet Safeway to deplete their entire stock of eggs, bread, milk, and buttwipe!
So, true DCfist. Does inclement weather make everyone want to make french toast and poop a lot?
My office has already sent three e-mails concerning telecommunting, dialing into the network, call forwarding. I'm looking forward to coming into the office tomorrow and being left alone!
While I enjoy the semi-regular discussion of the DC area's inability to handle a teeny little snow storm as much as anyone, a quarter inch of ICE is another issue entirely. That measly little storm last week had me sliding down my front steps on my backside (which still sports a Texas-sized bruise) and considering that my steps had turned into a luge track, it's not like walking down them was an option.
I'm just sayin'. I'm prepared to sacrifice the joys of the office and work from home tomorrow in the interest of tootie preservation.
Does anyone know what are the conditions under which harmless water transmogrifies into deadly "ice" and what can be done to stop it?
Not just milk, but at least 2-3 GALLONS of milk.
Depends on how you classify "mildly inconvenienced".
I, too, scoffed at the ice storm that came through last week. Until I slipped on the sidewalk and fractured my elbow. I'm taking these warnings a bit more seriously now.
Having grown up in an area where snow, ice, et al are no big deal, a quarter-inch of ice is something to give pause. That's a serious storm.
I once drove to work after an ice storm. I have no idea why I did it - I hated that job!
(Snow is good because a car can get traction in it. Ice means no traction, something those idiots with their 4-wheel drive should remember.)
Does anyone know what are the conditions under which harmless water transmogrifies into deadly "ice" and what can be done to stop it?
It's some weird phenomena where rain clouds form in warmer air, while the air below is cold, so the rain freezes when it hits the ground. I suspect if we accelerate global warming we can avoid any future inconveniences.
I'm all in favor of fewer ice storms. I slipped and/or fell four times on the way home after last week's ice party. And the secretary of defense broke his shoulder. I guess that makes him one of the common folk.