thundersnow means at least twelve inches. They are already expecting 2-3 feet. I hope it's not even worse than that.

Snownado Time Machine .

poses, "thundersnow" sounds scary cool! I would love the experience, in a safe location, of course.

More than anything, I hope the homeless have warm shelter throughout.

Really awesome. Yes, I was awed.

getting worse out there..

Last edited Tue Jan 27, 2015, 01:27 AM - Edit history (1)

Memphis, Tennessee to Fayetteville, Arkansas, just before Christmas, in a 30-seat twin propeller plane. On the Memphis side of the front, the temperature was around 68 degrees. On the Fayetteville side, where it was snowing, the temperature was around 20 degrees. After about 20 minutes of bucking and shaking from the strong winds and frequently seeing lightning just outside the plane, we ended up turning around and going back to Memphis. At least the airline company was kind enough to put us up in a hotel for the night.

http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/01/26/bostons-blizzard-may-bring-some-thundersnow/

-snip-

There's a blizzard warning in effect for Boston from 7 p.m. Monday night to 1 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Snow accumulations of 20 to 30 inches are possible. There's potential for whiteout conditions with near-zero visibility at times with wind gusts as high as 65 to 75 mph. Hazardous, possibly life-threatening travel conditions are expected.

Another potential hazard: thundersnow. Yes, thundersnow. All you really need to know about this weather phenomenon is that it does in fact exist – and no one is more fascinated by it than the Weather Channel's Jim Cantore.

-snip-

the abominable snowman, forgot about him.

thundersnow.

And that became his name. We call him T'sno.

I hope he knows we might get some T'sno tonight

The Mother of All Convergence Zones

Posted on December 23, 2012

...Tuesday, Dec. 18, 1990, began on a relatively calm note in Seattle, with temperatures at the stroke of midnight resting in the low- to mid-40s under overcast skies. To the north, however, there was trouble brewing—with arctic air from Canada slowly sinking toward the Washington border.

As night turned to morning, the cold air began spilling into the state, dropping the temperature around Puget Sound into the upper 30s. Then, right around lunchtime, a powerful—and unpredicted—Puget Sound Convergence Zone formed near Lynnwood, and all hell broke loose...

Heavy, wet snow fell in droves as the Convergence Zone roared south into Seattle in the early afternoon, blanketing freeways and blinding motorists. Accompanied by howling northerly winds, the Zone peaked in intensity right over downtown—dumping a foot of snow in the heart of the city. As if that weren’t enough, lightning flashed overhead as peals of thunder boomed from the sky—treating stunned Seattleites to a spectacular display of thundersnow. (Thundersnow—thunder, lightning and snow, all rolled into one—also hit the region on Mar. 7, 2002 and Dec. 18, 2008, courtesy of the Convergence Zone.)

The Zone also spread its wrath to the other side of Lake Washington, dropping up to 14 inches of snow in places like Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond as the afternoon wore on. The heavy snow caught the entire region off guard—so much so that over a thousand children in the area, trapped at school when the storm hit, were forced to spend the night in their classrooms.

Eventually, the Zone began fizzling as it meandered south of Renton, bringing only 2.5 inches of snow to Sea-Tac Airport. In the wake of the blizzard, however, the mercury plummeted as cold Canadian air settled in. By 11 p.m., the temperature at Sea-Tac stood at 21 degrees, with bitter north winds gusting to 43 mph. In Bellingham, it was even worse, with a 16-degree temperature and winds blasting above 60 mph...

http://www.seattleweatherblog.com/snow/the-mother-of-all-convergence-zones/

We lucked out. The kid got home from school just before kids got stuck and had to spend the night there. We'd already stocked up on food and Christmas gifts, didn't need anything. I was surprised by the thunder and cracked sounds of lightning. Kept thinking "Whaa?"

So we did very well. School was out and we never lost heat or power and took tons of pictures out in the snow later and out the window where the living Christmas trees were covered with the snow. We watched all that was happening on television and were very grateful to keep power and be able to stay at home.

I felt very sorry for those who were out in the weather, trying to get to work and the parents and kid who were separated for a while from the snow event. As it settled in we had a great time. Others, not so much.

Hope that our DUers in all these areas are able to keep their power and heat on and stay off the roads. For those who must get out, take care and our wishes for your safety in all of this weather with no car accidents, or slips on the stairs or pavements!

+1 to your concerns for DUers in those areas.

I don't really understand what people do when their heat goes out
Maybe that's why they still have fireplaces in New England!

Last edited Tue Jan 27, 2015, 03:34 AM - Edit history (1)

Fortunately, we were snug and warm.

I've lived with just a wood stove for heat in windy, cold, icy weather and it's a job keeping it going and the pipes from freezing.

I have seen a few DUers detail their alternatives in those areas, but some will be in the cold and dark, if they aren't in living situations allowing them to heat off the grid.

And this will be very rough, but Sandy was a hundred times worse, I think. Hoping for the best and that no one dies of carbon monoxide as some do from alternative heating, or from accidentally setting their house on fire.

I'm a bit confused as to why Cuomo has shut down the NYC subways...

It made sense during Hurricane Sandy, but the subways won't flood from this. I keep hoping to see a reason for it, but it's said that it is being kept open for PD and FD to use... but no one else?

I think PD and FD could share with other workers like hospital and other essentials who need to get about town and those who are going to help their families and friends. Other than that, NYC should take the day off from trying to get around.

Go thread, thanks!

It was an extremely heavy, wet snowstorm! There was only one bolt of lightning but there is no doubt that it was lightning.