The Mother 'Effin WEATHER Thread

triggercut · 2016-01-21T10:44:15.000Z

The whole “DC drivers, LOL” thing is a pretty terrible interpretation of what happened yesterday.

Yes, drivers in DC can struggle with weather. No doubt about it. But…

The NWS did a pretty terrible job of distinguishing their weather watch for the clipper system yesterday from the weekend storm warnings. Their watch landed almost right on top of the blizzard watch for the weekend. Circumstances happen.

The storm stalled over DC for a while. Longer than expected in any models. A factor.

Most importantly: NoVA and DC didn’t treat the roads or have crews ready. I was out walking last night, in boots that I’ve worn in feet of snow and ice conditions from the Colorado Rockies to the Sierras to the Canadian Rox to the high Appalachians. And on the roads that hadn’t been pre-treated? I was sliding around like crazy. Black ice abounded yesterday. It was a mess.

They’ll do better–or as good as they can do–this weekend, I think.

triggercut · 2016-01-21T10:45:18.000Z

Abiding Dude:

Here in Sterling, VA (in Loudoun in Northern Virginia in the northern-most county shaped like a boot (we are in the laces of the boot)) we are probably going to get 24 inches or so. We are fired up and ready to go!

My nephew in Leesburg who works at State is praying the OPM gives non-essential Federals a day off tomorrow.

Abiding_Dude · 2016-01-21T11:00:26.000Z

triggercut:

The whole “DC drivers, LOL” thing is a pretty terrible interpretation of what happened yesterday.

Agree. I saw that clipper coming through and thought “It’s gonna dump more than just flurries.” They simply weren’t prepared and were focusing on this weekend’s blizzard. Two feet of snow will be bad but they are pretty good about making main arteries passable here.

RichVR · 2016-01-21T11:08:54.000Z

You’re doing some fine work here, Trig. I’m sending the worst ones to friends in NY to get them nervous. Liking the NAM one today. :)

KevinC · 2016-01-21T11:11:05.000Z

I’ve learned more about weather forecasting and modeling in this thread than I have in my whole life before it! Thanks for all the info and commentary, triggercut!

Shellfishguy · 2016-01-21T11:31:41.000Z

The traffic map still looked like that when I went to bed last night, just shy of 11 pm. One of my co-workers had family who endured an 8 hour commute home last night. Makes me glad that I only have a five minute drive to and from work these days.

triggercut · 2016-01-21T12:11:52.000Z

This is a live action lightning strike map currently for Louisiana into Mississippi. This is going to be a powerful storm. (And if you’re a Qt3er in Louisiana, stay safe!)

TheWombat · 2016-01-21T13:00:00.000Z

Holy crap. Thanks a bunch for the great work on this, triggercut. It is easy to see why you’re fascinated by the weather–this stuff is amazingly interesting and important. I’m just thankful that it looks like we will escape most all of this up here in Vermont.

triggercut · 2016-01-21T13:12:30.000Z

thanks, y’all! I think honestly, it’s the maps that do it for me! I love maps! I think that’s as close as I get to being on the spectrum is when maps are involved. ;)

Big part of my fascination with Paradox games, too. Maaaaaaapppps…(/Homer drooling face)

Anyway, if you’re a Qt3er in Eastern TN or in Kentucky…it’s headed your way within hours, and it’s going to dump on you. Be ready!

inactive_user · 2016-01-21T13:17:17.000Z

This absolutely slayed me. So true, hehehe.

Stuck in DC – 21 Jan 16

Minnesotans announce plans to downplay snow, insult locals

Wearing light jackets without hats or gloves, the District's Minnesota natives held an outdoor press conference this morning to announce plans to downplay the coming snowstorm and insult Washington...

CraigM · 2016-01-21T13:17:55.000Z

triggercut:

thanks, y’all! I think honestly, it’s the maps that do it for me! I love maps! I think that’s as close as I get to being on the spectrum is when maps are involved. ;)

Big part of my fascination with Paradox games, too. Maaaaaaapppps…(/Homer drooling face)

I resemble this remark.

BrianRubin · 2016-01-21T13:25:01.000Z

Wow, my home town in SE PA looks to get 10 - 16 inches of snow. Man I don’t miss that.

triggercut · 2016-01-21T13:58:03.000Z

GFS just ran, and it and NAM seem to be coming into agreement. EURO still saying “Not so fast, my friends.”

Still posting this from GFS, because right now it’s the median of the major models.

MrGrumpy · 2016-01-21T14:09:00.000Z

triggercut:

thanks, y’all! I think honestly, it’s the maps that do it for me! I love maps! I think that’s as close as I get to being on the spectrum is when maps are involved. ;)

Big part of my fascination with Paradox games, too. Maaaaaaapppps…(/Homer drooling face)

Anyway, if you’re a Qt3er in Eastern TN or in Kentucky…it’s headed your way within hours, and it’s going to dump on you. Be ready!

CraigM:

I resemble this remark.

True story: As a kid I would read the World Atlas, and Rand McNally’s US highway atlas. I even knew state populations and the changes from one census to the next.

And I have many, many hours in EU4 (I translate OPM to “one province minor.”)

But <3 maps.

Anyway, hunker down mid Atlantic folks.

triggercut · 2016-01-21T14:17:31.000Z

MrGrumpy:

True story: As a kid I would read the World Atlas, and Rand McNally’s US highway atlas. I even knew state populations and the changes from one census to the next.

And I have many, many hours in EU4 (I translate OPM to “one province minor.”)

But <3 maps.

Anyway, hunker down mid Atlantic folks.

My people! So seriously, you dudes get what I mean then.

Probably also why Presidential elections fascinate me–love looking at the map breakdowns by counties and precincts on vote totals and polling totals.

CraigM · 2016-01-21T14:41:49.000Z

MrGrumpy:

True story: As a kid I would read the World Atlas, and Rand McNally’s US highway atlas. I even knew state populations and the changes from one census to the next.

Oh god, I thought I was the only one. I literally destroyed the bindings on an old atlas from usage. Outdated as it was, I spent hours pouring over it.

Still do, only now they are digital, and up to date. One of my favorite things to do when bored is open Google Maps, and just look for weird and interesting locations. Things like the India/ Pakistan border fascinate me to no end. I love trying to contemplate the history and shifts in time that caused those weird configurations.

It is why, when in Europe this summer, one of my favorite places we went was Lugano. Look at that map, just look at it. You just know there is some interesting geography and history there. We took a boat ride from Lugano’s main docks over to Gandria for dinner. Having dinner on a porch over the water, looking over the high cliffs at a jigsaw puzzle of state borders, was spectacular (as was the food and copious red wine). The boat ride took us in and out of Italy three times in 30 minutes.

That shit just excites me.

Also: flags. Flags are cool too.

Alstein · 2016-01-21T14:58:44.000Z

This sounds a lot like the 2000 blizzard, but hitting Greensboro hardest instead of Raleigh. And no 4’11" girl waking me up in my dorm room covered up to her neck in snow.

Houngan · 2016-01-21T15:20:06.000Z

CraigM:

Oh god, I thought I was the only one. I literally destroyed the bindings on an old atlas from usage. Outdated as it was, I spent hours pouring over it.

Still do, only now they are digital, and up to date. One of my favorite things to do when bored is open Google Maps, and just look for weird and interesting locations. Things like the India/ Pakistan border fascinate me to no end. I love trying to contemplate the history and shifts in time that caused those weird configurations.

It is why, when in Europe this summer, one of my favorite places we went was Lugano. Look at that map, just look at it. You just know there is some interesting geography and history there. We took a boat ride from Lugano’s main docks over to Gandria for dinner. Having dinner on a porch over the water, looking over the high cliffs at a jigsaw puzzle of state borders, was spectacular (as was the food and copious red wine). The boat ride took us in and out of Italy three times in 30 minutes.

That shit just excites me.

Also: flags. Flags are cool too.

Globes. Loves me a globe. Also I’ll just occasionally wander around another county with Streetview.

Oghier · 2016-01-21T16:14:07.000Z

Timex:

Hey, it’s cool. DC Deals with snow pretty well.

…

I lived there in the mid-90’s, when Marion Barry had a fantastic response when asked about slow snow removal, “The Lord put it there, and he can melt it.” Mayorforlife.

Houngan · 2016-01-21T16:29:11.000Z

Oghier:

I lived there in the mid-90’s, when Marion Barry had a fantastic response when asked about slow snow removal, “The Lord put it there, and he can melt it.” Mayorforlife.

To be fair, he then proceeded to snort the top two inches.