January Banter 2022

[H2O]

[mappy]

lol 

[pazzo83]

2 hours ago, Stormfly said:

Highest I've experienced personally was 87F.  If you had to do much more than walk in those conditions it feels like it would kill you.  Seriously.

Coming outside from a cool airconditioned space everything on you immediately gets wet.  Skin feels clammy.  It's beyond disgusting.

there was one summer day in the middle of the 2010s - I don't know if you all remember it, but the mid atlantic and NE had INSANELY high dewpoints.  I think Dover, DE was up in the mid 80s.  I'm pretty sure both Central Park and DCA cracked 80F.  JFK had an hourly ob with a dewpoint of 84F lol.  That day was probably my max - I just remember any aerobic activity outside being a real struggle.

There was another afternoon when we had just moved to DC and a t-storm was passing just to our north.  It was far enough away to keep our air temp in the mid 90s but it pushed the dewpoint up to around 84 (per my local weather station).  I was running at the time and that was not easy.

[pazzo83]

folks from the storm thread, we're talkin' high dewpoints and memes over here.  come on in!

[Stormfly]

We had a couple bouts with 80F this past summer.

My criteria for running AC is 70F.  Yeah I know I'm a cheap bastard!

But mid 80s and 90s.  And much higher than that.  Well working in engine rooms it's expected.

But for comfort there's nothing like low 40 DPs in the summer!

As for sleet, I'd have to say March 14, 1993 was probably the worst here.  About 16" of snow and then hours of HEAVY sleet!

I guess it could be worse like in 94 where we had a good 8-10" of snowpack and it rained for a day and turned sharply colder.  Not only you could walk on it driving on it was possible!  Might as well been solid ice.  Both were extremely dangerous to do on any kind of incline because you were definitely sliding around.  Falling down on it sucks too because it's like 30 grit sand paper.  It was laughable watching the animals try to do their thing.  Fortunately the ZR en masse missed us this way.  But further south (Anne Arundel) everyone got treated to the 60Hz chorus and blue light specials in the sky.  For those wondering what that means here's a video.

 

[MN Transplant]

2 hours ago, WxUSAF said:

 

I kind of think it's not worth paying really much attention at all until tomorrow's 12z runs when we'll be within 3k NAM range and between it and the Euro, we can probably get some good fidelity on the changing thermal profile Sunday afternoon/evening.  Otherwise, things seemed pretty locked in place.

We know to a pretty good certainty that the 850 low is going to go over or just west of DC.  What that practically means in terms of timing, front-end thump, and ratio of snow/ice/rain is still to be nailed down, and that's where the meso models will help.

[snowfan]

I hope folks aren’t surprised when DC manages only an hour of snow before flipping. 

[mattie g]

31 minutes ago, snowfan said:

I hope folks aren’t surprised when DC manages only an hour of snow before flipping. 

I hope you're not surprised when @stormtrackerdeletes your account.

[MissAnthrope]

4 hours ago, Mrs.J said:

So Mr J and I used to watch Amazing Race for the travel. But stopped watching when the couples would be arguing over the fact that even though on a show with travel could not read a map to save their lives. That and the fact that if you are doing overseas travel understand that you should at least have one person who knows how to drive a manual transmission. 

The season they’re showing right now had a guy who said he learned to drive stick about 2 weeks before coming on the show. Pretty sure he didn’t actually practice all that much but he did seem to get it eventually. I’m always surprised that the contestants don’t bother to pick up this skill in advance. I don’t think there have been a lot of episodes in the most recent seasons with manual cars so I figured European countries were moving away from manual cars like here in the US. My husband has said for years that we should try to be on the show because I drive a manual car. No thank you!! I’m too old for that crap.

[vastateofmind]

7 minutes ago, MissAnthrope said:

The season they’re showing right now had a guy who said he learned to drive stick about 2 weeks before coming on the show. Pretty sure he didn’t actually practice all that much but he did seem to get it eventually. I’m always surprised that the contestants don’t bother to pick up this skill in advance. I don’t think there have been a lot of episodes in the most recent seasons with manual cars so I figured European countries were moving away from manual cars like here in the US. My husband has said for years that we should try to be on the show because I drive a manual car. No thank you!! I’m too old for that crap.

LOL. This topic comes up from time to time in banter -- but I really, REALLY miss driving stick-shift. I had one of the most boring cars in the world in the 90s -- the Ford Escort wagon -- but in the first few years of our marriage my wife and I hauled everything under the sun in it (including a full dining room table with four chairs at one point), and with 5-speed, that little jitney had a surprising amount of pickup. That car lasted us well through most of that decade, but both my wife and I grew tired of cramped feet/ankles working that clutch in stop-and-start traffic, and traded it in for -- UGH -- a minivan once the kids started to arrive. 

But....I can still hop in a manual transmission car and get used to driving stick again in just a few minutes. It's apparently just like remembering how to ride a bike through your life. I miss driving stick.

[Eskimo Joe]

48 minutes ago, H2O said:

If they can curb sodium usage in any way shape or form it will help. Damage is already being done due to salt piles being dumped on roads. The data on what’s showing up in the watersheds due to it is alarming

Yup. My dad worked for a water department for almost 30 years and excessive salt application is a bad deal. We've made good strides with being more conservative with application and while necessary for maintaining roads during bad weather, there's always room for improvement.

25 minutes ago, WinterWxLuvr said:

This is the age where people have to feel safe from all things.

Saltwater contamination of watersheds is not some silly woke thing. It's nearly permanent and has significant economic and environmental issues. 

[Mrs.J]

Well we have finally made a decision for Mr. J and the older Miss J. We decided not to get their flight changed. 2 hrs. was not going to make a difference and the extra cost of $600 can be put to a better use. 

Plan is he is taking his car, MX 5 rear wheel drive, down and parking in one of the garages at Dulles. And they will fly out this afternoon to Seattle. Plan is there is a possibility their flight will be canceled Sunday afternoon, and if so they will rebook and stay an extra night in Seattle. Plan B is if their flight is not canceled and they get in at their arrival time of midnight and cannot drive, they will get a hotel room down near the airport until it is safe to drive back home. Plan C is this storm stays more West and they get lucky and can drive home after they get in. I have spent 2 nights with insomnia trying to figure this out and finally told myself I do not have control of the situation and what will be will be. The weather in Seattle is supposed to be beautiful for her college visit and as long as she gets to see where she may be living for the next 4 years and decide that she is fine being that far away from home that is all that matters.  

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

10 minutes ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Yup. My dad worked for a water department for almost 30 years and excessive salt application is a bad deal. We've made good strides with being more conservative with application and while necessary for maintaining roads during bad weather, there's always room for improvement.

Saltwater contamination of watersheds is not some silly woke thing. It's nearly permanent and has significant economic and environmental issues. 

Thank you for this perspective.  I don't want to get into stuff that might sound too "political"...but trying to make things better or safer, whether for the environment or for people in general, isn't always some effort to "make people feel safe from all things" or "turn us all into wimps who are too afraid."

That kind of dismissive attitude smacks of something like, "Hell, I ate lead paint chips when I was a kid, and I turned out fine!"

[mattie g]

4 hours ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Yup. My dad worked for a water department for almost 30 years...

Today we found out that H20 is EJ's dad.

[Mrs.J]

2 hours ago, MissAnthrope said:

The season they’re showing right now had a guy who said he learned to drive stick about 2 weeks before coming on the show. Pretty sure he didn’t actually practice all that much but he did seem to get it eventually. I’m always surprised that the contestants don’t bother to pick up this skill in advance. I don’t think there have been a lot of episodes in the most recent seasons with manual cars so I figured European countries were moving away from manual cars like here in the US. My husband has said for years that we should try to be on the show because I drive a manual car. No thank you!! I’m too old for that crap.

I told my husband if we were on that show we would kick ass with him currently having a manual transmission and me being super with map reading skills. I am Dyslexic but between me and him we can navigate with a good old fashioned paper map. Have taught our girls how to use them also. 

[aldie 22]

Man there are some real wet blankets in the MLK thread....two of those dudes live in prime snow spots as well and yet they seem to only speak in woe is me talk. Shitty

[mappy]

4 minutes ago, leesburg 04 said:

Man there are some real wet blankets in the MLK thread....two of those dudes live in prime snow spots as well and yet they seem to only speak in woe is me talk. Shitty

ignore function friend  

[aldie 22]

1 minute ago, mappy said:

ignore function friend  

I have a handful already on ignore, those dudes aren't really disruptive just F'ing depressing lol

[mappy]

1 minute ago, leesburg 04 said:

I have a handful already on ignore, those dudes aren't really disruptive just F'ing depressing lol

i saw them too. i know. i get. 

[WinterWxLuvr]

10 minutes ago, leesburg 04 said:

Man there are some real wet blankets in the MLK thread....two of those dudes live in prime snow spots as well and yet they seem to only speak in woe is me talk. Shitty

 

3 minutes ago, mappy said:

i saw them too. i know. i get. 

Yep. Getting old too

[mappy]

1 minute ago, WinterWxLuvr said:

 

Yep. Getting old too

one of the many reasons why i haven't posted much

[Maestrobjwa]

58 minutes ago, mappy said:

one of the many reasons why i haven't posted much

I was thinking about this whole thing of the depressed posts and such...and this question came to me:

Do we want it to snow, or do we also NEED it to snow?

I think that's a question some of us need to as ourselves. Wanting? Good! But needing it to could point to a deeper issue that needs to be addressed.

[WinterWxLuvr]

2 hours ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Yup. My dad worked for a water department for almost 30 years and excessive salt application is a bad deal. We've made good strides with being more conservative with application and while necessary for maintaining roads during bad weather, there's always room for improvement.

Saltwater contamination of watersheds is not some silly woke thing. It's nearly permanent and has significant economic and environmental issues. 

I don’t think you interpreted my comment correctly. If it were up to me there’d be no brining or salt. It would be sand, gravel, and plowing. End of story. Can’t get around in that? Stay home. I’m all for protecting the environment. Dave, Jim or Bob can’t get to the mall because the roads are bad? I couldn’t care less.

[weathercoins]

1 hour ago, leesburg 04 said:

Man there are some real wet blankets in the MLK thread....two of those dudes live in prime snow spots as well and yet they seem to only speak in woe is me talk. Shitty

Seems like it’s just an intentional persona.  Actually seemed worse in past years IMO lol

[mappy]

11 minutes ago, Maestrobjwa said:

I was thinking about this whole thing of the depressed posts and such...and this question came to me:

Do we want it to snow, or do we also NEED it to snow?

I think that's a question some of us need to as ourselves. Wanting? Good! But needing it to could point to a deeper issue that needs to be addressed.

want. need seems weird to me. but to each their own.

6 minutes ago, WinterWxLuvr said:

I don’t think you interpreted my comment correctly. If it were up to me there’d be no brining or salt. It would be sand, gravel, and plowing. End of story. Can’t get around in that? Stay home. I’m all for protecting the environment. Dave, Jim or Bob can’t get to the mall because the roads are bad? I couldn’t care less.

my well appreciates this comment. because the salt used has ruined it completely and we don't drink our own water. 

[Maestrobjwa]

5 minutes ago, weathercoins said:

Seems like it’s just an intentional persona.  Actually seemed worse in past years IMO lol

I don't think it's intentional...I think it's legit depression over snow.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

3 hours ago, vastateofmind said:

LOL. This topic comes up from time to time in banter -- but I really, REALLY miss driving stick-shift. I had one of the most boring cars in the world in the 90s -- the Ford Escort wagon -- but in the first few years of our marriage my wife and I hauled everything under the sun in it (including a full dining room table with four chairs at one point), and with 5-speed, that little jitney had a surprising amount of pickup. That car lasted us well through most of that decade, but both my wife and I grew tired of cramped feet/ankles working that clutch in stop-and-start traffic, and traded it in for -- UGH -- a minivan once the kids started to arrive. 

But....I can still hop in a manual transmission car and get used to driving stick again in just a few minutes. It's apparently just like remembering how to ride a bike through your life. I miss driving stick.

LOL!  This reminds me that I actually learned to drive (with an instructor) on an automatic.  But both my parents at the time were hard-core manual transmission only.  So I learned driving a stick shift in their cars.  Believe me, it's nerve-wracking trying to drive a stick when you're new at it...in your parent's car...while they're sitting next to you monitoring everything you do!  Then you get "the look" if you kill the engine because you didn't do the clutch just right!!  Took me a little while to get the hang of that.  I actually did like driving manual for the bit of time I had access to a car with that, but it's been MANY years since I have.

[Maestrobjwa]

5 minutes ago, mappy said:

want. need seems weird to me. but to each their own.

Yeah you are on that has mastered that department...but others ain't there yet. I mean I don't know whether some choose to need it to snow, or if the need is ingrained coming from something deeper. I mean I suppose you could get up one day and choose not to NEED it to snow...but I'm not sure it's that east either--especially if you're not sure why. I don't think you get a slew of depressed posts if there wasn't some level of NEEDING it to snow.

Forgive me...got my Sigmund Freud glasses on today, lol

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

3 minutes ago, Maestrobjwa said:

Yeah you are on that has mastered that department...but others ain't there yet. I mean I don't know whether some choose to need it to snow, or if the need is ingrained coming from something deeper. I mean I suppose you could get up one day and choose not to NEED it to snow...but I'm not sure it's that east either--especially if you're not sure why. 

Forgive me...got my Sigmund Freud glasses on today, lol

I've been a snow lover my entire life.  Probably born that way...or, perhaps I was dropped on my head as a baby and was messed up with wanting snow forever since!!  Don't know why.  I guess because as a child I would always like playing out in the snow, for hours...sledding, etc.  That, and to me there's just something about snow falling that is beautiful and awesome.  So I would follow the weather forecasts as a kid, especially in winter, which is also a good part of why I got "into" meteorology in the first place!

I guess I wouldn't say that I "need" it, but I sure always hope for good snow anytime there's a chance!!

[WinterWxLuvr]

11 minutes ago, Maestrobjwa said:

I don't think it's intentional...I think it's legit depression over snow.

Then there are some people needing legit help.