January Banter 2025

[IUsedToHateCold]

Honest question - any chance the bay freezes over with this extended cold snap? I know it happened back in 2014 or something. Would be interesting to see it happen again. 

[dailylurker]

Just now, IUsedToHateCold said:

Honest question - any chance the bay freezes over with this extended cold snap? I know it happened back in 2014 or something. Would be interesting to see it happen again. 

The tributaries are already mostly frozen. I think we're in for some pretty historic ice over the next few weeks.

[adelphi_sky]

10 hours ago, ncforecaster89 said:

 

Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday period and a good start to the new year.  
 

Hoping that the late January period might produce a significant winter storm.  
 

That aside, I wanted to ask about your own thoughts on how you might classify each respective winter storm event based on snowfall totals over a widespread geographical area (minimum of 4-6”)?    

Here’s my own best submission.  

 

Winter Storm Event Classification: 

Cat 1…….4-8”……….Impactful 

Cat 2…….6-12”……..Moderate 

Cat 3……12-18”……..Major

Cat 4……18-24”…….Extreme 

Cat 5……24+”……….Historic

Thoughts?  

At this point in our recent climo, anything over 12" would be historical. On this board, I think anything over 18" would be Biblical. Major would be 6-12. I got close to 10" and my school system has been out for 4 days. I'd call that major. You would also have to factor in the cold I guess. How long does the snow hang around to impact an area.

[deer]

I propose a ban for anyone discussing or posting pictures of the 12k NAM

[mattie g]

1 hour ago, MN Transplant said:

I know this is my inner Minnesotan coming through, but it is ok to walk on snow and ice.  And I'm going to blow some minds, but it is ok to drive on snow too.

I think it's just the fear of someone falling and getting hurt, then a suit follows (or just bad PR). For an area that only gets continuous snowpack every so often, I'm guessing they'd rather not take the chance and just accept being closed for an extended time once every 5-10 years.

I agree with you in principle though. The funny thing is that there was far less sledding and outdoor fun being had yesterday because I think the kids were just worn out from going nuts on Monday and Tuesday, so it's not like they'd be missing out on any sort of fun while they're in school!

[aldie 22]

2 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

I know this is my inner Minnesotan coming through, but it is ok to walk on snow and ice.  And I'm going to blow some minds, but it is ok to drive on snow too.

I loved the video a few weeks back showing the 100's of cars sliding off the road in Minnesota, they did it with much more confidence then we do here in Virginia 

[IUsedToHateCold]

1 hour ago, dailylurker said:

The tributaries are already mostly frozen. I think we're in for some pretty historic ice over the next few weeks.

Nice. I might drive down and take a look. Such a rare event shouldn’t go unobserved

[dailylurker]

13 minutes ago, IUsedToHateCold said:

Nice. I might drive down and take a look. Such a rare event shouldn’t go unobserved

Absolutely not! Definitely come on down. It's reminds me of visiting Lake Placid with my family as a kid. I suspect we'll be seeing ice in the 4-6 inch thickness range in a week. 

[snowfan]

2 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

I know this is my inner Minnesotan coming through, but it is ok to walk on snow and ice.  And I'm going to blow some minds, but it is ok to drive on snow too.

Kids can’t make it to school, but they sure as hell can get there to go sledding at the local school sledding hill. And afterwards their parents take them for a Starbucks run. But first thing in the morning it’s totally unsafe to leave for actual school. 

[mattie g]

19 minutes ago, snowfan said:

Kids can’t make it to school, but they sure as hell can get there to go sledding at the local school sledding hill. And afterwards their parents take them for a Starbucks run. But first thing in the morning it’s totally unsafe to leave for actual school. 

It's not any more unsafe to go to the bus stop, but the schools don't want the bad PR and/or potential lawsuit should some kid slip and get hurt in the process of getting to school. That's really all it is.

The likelihood of something bad happening is incredibly small, but in a litigious society those potentially being litigated against don't want to take chances.

[H2O]

ah the age ol gripe fest over schools.  All I know is that based off pics and what people have told me, VDOT has done a shitty job with this storm.  There are streets near me that are total ice.  Never plowed.  So while yours might have been not all have.  

[pazzo83]

3 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

I know this is my inner Minnesotan coming through, but it is ok to walk on snow and ice.  And I'm going to blow some minds, but it is ok to drive on snow too.

i feel like growing up the school districts weren't this soft.  you'd miss the day it snowed, and usually the day after (if it was >6").  Only time you'd miss more is if there was a lot of icing that didn't melt or it was a class Nor'easter (with 12+").

[pazzo83]

12 minutes ago, H2O said:

ah the age ol gripe fest over schools.  All I know is that based off pics and what people have told me, VDOT has done a shitty job with this storm.  There are streets near me that are total ice.  Never plowed.  So while yours might have been not all have.  

yeah VDOT is pretty bad with snow.  That's one of the differences between living in a city vs county in VA.  In our city, the city was responsible for clearing snow (and did an OK job).  The county roads were always terrible lol.

[deer]

22 minutes ago, H2O said:

ah the age ol gripe fest over schools.  All I know is that based off pics and what people have told me, VDOT has done a shitty job with this storm.  There are streets near me that are total ice.  Never plowed.  So while yours might have been not all have.  

it's still fairly sketchy around me. can imagine further west it may be worse.

[LordBaltimore]

Sometimes I wonder if I'd be happier or more productive if it snowed less. I'm sitting here looking at 18z temperatures to see how long we have until it melts. It feels like when you have an older pet and you know they only have a little while left

[H2O]

20 minutes ago, pazzo83 said:

yeah VDOT is pretty bad with snow.  That's one of the differences between living in a city vs county in VA.  In our city, the city was responsible for clearing snow (and did an OK job).  The county roads were always terrible lol.

Its the disparity thats the problem.  My cul de sac was plowed 5 times and its not anywhere near an important road.  Yet 1/2 mile away a neighborhood with hills was never touched.  The groups contracted to plow are just not efficient or doing their job.  I don't know if favoritism is playing a role but i suspect it is.  

[mattie g]

1 minute ago, H2O said:

Its the disparity thats the problem.  My cul de sac was plowed 5 times and its not anywhere near an important road.  Yet 1/2 mile away a neighborhood with hills was never touched.  The groups contracted to plow are just not efficient or doing their job.  I don't know if favoritism is playing a role but i suspect it is.  

I haven't been anywhere farther than maybe 1.5 miles away since the storm, so my perspective is pretty limited...but I've only seen roads that are fine, including my 13-home cul-de-sac. Like yours, mine was addressed very quickly and efficiently - we were essentially snow-free by noon on Tuesday. It's just interesting to hear that they've screwed up so royally that streets like ours are fine but others are a mess.

[pazzo83]

18 minutes ago, H2O said:

Its the disparity thats the problem.  My cul de sac was plowed 5 times and its not anywhere near an important road.  Yet 1/2 mile away a neighborhood with hills was never touched.  The groups contracted to plow are just not efficient or doing their job.  I don't know if favoritism is playing a role but i suspect it is.  

my road was plowed throughout the entire storm by some guy in a rented white pickup truck.  The Japanese ambassador's residence (at least the back of the property) is about 3 blocks away - so I wonder if that has something to do with it.

[NorthArlington101]

it’s funny the second you age out of school you complain that the schools are wimpy. 3+ days for 6” of snow? really? 

[pazzo83]

1 minute ago, NorthArlington101 said:

it’s funny the second you age out of school you complain that the schools are wimpy. 3+ days for 6” of snow? really? 

yep - it's part of the inevitable aging process.  "Those young kids are soft!!"

[T. August]

4 hours ago, IUsedToHateCold said:

Honest question - any chance the bay freezes over with this extended cold snap? I know it happened back in 2014 or something. Would be interesting to see it happen again. 

I wanna say 2014 + 2015 it was about 2 weeks below freezing with numerous 0° readings. I think we have a ways to go.

[pazzo83]

3 minutes ago, T. August said:

I wanna say 2014 + 2015 it was about 2 weeks below freezing with numerous 0° readings. I think we have a ways to go.

Feb 2015 in NYC was extremely cold - the Hudson was mostly frozen over right to downtown.

But it was only in Feb 2016 where NYC recorded its only sub-zero reading since 1994.

[nj2va]

3 hours ago, snowfan said:

Kids can’t make it to school, but they sure as hell can get there to go sledding at the local school sledding hill. And afterwards their parents take them for a Starbucks run. But first thing in the morning it’s totally unsafe to leave for actual school. 

 

Schools are just insane around here. Kids belong in school on day 4 after a 6” storm. 

[mattie g]

Interesting perspective on the school closings:

1 hour ago, WesternFringe said:

I am a high school teacher.  When dealing with public education, one needs to be aware that some parents don’t own cars or have reliable transportation and/or a work schedule that allows them to drive their kids to school.  So, it isn’t always up to parents to dictate the transportation method.

Thus, the bus is the only option for many students to get to school.  I am glad the school divisions are conservative and err on the side of safety since parents would rather school be canceled than have their kids in a bus accident.

 

[pazzo83]

11 minutes ago, mattie g said:

Interesting perspective on the school closings:

 

I mean I get it in some areas - where he lives, there are students that live way up in the mountains at 3000+ft.  Those roads are treacherous in optimal conditions.  I remember Augusta County schools being closed some days when we were sunny and clear in the city.  However, you go up into the mountains - different ballgame.

But Fairfax County?  Come on.

[gymengineer]

I grew up in Montgomery County, MD in the 80's and 90's, taught in the same county for 15 years, and still live in the county. So, I can make a direct apples-to-apples comparison. Growing up, an overnight snowfall of 2" would result in a 2-hr delay, not a cancellation. 3" was usually a closure, and 4" would definitely be a closure. The 20"+ storms resulted in the full week closed. 

Into the 2000's, there were a few 2-hr delays that were issued instead of closure that somewhat surprised me- 3/1/05 and 2/25/07. Both were after 4-5" snows, and my side road wasn't plowed by morning. This biggest surprise was that 1/25/00 only resulted in 2 days of closure; the 3rd day was a 2-hr delay and plows had not touched my neighborhood yet.

The morning after the early January 2010 1.5-2" clipper was a 2-hr delay that completely made sense. 

The bigger shift, IMO, started in the 2014-2015 season. 2/26/15 was a closure. 1.5-2" was the range for the county. The snow lasted for me from 4-9 am. A 2-hr delay would have followed what MCPS previously did. 

There weren't many 6-8" events in the 80's and 90's to "test" what happens the second or third day after the event. Both 2/2/96 and 2/16/96 were on Fridays. 1/26/11 was a 3-day closure, but it's hard to compare because there were so many long-lasting power outages that schools were used as shelters. 

2013-2015 did give us some moderate events not on Friday, however:

1/21/14- 5-8" for MoCo, Admin offices closed early day 1, day 2 was closed, 2-hr delay on the 3rd day

3/3/14- 4-7" for MoCo, 2 days closed

3/5/15- 5.5-9" for MoCo, 2 days closed

1/3/22 was only 5-8" in the southeast parts of the county- that resulted in 2 days closed and 2-hr delay on the 3rd day.

So, yes, the 3-days closed for MCPS for this past storm seems to have no precedence. 

 

 

[yoda]

No Flowers this weekend at least 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43347223/ravens-rule-pro-bowl-wr-zay-flowers-knee-vs-steelers

@CAPE

[CAPE]

18 minutes ago, yoda said:

No Flowers this weekend at least 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43347223/ravens-rule-pro-bowl-wr-zay-flowers-knee-vs-steelers

@CAPE

Yeah it was a pretty slim chance he would go. Justice Hill is back, and Bateman has been making some big time plays lately. Still, without the quickness and game breaking speed of Flowers, the Steeler's D has one less(major)weapon to worry about.

[Maestrobjwa]

1 minute ago, CAPE said:

Yeah it was a pretty slim chance he would go. Justice Hill is back, and Bateman has been making some big time plays lately. Still, without the quickness and game breaking speed of Flowers, the Steeler's D has one less(major)weapon to worry about.

Yeah it sucks. BUT...even without him, we are still better than the Steelers. Don't turn the ball over, play as disciplined as we did a couple weeks ago...and we win. That simple!

[mappy]

9 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

I know this is my inner Minnesotan coming through, but it is ok to walk on snow and ice.  And I'm going to blow some minds, but it is ok to drive on snow too.

Didn’t have time to reply earlier, but yes it does seem to be ok. Driving thru a pretty heavy lake effect band, on a trucking route, approaching a larger city, and it was wild how many people were still zipping on along in the left lane. Mind you, while I was going slower, I was still going with flow of traffic at 55. Blew my mind haha