So far, so good. The major roads in our area are skating rinks, and a light sleet is falling (more like ice dust at present). We're told that snow will arrive later today, extending through the evening. The birds are thick in the branches of our backyard tree, and complaining bitterly that their water dish is frozen and their food is buried under a layer of ice. Our cats want us to let them indoors, so they can "assist them by warming them up by chasing them". Er . . . no!
We have an abundance of food and warm layers to wear. If the power goes out, we have a camping cookstove and plenty of fuel for it, a few decent-size power banks, a couple of kerosene heaters and fuel for them (not to be used in the house, but they'll keep the garage from freezing), a generator, and plenty of gasoline for it. I think we're as prepared as we can be on a limited budget.
Most of our group of co-conspirators partners in crime friends appear to be doing OK. Our usual Saturday supper together isn't happening this weekend, because most of us would end up in the ditch or hitting something expensive if we tried to drive. We'll make up for it next week.
I hope all is well with you, dear readers. Let us know in Comments how you're faring.
Peter
Yep, we're as prepared as we can be... Now it's just hunkering down and praying the power stays on! Otherwise, the outside becomes the icebox!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is an unusually large and vigorous storm. Here in Northshore Massachusetts this morning dawned at 6° degrees F and we are up to a balmy 15°f at 13:45 in the afternoon. We are expecting similar (or lower) temps tonight with snow starting noonish tomorrow and running into mid Afternoon Monday. Expected snowfall for our area is 18-24" over the 24 hour period with near blizzard (2"-3"/hour snow with 30mph hour winds) conditions from midnight to about 6am Monday. The previous storms this season have gone well south annoying Connecticut, Rhode Island and Cape Cod with 8-12" totals while we got pretty dustings, or at most 3" so we're overdue. Honestly this kind of storm is far better than one that starts or ends in ice like you seem to be seeing. 2' of snow may bring down occasional branches and cause local outages, but ice can affect high tension delivery lines and cause widespread outages. That can be dealt with in summer from occasional hurricanes, but with single digit temperatures predicted, most modern homes can not cope with that unless they have generators (even Gas and oil burners need fans to move the exhaust and pumps or fans to move the heat).
ReplyDeleteIt's so cold here, I think I might have to wear long sleeves when I take my walk. The UV index might get up to three, so I won't bother with sunscreen.
ReplyDeleteAnd have any of your cats expressed an opinion yet?
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! Our part-Maine Coon black cat is glued to the back of the sofa, which he's trodden down into a soft, comfortable nest. Our elderly lady has made a nest for herself on our spare bed, where the laundry waits to be folded. She's lying on a folded fleecy throw, with sheets and T-shirts forming ramparts all around her. Every now and again she comes out for scritches, looks out the window at the white world, and promptly goes back to her nest! Clearly, only foolish humans want to be up and about on a day like this.
DeleteNew England here,tis cold at about 10 degrees(colder @ night),expecting 18" of snow but the biggest issue is just lately perhaps a ice storm @ end,just frigging great!
ReplyDeleteI have genny/heaters/food and most importantly hand rolled smokes and beer!
You safely can,help out those that deserve it,this could for some be fatal.
Damn, I don't miss that stuff at all. Happy to be watching from the Phoenix Metro Area.
ReplyDeleteIt's a reasonably warm day here atop the world in North Pole, AK, -4°F.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're ready for your weather there, hunker down and enjoy!
Just north of Chicago, expecting 4-8 inches but it's finally got above zero this morning after a day and a half of below zero (-8 to -10 at night).
ReplyDeleteHere in Montana, it's Saturday. :-)
ReplyDeletePlenty of sleet so far in central Arkansas but, as of now, not too much ice. Freezing rain is expected soon, continuing into late morning Sunday, so that might get interesting. Firewood, shepherd's pie, propane stoves and whisky all at the ready. Tomorrow is Robert Burns' Night, so we are celebrating early, just in case.
ReplyDeleteSitting in northern suburbs of Atlanta waiting for the rain then sleet then freezing rain. Our biggest issue will be the refreeze on Sunday night so icy roads and power outages for a.few.days.
ReplyDeleteDiffer
SE GA - they have pulled back the ice/snow line along with the temps. Our low is going to be 37. The GenSet fuel tank was topped off and it looks like I will not need it.
ReplyDeleteIn Cincinnati, we've been having overnight single-digit temps. No snow until later this afternoon, when I noticed a slight dusting on the cars and edges of the road. Very light snow, but if we get two days of it we'll be shoveling out on Monday. The cats keep looking for the door into summer, and giving us dirty looks when it doesn't show up.
ReplyDeletePlenty of supplies, warm house and a generator just in case. Our church sent around an email this afternoon cancelling the services tomorrow. We're not expecting ice here, but lots of snow and bitter temps will keep most folks indoors.
We'll be staying in, surfing the internet and trying to keep four bored cats entertained. Much easier than dealing with drivers who think physics doesn't apply to them!
I seem to. Remember back in the 70’s when we had the OPEC oil embargo and fuel took a big jump they had free standing heaters that took k1 fuel only and were popular for warming a living room or what ever for evenings. I never used one but they were popular enough where we lived in the Catskills of N.Y. that the local service station had a tank and pump for k1 kerosene!
ReplyDeleteTexas Panhandle - temps yesterday in single digits, warmed up to 5 F at sunrise today. 4" snow on the ground in town because we were on the northern edge of the moisture. -5 or so tonight, then slow warming trend. We've not lost power yet, and all the pipes seem unfrozen [deletes rant about contractors who don't bother with insulation in bathrooms.]
ReplyDeleteTXRed
Ceramic plate propane heater is very usable indoors. We use one one beliw freezing days. Sometimes for days on end. Have working and tested carbon monoxide detector with digital ppm display. Neither stove nor propane heater register in it, and we have tested it and verified it works.
ReplyDeleteMy caveat would be if you live in a new super insulated and sealed house that has trouble with air exchange. I would be hesitant using it there.
In general its very safe using propane or natural gas as long as there is decent ventalation. Ie older not greatly sealed house. Lol.. actually there are a tone of new houses over the year with gas appliances and heaters that have done just fine.