Remembering blizzards

[fbhjr]

We’re supposed to be having a blizzard today. About half the folks where I
work have called in preemptively about it. I came in a bit early so I can
leave a bit early if needed. But, after more than two hours of snow, my
windshield is not yet covered.

I am told it will get worse as the day goes on and snow until tomorrow
afternoon. So, we may get several feet/half a meter when all is said and
done.

Back in 1978 we were hit with a major snow storm that shut the whole state
down for almost 2 weeks. I was in high school at the time and remember it
well. My father got trapped at his office for 4 days. He worked for the
power company and they had a “bunker” for emergencies, so it wasn’t a bad
place to be trapped.

The thing I liked best about that storm was how clean the air was after
driving was banned for 10 days. That was pretty cool.

And, it was a lot of snow. The official count was 27”/69cm. But, that
doesn’t take into account the wind. There were places the drifts were
higher than I was, and places you could see the grass.

I also remember the blizzard of 1969. That was the first real blizzard I
remember. I was out of school for two weeks that time as well. They
weren’t very good a telling folks that 40 years ago. So, every day I got
dressed and walked to the school bus stop. If the bus didn’t come, no
school.
I was glad it was a short walk.

This one reminds me more of the 1969 one than the 1978 one. Like in 1969
it is actually two storms, one cold from the north and one damp from the
south.
We’ll see how it goes. For now, I’m still at work.

Comments

[uawildcatgrl.livejournal.com]

I survived the blizzard of 78! Since I didn't have to work then (way too young) it was just a huge adventure for us!

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

The 1978 blizzard was a "fun" experience for us up in Vermont, too - I was in Junior High school and we had 2-3 days without school. I think that we had just under 36" of snow from that storm back home.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Bro and I came out some 6 months after the storm so I don't remember it.

Although I have seen plenty of big, nasty snow storms in my time as well.

The April Fool's storm my first year in college....1997.
The Ice Storm the next year at college that permanently damaged trees on campus. They're still bent.
The 2003 (?) storm where I could not get up a hill on my route home from work but was allowed to take a "do not enter between these times"
signed road that got me home.
The 2005 Blizzard that came in during the Arisia convention, where I was driving from Boston to Ladyhawke's on 128 and the radio
saying "Oh Noes, this looks JUST LIKE the '78 Blizzard, if you're on 128 you're DOOOMED" and being stuck at her place for the weekend (oh, the horror)
The 2007 storm where the Govnah declared a state of emergency / get the fuck home in the middle of the day and I and some thousands of others
took over 2 hours to get home.
The "Foot of Snow Every Week" season I think 2009, the same year that Icelandic Volcano blew up
The "October Storm" of 2010 where we were w/o power for almost 2 weeks

There were also plenty of storms when I was a kid I fondly remember A foot or more of snow "regularly", with lots of
Snow Forts and Matterhorn Front Lawn Downhill Sledding.

This storm I ought to get in some use of my Soob's AWD. I had started thinking that since I got the car, there'd be no snow to drive in
to really put it through its paces....Heh. (although plenty of heavy rain)

Every time, without fail, TV News puts on it's own "entertainment" show feature with some idiot reporter standing out in the snow to show us
how much it's snowing outside because I'm apparently unable to look out my own window....

...Time for another cuppa Hot Chocolate I think.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine a storm so bad it closes the state for two weeks!