I live in the Deep South - The weather here is sucking

[Aerows]

Last edited Tue Jan 28, 2014, 09:42 PM - Edit history (4)

and everything has virtually shut down. Sleet and snow are falling on us. !

I had to salt the driveway, and the only reason I even know how to do that is because I've been up north. I'm wearing a hat, of course, but many Southerners have NO IDEA that you need to wear a hat when it gets this damn cold and nasty out.

Stay warm, all!

Mississippi warnings:

http://sp.mdot.ms.gov/Public%20Affairs/Lists/News%20Releases/Item/displayifs.aspx?List=ae1b236c-924d-498c-b14e-aafec6dc2864&ID=1079&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fspgomdot%2FPublic%2520Affairs%2FPages%2FNews-Releases.aspx&ContentTypeId=0x010087606675CA7A95408B80E8BFBB944273&IsDlg=2

Lousiana:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/louisiana_snow_roads_bridges.html

Birmingham, AL

Full Warning for MS:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=ms&prodtype=warnings

Weather Message for AL, including a fire warning:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=al&prodtype=warnings



http://www.weather.com/weather/alerts/localstatealerts/?areaid=ALC029&phenomena=TCE&office=KBMX&etn=0000&significance=TM&wxlayer=none&zoom=0&camefrom=national

Stay off the road warning.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Stay warm?

It was 27º below here last night.

[Aerows]

2. Good God

I know you folks are suffering and getting hammered, but this is something we aren't used to. Half the people around here are running around in 20 degree weather without hats or gloves with a strong wind blowing.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. We do that too.

We call it "spring."

[Aerows]

12. We call that

"Holy Shit."

[Jackpine Radical]

22. Actually, it's been rather good swimming weather lately.

[Aerows]

28. OMG You people are lunatics

[Common Sense Party]

29. Shrinkage.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

81. It shrinks?

[Warpy]

72. Just like the L Street Brownies in Boston

so named because that's where they'd go swimming in near zero weather and keep their tans up year round. Most years they'd have to chip through sea ice to find water.

[KatyMan]

40. BUT what has to be understood...

is that those of us who live in sunnier climes are very unfamiliar with this sort of situation. I don't discount their experiences up there, I know many many people are struggling and posters here are just being glib and a bit silly and fun, but several days of 20 degree weather with precipitation in Houston would be like 10 days of 95 degree temps with 80% humidity in Minn, Wis, or Ill. WE call that spring...so real cold (at or below freezing) is really fucking cold to us. Seriously, last weekend here it was in upper 60s and it's forecast to be 79 here on Saturday.

[Aerows]

108. We aren't

and if you are in Katy outside of Houston, you aren't either. It's not chilly, it's COLD.

[Jackpine Radical]

163. It hasn't gotten UP to 20 above this month.

Almost every day has stayed below zero. It's -11ºF outside as I write this.

[truebluegreen]

49. What's the old joke?

"Nine months of winter and three months of bad sledding."

[awoke_in_2003]

83. It is all about acclimation...

I used to play backyard tackle football in the snow wearing just a thermal shirt and jeans. When it hits 95 in Michigan, people start dropping. Down here WE call that spring

[Aerows]

88. Exactly.

No one mentions a high of 95 with 85% humidity in the spring down here. It has to hit 100 to even be mentioned in April or May. In June or July, that's just situation normal.

[alphafemale]

87. i would take those to be transplants.

Northerners.

Most Southerners seem to be kinda wimpy when it comes to cold weather from what I have seen.

[Aerows]

97. No, just clueless people turning blue

and wondering why their ears are about to fall off.

[Jackpine Radical]

100. Seriously, that reminds me of a discussion with a Hmong man.

We have some fairly large groups of Hmong refugees who settled among us, and this fellow told me that they had no clue about cold weather. They at first couldn't understand why their doorknobs stung their hands as winter set in.

[Aerows]

110. Folks here don't know what to do

Ask what to do when it is too hot, and you feel faint, everyone knows what to do. Ask what to do when it is snowing, in the 20's and the wind is gusting? Blank looks and a bunch of cold people.

[Mojorabbit]

19. 81 in Orlando as I type!

I will be bitching up a storm in the summer when it is 99 out with 100% humidity.

[ChiciB1]

57. Gotcha... Live Across The State South Of Tampa...

Windows open right now, and have shorts on. BUT, did hear we're going to get some cold weather! And what is cold weather to me is probably "spring" to others. Lived here so long that if it's 50-60 outside, then it's COLD to me!

But, as you say... summer's can melt a person. I live right near the West Coast, so humidity is brutal. Stepping outside can take your breath away if you're not used to it! In 5 minutes you can sweat a bucket too!

But to all those who are freezing, my heart goes out to you... and I worry all the time about the homeless animals or ANY animal that has to be outside with such freezing temps. I always have that same thought every time I hear about how cold it really gets!

Have heard from many heartless people who tell me "it's just a balance of Nature!" Sorry, still not fair!

[alcibiades_mystery]

26. ROFL

I thought the OP was going to turn parody at some point, but it appears this dude is actually serious!

"I had to salt my driveway."

[Aerows]

30. An inch of snow shuts the city down, here

Nobody has any clue of how to function.

[Jenoch]

43. You don't need to salt your driveway for an inch of snow.

It will melt soon.

[Aerows]

52. It wasn't for snow

it was for an ice layer. I didn't want my elderly parents to fall when they stopped by, or my neighbors.

[Jenoch]

86. Good idea then.

The geniuses that designed our house put a downspout from the roof gutter so the water flows across our front sidewalk. There was a large amount of ice that I had to deal with until last fall when I moved the thing to the other side so it flows into the lawn.

[Aerows]

89. Nobody thinks of ice and freezing here

The downspouts sheet across the driveway, which I did not notice until I nearly fell on my ass.

[dixiegrrrrl]

121. the problem is it will NOT melt soon.

We will not get a warm up till Thursday.
That means all the sleet and ice on the roads today will stay frozen..it is 24 degrees out right now.
Tomorrow and tomorrow night it will stay freezing.
So all those cars that are stuck on the roads today ain't gonna move till thursday.
all those kids who are stuck at school because their parents cant' reach them are having a bad day,
and night, and next day too, probably.
tomorrow everything will be closed except for emergency agencies.
No grocery store,roads are too icy.

I have ice on my outdoor plants..which means trees outside are covered in ice too.
Ice is heavy, trees fall down in ice storms, and they hit power lines.

So there are people who are stuck in cars, people who may be stuck at home with no power.

this is Birmingham today, it looks just like Atlanta does.

[Aerows]

143. You guys are as screwed as we are in MS.

I'll update with AL road conditions.

http://www.weather.com/weather/alerts/localstatealerts/?areaid=ALC029&phenomena=TCE&office=KBMX&etn=0000&significance=TM&wxlayer=none&zoom=0&camefrom=national

A stay off the road warning. You guys are getting slammed.

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE ALABAMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IN CLEBURNE COUNTY ALABAMA.

THE CLEBURNE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IS IMPLEMENTING A CURFEW FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY FROM 6 PM TUESDAY EVENING UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING. CITIZENS OF CLEBURNE COUNTY ARE WARNED TO STAY OFF THE ROADWAYS TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

[Jenoch]

148. When I said it will mwlt soon,

I was referring to the driveway, not the highway. I live in Minnesota and we have trucks that spread salt and solution on the highways so the amount of snow and ice you got would mean the highways never would get screwed up like they are in that photo. The stuff works until it gets to about -5°, then it's too cold to melt snow and ice. Then the exhaust freezes to the pavement and it creates black ice that you can't see. That's what we are dealing with now.

[Baclava]

171. that pic looks like Episode 1 of The Walking Dead, plus snow

for real

[ashtonelijah]

3. Same here, in Mississippi.

I'm here in Mississippi and it's sucking here also. I don't know how to drive in this at all. I always get excited when it snows once every few years, but I don't know what to do with all this ice. I'm not used to that at all.

[truebluegreen]

53. Do one thing at a time (slow, then turn etc.) and pretend you don't have brakes.

Because you don't.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

4. Look on the bright side,

it should kill some fire ants!

[Aerows]

8. They are just probably deep in their little hills

trying to figure out how to use it to their advantage.

[Are_grits_groceries]

20. True dat!

Those little muthas probably have snug nests and wee little fur coats. They are cunning and nasty bastards.

[Aerows]

33. When it floods, the little buggers form a ball and float down the street.

A writhing, floating ball of fire ants.

[Are_grits_groceries]

35. I've seen that.

They are probably drinking and singing 'Pontoon' by Little Big Tree. (I loath that song)

[spin]

82. Very true. You definitely do not want to have one of those ant balls hit you. (n/t)

[KentuckyWoman]

11. nope

It could have a hard freeze for weeks and maybe kill off some bugs. By end of March the population of bugs will be just the same anyway.

[meow2u3]

15. Temps have to be +10 degress or colder to kill fire ants

If the South has single digits, it should kill fire ants; otherwise, they'll survive to torture you in the spring.

[Aerows]

36. They'll survive anyway

When it floods badly, the whole hive just forms a ball and floats around with all the ants alternating climbing on top of each other for air. A seething, writhing basketball of FIRE ANTS.

[libodem]

6. Hope the homeless folks

Find shelter.

[Aerows]

38. Two people died of exposure last week

No one is used to it here. Let's all keep the homeless in this area in our prayers, because I'm sure they can use them!

[LukeFL]

106. Where are you?

[Aerows]

107. I'm on the Gulf Coast

near Gulf Port and Long Beach in MS.

[LukeFL]

117. Oh wow I am extremely surprised

About this sudden cold wave in southern states where regularly should be hot all the time.

[Aerows]

129. So are we. n/t

[notadmblnd]

7. -10 this morning and I saw a man the the gas station in shorts

I guess you guys do have thin blood.

[Aerows]

10. Let me know when you

can withstand a summer with 100+ and 85% humidity. For several days in a row.

[Are_grits_groceries]

23. Amen!

When it gets hotter than hell, y'all come down here and try to operate. There's a reason people do things slowly and it isn't all laziness.

[notadmblnd]

41. Michigan is a huge swamp. We get our humidity festivals here.

[Aerows]

54. We ARE a humidity festival pretty much 10 months out of the year.

At least you folks up there get a respite.

[notadmblnd]

63. We do get all 4 seasons even though it is said Michigan only has two,

Winter and construction. But the real beauty of living here, is that you can actually get the weather of all 4 seasons in just one single day.

[Aerows]

94. LOL!

That sounds fun

[knitter4democracy]

149. This is true. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Even in the deepest cold, we're often still at 75% humidity or more.

[sufrommich]

113. The midwest usually has hot,humid summers.

I'm not trying to take away from how dangerous winter situations are in the deep south but most of the Midwest knows all about heat and humidity,you have to be very far north before that's not a problem. Anyway,stay safe down there and stay home until the danger is over if you have that option.

[Aerows]

178. Our main problem

is lack of experience dealing with what we consider cold. The ice has mostly thawed, though, so things are getting back to normal. We don't really have much experience with a layer of ice on everything, icicles hanging and nearly falling on your butt walking out the door.

[joeglow3]

145. Some areas get both

We must be real badasses

[Pathwalker]

172. We did - last summer. During a massive 5 day power outage.

At Christmastime, we had a horrible, massive power outage after the ice storm, followed by 18" of snow, followed by -20 wind chills. All in a little over a week. Typical Michigan winter.

[QC]

9. There's an ice storm headed for the Florida panhandle.

My pipes froze a couple weeks ago, in Panama City. All of the leaves have fallen off my oranges and lemons.

This is all very weird. And not fun at all.

[Aerows]

32. I wrapped the pipes

last week, because I'm on the Gulf Coast in MS, not far from you. Last week was freaky cold, but this is ridiculous.

[cbayer]

42. And don't forget to leave a stream of water running.

I remember one winter in New Orleans when all the pipes (including my own) burst. You could hear running water from under every house.

[QC]

44. I forgot to do that, which ended up costing me a couple grand.

I used to know the cold weather drill but got out of the habit after living here for a while.

[cbayer]

59. Hello there QC! Long time no see.

Remember when we used to do those funny meta threads during the primaries.

Those were the good old days, lol.

Yep, I went to the trouble of wrapping the pipes I could get to and the outside spigots, but didn't know about that leaving the water running trick and it cost me a bundle, too. Ah, to have been a plumber then.

I'm in Mexico now, and I'm not going to tell you about the weather here because you would want to slap me.

[QC]

64. Good to see you again!

I ended up having to have a good bit of the house replumbed, and while that's expensive, it will save me from future worries, since they used a flexible type of pipe that just expands if it happens to freeze. I guess that's worth the trouble and expense. So I tell myself, anyway.

[cbayer]

68. Great idea. I think a lot of people in New Orleans did that as well, though many

of us went without water for quite a long time waiting for a plumber.

What a freaking mess it was.

Even though it doesn't happen often, once is enough to warrant a new approach.

[QC]

77. Yes, this should save some hassle later.

Luckily, we don't get this kind of weather a lot.

[RebelOne]

169. I let my facuets run in the kitchen and bathroom,

but I still ended up with three broken pipes. I live in North Georgia and have been through many winters, but I have never had broken pipes until this winter. I don't think the pipes can handle weeks of below freezing and single-digit temperatures. This has been the most brutal winter I have ever experienced in the South.

[QC]

170. Ugh. My pipe break was under a slab,

where you would think the pipe would be sufficiently insulated not to freeze, but it did anyway. Plumber says that pipe was probably rotten anyway, given the age of the house.

Do you have everything fixed now?

[Aerows]

48. Early 90's?

That was a cold damn winter. We had snow.

[cbayer]

56. I believe that was it. I do remember that it snowed on Christmas Day.

Downright weird and my kids didn't know what to do, lol!

[Aerows]

61. Yep, that was it

I was living there at the time. I was kind of awestruck watching the snow fall!

[cbayer]

70. Yes, New Orleans in the snow is a truly magical experience

and one that very few will ever see.

[Aerows]

96. I did :)

I was going up St. Charles Ave. after dropping a friend off at her house when it started snowing and saw the street cars with snow on them

[SomethingFishy]

13. Stay warm by layering your clothes, turn off your water where you can

empty your hoses, keep lots of blankets around in case of power loss... If you have a fireplace make sure to have wood to burn..

[Aerows]

14. Gas fireplace, luckily, but we do have electric heating.

It was cold last week, got into the 20's a few times and a couple of days didn't get above freezing, but it was clear and the wind wasn't blowing. This is ridiculous.

[SomethingFishy]

18. Yeah I worry when shit like this happens in odd places

that aren't prepared. I have a friend near Macon Ga, and he said they were calling for single digit temperatures and a couple inches of snow, and when he went to the store the shelves were empty.

I've been in Colorado 25 years and we have had weather like this many times but we are so well prepared that it doesn't even phase us anymore. Hell it has to snow a foot before they close the schools here..

Stay safe and warm!

[Glitterati]

31. Georgia here

We have 2 inches on the ground and it's going to keep snowing until about 11:00 tonight.

But, here's the bad thing.......the forecast missed entirely, by insisting that north of Atlanta would only get a "dusting" of snow. So, these communities did not cancel school.

When the roads started getting bad, at about an inch on the ground, they tried to release the kids early by throwing them all on school buses and running them home. Now, multiple schools have children TRAPPED AT SCHOOL. They can't get them home. Road conditions are so bad, they can't put the buses on them.

Additionally, there are multiple reports of loaded school buses stuck in ditches. With the kids on them!!!!!!

Right now, north of Atlanta, I have 2 inches on the ground and it's still coming down like mad.

THIS is what the roads all around Atlanta look like right now: http://www.wsbtv.com/

So, the kids who DID get home are probably home alone because their parents are trapped in this.

[Aerows]

45. And Northerners don't realize

we have no snow tires, no provisions to salt the road, nothing like that down here, because it seldom gets below freezing - never mind actually icing and snowing. We get low-40's and that's winter.

[Glitterati]

50. School administrators sleeping at school with trapped kids

That's about as ill equipped to handle these weather conditions as you can get.

One has to wonder if they even have blankets and pillows for the kids to sleep with!

And, the REALLY bad part is they released and bused the ELEMENTARY kids home first! So the youngest ones are the ones home alone waiting for parents stuck in gridlock, while their middle school and high school brothers and sisters are trapped at school.

The same buses are used to transport each school - they take the little ones home first, then go back for the high school, then the middle school on the same bus.

[Glitterati]

66. State of Emergency declared in Georgia n/t

[Aerows]

69. Not surprising.

If you are in Atlanta, I'm sure it's 10x worse than it is here.

[Glitterati]

74. I'm about 40 miles north of Atlanta

Have a sister in medical school in Savannah, GA. At least she will have a warm place to sleep in between emergencies at the hospital. They are expecting a really busy 24 hours.

All hands are on deck.

[Aerows]

109. Stay safe and warm, my friend

It's horrible here. They closed part of I-10 due to ice. The temperature has been dropping all day, starting at 30, but now it is plummeting with the iceballs still falling from the sky. I expect us to hit the teens.

It's a mess. And give your sister a hug for me for being on the front line of this mess

[Glitterati]

115. Already 19 here

Temps dropping quickly, everything outside is a frozen winter wonderland. 3 inches of snow officially, and it's very pretty out there as long as I can sit in my house and look outside. We're going to single digits overnight so tomorrow will bring frozen snow and puddles where it melted.

They don't expect a deicing for days, because it will melt during the day, then go back to the teens overnight refreezing any melt, but it's supposed to be near 60 this weekend, so there's an end in sight.

Thank goodness, I bought a house with natural gas heat, so we're sitting inside with the animals toasty and warm.

Local news just reported a school bus stuck behind a jacknifed tractor trailer on I75 full of kids at 8:00 PM!

[Aerows]

124. I have a gas fire place in case the power goes out

OH my WORD. That's awful. What are they doing to keep the kids warm?

[Glitterati]

130. Evidently, they just located the bus

So nothing at this point. I'm assuming they will try to get emergency crews to them ASAP and get the kids to shelter.

[sufrommich]

118. The situation with the kids is scary. I hope the kids stuck at school

just stay put.

[Glitterati]

133. Kids are in for the night

The schools will not release any more children unless their parents get to the school in person to come get them.

I'm assuming someone like Red Cross will get them cots, blankets and pillows for the night.

[sufrommich]

134. Good to hear. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

136. I am so glad for that explanation.

I have been hearing about Atlanta traffic jams, and was wondering why people had not stayed at home.
the kids trapped at school will be safe and warm, I expect..but the roads will still be frozen tomorrow.

[Glitterati]

140. The weather prediction missed entirely

The bad weather was supposed to be south of I20 with a light dusting north through Atlanta.

We were literally in a situation where the snow started falling, and everyone panicked and said "Everybody, RUN!" and released all their workers and employees to head for home at 1:30 this afternoon.

Combined early rush hour traffic and snow falling with fast developing icy, slick roadways, means all the roadways are STILL parking lots at 8:00 PM.

At this point, people have simply abandoned their vehicles in the middle of interstates because they ran out of gas, or wrecked their car. They have to find a source of warmth at this point to protect life and limb.

Of course, because of the parking lots, no road clearing can be done. They can't get the equipment through.

[dixiegrrrrl]

144. same parking lots in No. Ala.

but the weather WAS predicted.

not fun at all for folks.

[Aerows]

158. I'm by I-10

They closed it for a stretch here. It's so cold your shadow sticks to the ground. It would run for warmth if it could.

We have about 2 inches of ice and snow here, which is NOT NORMAL.

[dixiegrrrrl]

164. It's so cold here they ran out of degrees.

We use most of our degrees up in the summer, but a winter this cold can really affect the supply.

[get the red out]

16. Take care

I saw pics posted on FB by a friend who now lives in Mississippi, it's not looking good.

It seems that winter has shifted south this year. Here in Kentucky we tend to be prone to ice storms but that's going south of us, and we got horrific cold and snow this month, (it's 11 degrees right now, was 0 this morning).

[Aerows]

25. I'm in MS, too

And it is pretty tough outside. My cat (short-haired, built to survive heat and humidity) was pitching a fit to go outside. I finally said, "Okay, girl, go on out." She was huddled by the door to get back in 10 minutes later, and hasn't moved from her spot with the blankets in the chair.

[get the red out]

39. I knitted a sweater for my dog

when it kept staying so cold this winter. She's a rough, double-coated border collie mix, normally she's made for cold, but when it gets this bad I worry.

Thank goodness for our animal buddies to cuddle with!

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. In the meantime it is in the 70s outside

and no sign of measurable rain. We got a tease the other day, but that was about it.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. That happened to us a few weeks back here in OK.

You would have thought the end was nigh. Granted, I am originally from the deep South, so I like my snow in pictures or on TV. It is still very cold here and this past weekend, the wind was fierce (and not in the good, gay way); 60mph gusts, and constant winds of about 20-30mph. I am just glad no trees came down this time.

Take care of any critters you may have, they will be upset by the cold too. My baby Chihuahua refused to go outside and still won't unless the temperature is above 45 degrees. The other three chis were not impressed by the snow!

[Aerows]

27. My short-haired kitty INSISTED

that she be let out. I let her out before this sleet/snow mess started, and she was ready to come in ten minutes later, and now refuses to leave her blankets in the chair she reigns from.

[alcibiades_mystery]

24. Bee Oh Oh, Aych Oh Oh

Love and kisses from Chi-beria

[Jesus Malverde]

34. Sending some heat your way

[snooper2]

37. "The Deep South" ROFL

Every time I see that I think Little Nicky

[Jenoch]

46. Meanwhile we are having propane shortages

in Minnesota and Wisconsin with the temps falling into the -20s overnight.

[KittyWampus]

47. Hun, just stay away from raccoons, hear?

[Aerows]

51. I don't think they would even come out in this mess

Everything is bundled up!

[Glitterati]

58. Nasty ass possum on my screened porch last night.

I went to let the dog in and she wouldn't go past it!

I threw stuff at the possum from the door, scared the dog who ran past the nasty thing while I kept throwing stuff at it. The damned thing just stared at me and stayed right there. It's definitely time to make sure my dryer vent is sufficiently blocked with the vent.

Gawd, that thing was uuuuuuugly!

[Aerows]

65. They are the ugliest critters on the planet

I went outside on the porch one night and one was in a garbage can I kept by the door. I turned it over and the damn thing hissed at me. It had a warty face and just a dreadful personality. It ran away, it's naked, nasty looking tail going with it.

They actually don't carry rabies though, because they have such a low body temperature. I got bitten by a raccoon and have been through 4 rabies shots already. The final one is a week and a half from now. They are much more attractive than opossums, but they are vicious.

[Warpy]

75. Yeah, they are ugly

I used to pass one waddling up my street when I went home at midnight in Boston. It hissed at me the first couple of times but then didn't bother.

It's amazing how much nocturnal wildlife there was in that city.

[Glitterati]

78. I usually feed my cats out on the porch

so it was there, obviously, looking for leftover cat food.

However, since it's been so cold here lately, my cats are indoors with their food. The danged thing comes in through the doggy door on the porch.

I won't be feeding them out there anymore - not since I've found out what kind of critter it attracts.

[Aerows]

112. Learn from me

Do NOT leave food out at night, you will eventually attract raccoons, and they get huge and vicious. I'm going through the rabies series because someone in the neighborhood was actively feeding them, and I occasionally left food out on the porch.

They are nothing to play with, and are second in rabies carrier in NA only to bats.

[Glitterati]

119. I read your thread!

That is just horrible for you, and yes, I learned the lesson from you.

I had never seen any critters before last night (I'm in a rural area, but inside the city limits). I think what's driving your racoons and my possum closer to us is this frigid weather we've had this winter. Their food sources are drying up so they are coming closer to human encampments looking for food.

Kitties will be fed indoors from now on.

[Aerows]

131. I think you are right on the money

It wasn't like this last year. I never saw hide nor hair of one until this year, and suddenly, they are in your face.

I'd never seen a Great Horned Owl before the other night, either. It was sitting in a tree and scared the crap out of me when I was taking out the trash with a loud, deep HOOO, HOOO, HOOO, HOOO. I'm not sure which one of was more shocked when I dropped the trash.

[dixiegrrrrl]

165. Wait...whut???? Dryer vent????

They get into dryer vents???

[Glitterati]

166. Oh hell yeah

They go anywhere they think they can find food or warmth. Especially food.

My brother had a family of racoons in his house through the dryer vent.

[lpbk2713]

55. It's around 80° where I am.

The vortex isn't supposed to make it down this far.

I went out about two hours ago and used the car A/C.

[Aerows]

60. I lived in St. Pete for 7 years

If a breeze blows, everyone gets their coats LOL!

[lpbk2713]

62. Three cheers for St Pete.

A glimmer of blue in a field of red.

[Aerows]

73. Indeed it is :)

Great place!

[Warpy]

67. Well, at least it's all shut down

It's really bad when they let people go home three hours after they should have.

It's a good night for popcorn and wrapping up in blankets. I just hope the power doesn't go out.

[Glitterati]

80. Oh, they did exactly that in Atlanta

they waited until the flakes started coming down and then yelled, "Everybody RUN!" straight to the highways. Of course, Atlanta and north Georgia have been solid gridlock since 1:30 this afternoon.

[Warpy]

85. Health care people never got sent home

if it was really bad and we lived in the city, they'd send garbage trucks to pick us up, they got through everything. If we were lucky, the driver's cigar wasn't lit.

[Glitterati]

91. I have a sister in her final semester of medical school in Savannah, GA

it's all hands on deck there. Freezing rain, sleet and snow falling now.

At least, at the hospital, she has a warm place to sleep between emergencies.

[knitter4democracy]

150. There are teachers and students staying overnight in schools.

They couldn't send the buses out safely, parents couldn't get there to get the kids, so they're all staying there overnight.

Those teachers are heroes, by the way.

[steve2470]

71. I feel for you, Aerows

My poor brother east of Tallahassee will have to cope with ice or snow very soon. It's headed his way. Meanwhile it's 77 and lovely here in Orlando. Sending you both warm air !

[Blue_In_AK]

76. I'm really sorry.

Anchorage is beautiful and warm today - mid 40s - and I actually have violas blooming outside my front door. Iliamna west of here was 60 degrees yesterday. It's topsy-turvy world for sure.

[BainsBane]

79. It's been -20 F here in MN. -50 windchill

and the birds are still singing.

[Rowdyboy]

84. 25 degrees a few hours north of you in Canton...I haven't left the house at all today

And you're entirely correct-southerners have NO idea how to behave in ice, snow or cold weather.

A few years ago we spent Christmas in Merida on the Yucatan peninsula. Temperatures dipped to 68 one day and people were wearing heavy coats and shivering. I guess its all a matter of perspective.

[Aerows]

93. They closed I-10 from St. Tammany to way past Gulfport

due to ice. Should be an interesting few days!

[Aerows]

90. They closed I-10 in our area!

The ice apparently is that bad.

[frwrfpos]

92. minus 9 here tonight. stay warm

[Aerows]

98. We know nothing here in the South about dealing with such temperatures

but on the other hand, I'm sorry you have to know how to do so!

[malaise]

95. Stay safe and warm

[Aerows]

99. Thanks, Malaise

Right back at you, my dear!

[Elwood P Dowd]

101. 26 and snowing here in Alabama.

Had freezing rain and sleet earlier in the day, and it turned into snow a couple of hours ago. Only about a couple of inches so far. The real problems are some areas, parts of Birmingham and Atlanta, that have roads covered with ice.

[Aerows]

102. They closed a stretch of I-10 here because it is iced over

and we have no means to salt it or clear it.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/louisiana_snow_roads_bridges.html

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/28/5290933/update-freezing-weather-expected.html

[LukeFL]

114. Didn't know it snows in Alabama. Always

Saw that state along with other south terms one to be located in Deep South meaning where it was always hot ( like Arizona)

So surprised . Is this a new event or did it always snow there?

[Aerows]

122. I'm in MS

I doesn't snow here, especially not on the Gulf Coast, but it is now. It snowed a bit about 8 years ago, but it was a minor flurry and it all melted and dried up in a few hours. This is a new event, certainly.

[Elwood P Dowd]

146. We had 10 inches once back in 1973 and 6 inches 4-5 years ago.

It happens every few years. Remember March 1993? That was when a big one developed in the Gulf and pummeled much of the Southeast before becoming even worse as it moved further North. Some parts of Alabama had around 18 inches. Spring Break kids traveling from Florida back to Michigan and Ohio got stranded on I-65 when it became covered in snow and ice. Schools, churches, and local families along the route had to put up the students from Saturday until the roads cleared Monday.

[dixiegrrrrl]

167. snow in Northern Ala is not uncommon.

If you look at a map of Miss. and Ala. you will notice they are long-ish states.
we actually have 3 different growing zones here...so 3 different temp zones.
Garden almanacs speak of No Ala, Central Ala and Southern Ala.

Normally, our winters are actually sunny, temps usually stay above freezing.
Last winter it was cloudy and rained a lot.
2010 we had snow here in SW Ala. but only a few days of real cold.
Since Jan. we have had 3 cold spells where it went down to 20 or less for a few nights.
Unusual.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

103. It's -16 where I am right now.

Or -27 in sensible degrees. I do sympathize with you though. I love hot weather, but an extended period of 90+ degree days might test me a bit.

On the other hand, most of the troubles being had down there can be avoided with simple common sense. It doesn't take a lifetime of cold weather experience to know you shouldn't run a space heater near curtains, for example, or that you should layer up your clothes and wear a hat when it's cold, or that when it's slippery, you drive more carefully. Anywhere there are roads and it rains (or there are massive chicken grease spills, endemic in the South I'm told), drivers should know how to turn out of a skid.

The bright side is that there's lots of exotic fun to be had in the snow for properly-clad kids and young-minded adults. Make the most of it, says I!

[Aerows]

104. Here's the thing

some have NO IDEA that you need to wear a hat, and I don't think anyone has a space heater, because as chilly as it gets here, you just put on clothes. I just heard they have closed parts of I-10 because there is a layer of ice on it. No one here has snow tires, or the experience in driving on ice.

It is rather fun to look outside and see a bunch of white stuff on the ground, though

[IveWornAHundredPants]

105. I understand a house full of people in Mississippi died in a fire caused by their space heater.

Horrible news, but it confirms that there are space heaters in the South. And surely people know that when their heads feel cold, a hat will mitigate this feeling! (But mesh trucker caps, maybe not so much.)

Snow is beautiful, and glad to hear you're getting some enjoyment out of it. And take heart: You'll be warm again in a couple of days; I'll be freezing 'til April!

[Jenoch]

153. Not many people have 'snow tires' anymore,

just regular steel-belted radials. There are mountainous areas in the west where chains are needed on tires sometimes.

[Aerows]

154. I don't know about any of that

I just know it is snowing, sticking, and doesn't seem to want to let up!

[Jenoch]

173. I just checked the Gulfport weather.

You appear to have some sun and 34°. We have sun and 24° today in the Twin Cities, right now but we'll be back below zero Friday and snow tomorrow.

There are shortages of propane used in rural areas for heating. My brother just filled his 200 gallon tank for $800. The last time he filled it the cost was $250. In a normal winter a tank will last two months. With the temps regularly getting to -15° to -20° and lower this winter it will last maybe five weeks, and he keeps the thermostat at 62°.

[Aerows]

174. Good heavens

I hope you guys get some relief. That is horrible. Please stay warm and safe my friend, and give your brother a hug from the South!

[Jenoch]

175. The funny thing is

is that I remember much colder winters when I was a kid in the 70s. I lived out on the prairie back then (40 miles from the banks of Plum Creek) and we got blizzards all the time.

Here is a way to put things into perspective. When I was in college in the 80s I went home for the weekend. A surprise blizzard popped up. (That does not happen anymore with Doppler radar.) A blizzard is when there is 3 or more inches of snow, sustained winds of 35 mph, and visibilty of less than 1/4 mile. In reality, it gets much worse. I femember driving when you could not see past the hood of the car. You drive by looking for tbe center lone and the line on the shoulder, but you don't do it for too long.) on Sunday, my brother could not see the railing on his deck from the kitchen window.

Back to the surprise blizzard. There was a basketball game at the local community college. The cops came and told everyone they could not leave because it was too dangerous. A family of five got stuck 1/2 mile outside of town. A pickup came by with four adults in the single seat cab and offered to take the two smallest children. The family declined, they wanted to stay together. They all perished together. Nobody could rescue them because even on a snowmobile you cannot see where you are going. Farmers would tie ropes from their house to their cattle/dairy barn so they could find they way back inside.

These may sound like exaggerations, but they are not.


In the 23 years I have lived in the Twin Cities, I have not seen a blizzard. We did however once get 36" of snow on Halloween.

[MadrasT]

111. I have friends in Atlanta, and it sure is a mess down there!

Stay warm and safe, everyone.

[Aerows]

116. You have a bunch of people that don't really know how to deal with snow

a bunch of people that don't really know how to deal with cold weather, and people that want to go riding around getting in the middle of both things, which sad to say, is curiosity.

I hope all stay safe. 2 Homeless persons died last week because it was in the 20's. I shudder to think what will happen during this mess, and I hope that there is enough human kindness on the ground to help them stay warm. Even one of those ugly mylar emergency blankets could help some.

[greymattermom]

151. Seven hours so far

and my daughter' boyfriend hasn't made it from Buford to Dunwoody

[msanthrope]

120. Maybe the raccoon will freeze! nt

[Aerows]

125. I hate to say it

but there is always Hope!!!

[XRubicon]

123. I live a little deeper south... it's 73 degrees in palm beach county

[Aerows]

128. It might get a tad nasty when this floats your way

Nothing like what we've gotten. I lived in St. Pete for 7 years. Great place.

[XRubicon]

138. It's not going to make it here, the low over the next 5 days is 60 degrees

I lived in St Pete for about 5 years too, now Palm Beach which I like better (ocean vs gulf)

[hrmjustin]

126. Stay safe and be warm.

[Aerows]

135. Thank you

and let's all think of those that aren't warm and safe here. May they make it through and have people be kind to them.

[steve2470]

127. completely OT but interesting pic of 1899 snowball fight in Tallahassee

It took place on the steps of the Florida Capitol building on 2-10-1899.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blizzard_of_1899

Stay warm Aerows and my fellow southerners !

[HockeyMom]

132. My Florida cats won't go outside if it's 50s

I am sitting outside in my pj's drinking my coffee. Hey, cats, you have FUR COATS. 50s is way above freezing. Moved here from NYC 7 years ago. Unlike 99.9% of transplants, I did not move to Florida for the weather, and 50s is NOT COLD to me (unlike my Florida cats). Wear a hat and gloves? I didn't wear them them until it was way below freezing up north. Why the hell would I in Florida?

BS, that you get used to Floriduh weather and can't then cannot take the cold, UNLESS you couldn't take the cold to begin with. Bring back last week's 30s, 40s, and 50s. LOVE that weather.

[Aerows]

137. 20's and sleeting

It's not really snow, just big frozen balls of water falling. I didn't let her out in that, but damned if she didn't want out before when it was 30. She camped out by the door after 10 minutes to be let in.

She is so precious to me, but as stubborn as I am. I think that's why we are so fond of each other.

[HockeyMom]

139. I wouldn't let them out below freezing

If I was outside myself in that weather, I would be wearing the correct outerwear, and not just pj's.

[Texasgal]

141. We had another ice event

today! Closed schools and state offices. It was okay by noon, but there were hundreds of accidents this morning. I went to work late.

I can sympathize with you. We have NO CLUE what to do in ice/snow severe freezing conditions! Stay warm!

[lonestarnot]

142. Poor thing.

Sending warm wishes.

[Aerows]

147. Updated the weather warnings

with traffic information.

[Amonester]

152. Aww. Climate changy. Only beginning.

Effed-up weakening jet stream due to too much carbon in atmosphere = polar vortex going to places it wouldn't go without too much carbon in the atmosphere. Wait. There's more coming up, and nobody can stop it significantly enough. Capitalists must keep on getting wealthier every quarter.

[Coyotl]

155. Just got some snow pictures from Texas

[Aerows]

157. You guys are probably having it rougher than we are

but we have two inches ... on the Gulf. A mile from the gulf. Snow and ice. Ugly.

[Coyotl]

176. My relatives saw snow. I'm near the ocean in Oregon, wet, mild, and warm.

The tulips are growing, the grass is greening after hard freezes during the short, dry winter here this year.

[Aerows]

156. We have two inches on the ground, here

We should not EVEN get snow but I can take pictures to prove it. It's ludicrous to have this so far south.

[pstokely]

159. A SOUTHERNER MOVES UP NORTH

http://www.mindspring.com/~toxiccow/14_0378.htm

A SOUTHERNER MOVES UP NORTH



JAN 10 5:00 PM. It's starting to snow. The first snow of the season and

the first one we've seen in years. The wife and I took our hot buttered

rums and sat by the picture window, watching the soft flakes drift down,

clinging to the trees and covering the ground. It was beautiful!



Jan 11 We awoke to a lovely blanket of crystal white covering the

landscape. What a fantastic sight. Every tree and shrub covered with a

beautiful white mantle. I shoveled snow for the first time in years, and

loved it. I did both our driveway and our sidewalk. Later a city

snowplow came along and accidentally covered up our driveway with

compacted snow from the street. The driver smiled and waved. I waved

back and shoveled it again.



Jan 12 It snowed an additional 5 inches last night and the temperature has

dropped to about 11 degrees. Several limbs on the trees and shrubs

snapped due to the weight of the snow. I shoveled our driveway again.

Shortly afterwards, the snowplow came by and did his trick again. Much of

the snow is now brownish-gray.



Jan 13 Warmed up enough during the day to create some slush which soon

became ice when the temperature dropped again. Bought snow tires for both

cars. Fell on my ass in the driveway. $145 to a chiropractor, but

nothing was broken. More snow and ice expected.



Jan 14 Still cold. Sold the wife's car and bought a 4x4 in order to get

to work. Slid into a guardrail anyway, and did considerable amounts of

damage to the right quarter panel. Had another 8 inches of the white shit

last night. Both vehicles covered in salt and crud. More shoveling in

store for me today. That goddamn snowplow came by twice today.



Jan 15 2 degrees outside. More fuckin' snow. Not a tree or shrub on our

property that hasn't been damaged. Power was off most of the night.

Tried to keep from freezing to death with candies and a kerosene heater,

which tipped over and nearly burned the house down. I managed to put the

flames out but suffered 2nd degree burns on my hands and lost all my

eyelashes and eyebrows. 4x4 slid on the ice on the way to the

emergency-room and was totaled.



Jan 16 Goddamn mother fuckin' white shit keeps coming down. Have to put

all the clothes on we own just to get to the fuckin' mailbox. If I ever

catch that son-of-a-bitch that drives the snowplow I'll chew open his

chest and rip out his heart. I think he hides around the corner and waits

to plow shut our driveway again. Power still off. Toilet froze and part

of the roof has started to cave in.



Jan 17 Six goddamn more fuckin' inches of fuckin' snow and fuckin'

sleet, fuckin' ice and goddamn knows what other kind of white fuckin'

shit fell last night. I wounded the fuckin' snowplow asshole with an ice

axe, but he got away. Wife left me. Car won't start. I think I'm going

snowblind. I can't move my toes. Haven't seen the sun in weeks. More

snow predicted. Wind Chill -22 fuckin' degrees. I'm moving back to

North Carolina!

l

[steve2470]

160. made me chuckle ! nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

168. LOL!!!!!

Yep.......perspective.

[steve2470]

161. snow in Baker, FL:

[Aerows]

180. right in the same area I'm in.

We don't get snow and ice, and do not have a clue.

[JoeyT]

162. It's awful in west-central Alabama too.

Two inches of sleet/hail that froze into a nice sheet of ice that got snow layered on top of it for the last six hours.

If anyone was unclear what climate models meant by the weather becoming more unpredictable, this ought to show them. Well below freezing, with sleeting, hailing, and snowing on Wednesday, and it's going to be mid-70s on Saturday.

Edited to add: I did get to ski for the first time in my life, though. Last year I put in a structural steel ramp at my parent's house that's about twenty feet long. Today I managed to go from the top to the bottom on one foot in under a half a second. So I didn't salt a driveway, but I did salt a ramp.

[Aerows]

179. All of it melted here .. mostly

we have some patches of ice, and *crossing my fingers* hopefully we get back to normal!

[Gothmog]

177. I worked from home on Friday and yesterday

We do not know how to drive on ice.