Pre-Christmas blizzard expected-could strengthen into a bomb cyclone

I brought down half a face cord of BL to feed the Lopi. Replaced our drafty front door tuesday, not because of this cold temps, it was way over due.
Last week I ran heat tape on our water line from the well (long story on that setup, not done by me). Hopefully that didnt get knocked loose by my crazy dogs.
Hopefully the power stays on.

 

First time I ever recall getting an email from the power company forecasting widespread power outages that could last for days. I don't even remember getting them prior to Irene or Sandy. Went into North Conway (closest large town) yesterday and there were dozens of utility trucks and crews parked at hotels. Don't know if they were left over from the storm last week or if they were pre-staged for this one. Regardless, it was good to see them. Latest forecasts have wind gusts up to 72mph just north of us.

 

My buddy is a lineman here in Michigan. They shipped him to Massachusetts to be on standby.

 

It stinks to be out on sby on a holiday.
Still looks like whatever wet will freeze out this way.

 

Got a couple inches of snow and now the temp has risen to 35*, it's raining and the roof is dumping every couple of minutes. With the snow so heavy, the rain and the warmer temps, the dumpage is in small amounts, but still very heavy. Probably would have slept anther hour or two if I hadn't heard/felt the thumping of it hitting the ground.

 

I remember the year we (the ex and I) found out that lamp oil goes bad - I think that was the ice storms of 2008. Thought we were ready with 4-5 oil lamps and a couple bottles of lamp oil (to supplement the small generator for the heat and well pump), Actually I think it was only the open quart bottle that went bad. I do remember using candles and putting mirrors and sheets of aluminum (or some polished metal - maybe cookie sheets) behind them to intensify the effect.

 

Local news said that the utilities have been bringing up crews from as far away as Texas for the last several days - so probably not left over. Although it is always possible that some of them were just told to stay put for this one.

 

I've gotten 2 texts and my wife got a robocall from the power company about this storm. I've gotten texts in the past but never 2 for the same storm and never robocalls.

 

Mid-50's here. Winds and temps rising. It rained all night and still is.

 

You sir are a brave man going to Conway at Christmas time! We went on a Wednesday a couple weeks ago, pouring rain . Place was still a zoo. Power companies here have been on the radio and news warning of bad outages but they don’t have my phone or email. East winds are rare here and bad, trees grow strong to the other directions and don’t like easterly heavy winds especially with as much rain as we have had the last couple months and now with a foot of snow in them.

 

Six inches of snow overnight and just started pouring about half an hour ago. Went out anyway to clear a path off the deck, the deck stairs, the truck, and the roof of the snowmobile trailer. Not sure how much is going to melt in the next 12 hours of rain, but whatever is left is going to weigh a ton and be hard as a rock. Many of the white birch on my road are bent almost completely over already. Will be a load of fun once the winds get here. Best of luck down your way and hopefully the power doesn't go out for you (as well as MikeInMa, theburtman, tree killer, and everyone else in this storm's path).

 

Needed dog food or I wouldn't have gone! Went as early as possible and everything was already crowded and a mess.

Best of luck up your way with this storm. Keep the fire going and the chainsaws ready!

 

We went grocery shopping on Wednesday vs our normal Friday. Generator is hooked up and full of fuel with 30 gallons on hand in case. All I need to do is flip the switch and start it if power goes out. I brought a map gas torch inside in case we need to thaw locks to key into the garage during a power outage to fire the generator. Shovels in the house to dig to the garage if need be. I even put tape over the man door locks on the garage to keep the freezing rain out in case that manifested. Thankfully it didn't. Currently we are at 10° and 20+ sustained winds and light, powdery snow. I'll be using the leaf blower to keep the covered deck clean throughout this storm. Its wrapped in a trash bag and in the utility room along with the shovels. The blower, not the deck....

 

You sound like you are ready good luck and stay safe

 

I'm surprised I haven't heard any of the weather forecasters reference that movie regarding this storm. Irene, Sandy, and the Halloween storm of 2017 were all labeled as '100-year' storms, despite all of them occurring within an 8-year span. Guess they wanted to change their tune because I keep hearing this current storm being referred to as a 'once in a generation' storm. They always have to find a way to sensationalize things.

 

Currently raining. Had a steady soaking rain. Ground is very soft. Calling for high wind gusts, so it's not a good scenario. Temps are suppose to drop starting after 9 this morning. If power goes out, we'll still be warm. But Christmas eve and day will be interesting. We won't be totally up Chit Creek, because I have a paddle.