Showing posts with label Snowpocalypse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snowpocalypse. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Flying in the Storm


From the Storm
March 21, 2018

More from the Storm
March 21, 2018
Radio Flyer, my drone, conducted a flight in the falling snow this morning. 

It was interesting because the collision avoidance sensors frequently activated due to the falling snow. 

It was fun flying through the snowflakes and imaging the trees and the yard. Later, I will be flying up the street as the snow is already melting and I am hopeful that this Spring storm is the last of the winter period. It is time for flowers and sunny warmth.

The big snowflakes made the flying interesting, but the flight provided some unique views of the snow on the trees.



I am glad that the leaves had not yet appeared as there likely would have been a lot of tree damage.

It is not 5:30 PM and the storm appears to have spent its energy. Now comes the freezing and the cold!

But then there is the Spring, although temperatures are not forecast to be in the 50's until a week hence, next Tuesday.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And This is Spring?


Welcome to the first full day of Spring! And we are expecting 4-7 inches of snow. It may even develop into a snowpocalypse! But probably not.

Beginning of the Storm
March 21, 2018
Schools are closed in celebration of the arrival of Spring! Not really. They are closed because the roads are a mess. 

What a way to welcome Spring, with snow.

Two days ago I was outside working the team during baseball practice. Now, it will be until next week until i can do it again.

The local weather continues to remind me why I want to live somewhere that the sun shines and the temperatures are warm. Even though it was cool during my weekend get away to Florida, it was warmer than it has been in the Baltimore region.

Springtime brings such promise, but the weather can really crush those hopes with reality. 

I was thinking about when I will be opening the pool. May is beginning to look like a definite possibility.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Snow Plow Freedom


The Street before the Plow
It may seem like a very small thing. A snow plow finally opened the street in front of my house yesterday morning at about 7 AM. With that important event, the neighborhood could begin to find an ending to the "historic" storm.

When the morning began, although it was dark, the street was jammed with ice and snow. The driveway was open, but there was nowhere to go. 

Snow Plow Salvation
And then--out of the pre-dawn darkness it appeared. The sounds of scraping and flashing yellow lights. I imagine the entire neighborhood cheered. I know I did. Freedom from the snowy prison was in sight.

And then, of course, the real work began. Clearing the plow snow form the drives. It was a funny scene late on Monday. The driveways were clear to the pavement which was drying, yet about 30 inches of snow presented anyone form actually going anywhere. Yesterday, after the plow cleared the street, the job was to remove the snow dams remaining in the driveway to allow full access to the street. My neighbor and I started up the street with her snow blower and began clearing the driveways. 

It felt good to work up a sweat, and having to take my coat off, by freeing our neighbors from the snow.

And then it was off to work to resume some normalcy and make Winter Storm Jonas a by-line in the history books.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Surviving a Snow Day


Snow Days, when I am trapped in the house because the roads are impassable, happen only rarely. It is interesting what I find to do to fill the time.

To pass the time, Chris and I decided to watch the birds. 

Chris put some peanuts atop the snow pile on the deck hoping that  the blue jays would come and feast. It was a nice diversion. The sky was blue and the sun was bright.

We had pulled out all of the cameras and video gear that we own and laid in wait for the blue jays to arrive--and they did!

They are cautious birds, but fun to watch as they begin to get familiar and comfortable with a situation. Even after we had put the dogs out, they quickly came back once the dogs were inside.

Of course, at the feeders there were some "non-birds" doing their best to snatch a snack. Squirrels are creative creatures. This one almost was posing for the event, looking straight into the camera. But, undeterred, it continued feeding.

I retrieved my GoPro and took some video of the blue jays arriving and departing. I admit, it is not a great video but it took over an hour to process and edit and that helped take use some of the time I had with precious little else to do.



Something to enjoy.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday, January 25, 2016

Monday Musings - January 25, 2016


Blue Jay at the Feeder during the Storm
1. In addition to the birds we enjoy feeding, bird feeders can bring unwanted visitors as well. We had to witness a hawk feeding on one of the mourning doves that had come to our feeder during the storm. Nature is hard.

2. Yesterday morning, a deer had made a nest under one of our trees in the snow. It stayed there for most of the morning until the dogs began to get worked up.

Mockingbird at the Feeder during the Storm
3. As computers get easier to use, they become harder to understand.

4. Someday I'm going to own a car that will drive to me when I summon it. 

5. Update from the storm--the street in front of the house has not yet been cleared. There is 30 inches of snow in it meaning that I am not going anywhere. Even the Jeeps get stuck because of lack of ground clearance.

6. Leading the news again this morning, at least in the Baltimore-DC region is the storm and the clean-up. Ill equipped as the region is to handle this much snow, it could take all week to get back to normal--and then there is another storm on the horizon.

7. The Washington Post called the storm "Snowzilla."

8. It was 11 degrees this morning. Ugh! I guess winter just wants to remind me which season is currently driving the bus.

9. I thought we could all use a joke this morning, and so from Joke of the Day, here it is:

A blonde goes to her doctor and says that every time she drinks a coffee her eye hurts. The doctor prepared her a hot, fresh cup of coffee to see what really happens. She took a sip of the coffee and screamed, "Ouch, that hurts!" The doctor said, "I know your problem." The blonde asked, "Is it bad, doctor?" The doctor replied, "No, you just need to take your spoon out of your cup before you drink your coffee."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Dawn After the Storm


Looking up the Driveway
January 24, 2016
I had the dogs out this morning and was able to enjoy the pre-dawn clear sky. I saw stars and the moon which was casting its light upon the white world.

The snow finally stopped falling overnight and the wind has ceased creating drifts across the land as well. The snowfall totals across the area ranges from 20 to 30 inches. Officially, the snowfall total made the storm the biggest in history with over 29 inched of snow falling. Scary enough, as they were showing the top five storms of all time, I have been living here for four of them. The only top five storm that I wasn't here for occurred during 1922.

I Need to Clean the Truck
January 24, 2016
The fire is no longer crackling in the fireplace, I need to start one.

The biggest positive from surviving the storm is that for the past couple days the news media has been solely focused upon the weather and not the political olympics. It has been a much needed respite from the constant droning and sniping of the candidates 

That written, the news media have been describing the storm as both epic and historic. Fortunately, they did predict it and we are warm and fully stocked with food. Locally we are calling the storm snow-zilla!

Another day and more shoveling. Our street has not yet been plowed and so there is no where that I can go whether I need to or not.

I will enjoy the snow day.

From the bulls-eye of the now departed storm.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, January 23, 2016

As the Storm Rages


We thought it was ending, but not.




The storm has been raging for almost 24 hours and it seems to have intensified. At least the blowing has gotten worse. It is about 2:45 PM on Saturday. I can almost see where we shoveled 14 inches of snow earlier along the fence line.

We are calling it Snow-Zilla. Sitting in then house watching the storm rage while listening to The Beach Boys with a fire in the fireplace.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

From the Bullseye of the Storm


Yes, lest those of you not in the Baltimore-Washington region wonder--it is snowing!


As the Storm Begins
January 22, 2016
A lot. Hard! Continuously.

We have had lightening and thunder during the snow as well. I wonder why we usually write it "thunder and lightening" since it is the lightening that causes the thunder?


Morning
January 23, 2016
We cleared about 3-4 inches from the driveway last night hoping to make today's efforts somewhat easier. It was a nice 30 minute test run for today so we could understand how much fun clearing snow form the driveway isn't!

It is just socked in. I'm glad I don't have to travel, unlike some of our family who are returning from an enjoyable Caribbean cruise and trying to fly into the region which is paralyzed by the snow!

Plan for the day? Hunker down and stay warm. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 22, 2016

Snowpocalypse Continued


The snow from Winter Storm Jonas has not yet begun to blanket the region and already schools are closing and panic is ensuing.

If we really get 30 inches of snow, it may be 3 days before my street is plowed! Seriously.

It is all supposed to arrive starting later today. 

It is supposed to be messy. Really messy!

Winds tomorrow are expected to reach 50 miles per hour. 

Blizzard warnings have been posted. 

Groceries have been laid in. 

Wood gathered from the pile and staged in the garage. 

Bring it on! OK, I was really looking ride out the storm in Key West, but the tickets were too expensive.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, January 21, 2016

First Major Snow of the Season


Winter Storm Jonas is coming.

Expected Storm 22-24 January 2016
I was afraid that that a storm would eventually arrive to reinforce the hold of the season upon the region and it is coming in the form of Winter Storm Jonas according to the weather forecasters.

Jonas, expected to become a Nor'easter of epic proportions, is expected to slam into the region beginning tomorrow snarling travel and making life generally miserable. The grocery store shelves across the area are already showing signs of binge buying as people scurry to ensure they have enough essential supplies to endure two or three days of cabin fever.

I know that some areas, perhaps Buffalo, NY, look at 12-24" of snow and laugh considering it to be minor snow flurries, but in this region we consider it to be accumulations of apocalyptic proportions. Real "end of the world" stuff.

I'd like to say it is fun; however, it certainly will destroy any weekend plans that I had. I worry doubt travelers--for instance family members returning from a Caribbean cruise who my become stranded in Orlando. Well, hurt me, there are a lot worse places to be stranded and I myself once had to ride out a northeast snowstorm in Orlando. 

Well, with my bed imitation of a staunch New Englander, I say bring it on. Give me your best shot because I'm pretty sure I'll still be standing when the snow clears and springtime arrives.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 30, 2015

January blues Looking for Springtime

Miami at Dawn
The weather is cold. There is snow. January is coming, thankfully, to a close. 

Even though February can be colder and snowier--it is another month closer to March and Springtime.

I am still trying to get over the realization that two days ago I woke up in Miami and this morning I am suffering in the cold of Maryland with a huge snowstorm on the horizon for the weekend--Sunday, to be precise with a forecast of 5-8 inches! Ugh! What a way to spend Super Bowl Sunday, although during 2010 we were digging out from the Snowpocalypse--hopefully it won't be that bad. 

As an aside, I could still feel the ship all day yesterday and had a slight feeling of rocking when I was sitting still. It was disconcerting--hopefully my inner ear will have readjusted and I'll have a better day today.

On the brighter side, the available sunlight has increased to over 10 hours and is increasing by over 2 minutes per day!

One way to beat the mid-winter doldrums is to buy some flowers and add a splash of color to the house. It really helps to brighten the mood and remind me that there is life after winter and it is not too far off.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday, March 17, 2014

St Patrick's Day Snow Update

It snowed, for real. 

I looked out this morning and saw that the weather forecasters had not been wrong, as I had hoped. 


At first I thought that we had about 5 inches, but when I put my ruler into the white, cold stuff; it read 7 inched piled on my deck.

Ugh!

Spring begins in four all too far away days.

It is St Patrick's Day, I had planned on wearing some really cool socks to work in celebration of the day. The last thing I needed was another day off from work. I am just too busy to leave thinks lying around waiting.

I am sure Springtime will arrive soon!

Reassure me!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Who Loves the Snow?

Makayla in the Snow
One of my readers has accused me of writing too much about the snow. I stand convicted! I would prefer to write about warm sandy beaches--but there aren't any near me. The snow is ubiquitous and unending, it seems. Untile the snow had finally and completely departed there can be ". . . no joy in Mudville."

Yesterday I determined that one member of my family actually loves the snow. Makayla!

Although not technically a snow dog, like a huskie, she does have a double coat and she seems to love being out in the snow. The only time she asked to go out and just play and not perform some bodily function is during snow events. 
As the Storm Begins

Fortunately, the storm under performed yesterday. We were expecting up to 9 inches of fresh, while snow and received only about 5.

Yay. Less to shovel.

The bigger problem this morning are the record setting frigid temperatures. The record for the area is 5 degrees and at my house this morning the thermometer reads 5.4 degrees with still an hour to go before dawn.

That is too cold for Makayla. Too cold for me. Although, I am headed out in a few minutes to risk life and limb on the racquetball court. 

Hopefully, this will be my last blog about snow for the season, except to write that it has finally and completely departed and been replaced by green grass and flowers.  Time will tell.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Sunday, February 16, 2014

Time Lapse Storm

Thursday Morning
February 13, 2014
While reviewing the aftermath of the great Valentines Day storms, I realized that I had taken a time-lapse imagery session of my driveway and the street in the aftermath of the storm.

I am still amazed how quickly the 46 degree day on Friday helped to get the snow and ice off critical driving surfaces. I am also amazed that I was shoveling snow and ice until late in the afternoon. I never finished clearing everything until about 4:30 pm on Friday and was braced for up to five more inches of snow which thankfully never materialized. 
Friday Morning
February 14, 2014

It took time to get the snow removed. But most of all, it took sunshine. And that was the amazing part. For all of the work it took to remove the snow, shovel by shovel, the snow melted it and made the biggest difference.
Friday Afternoon
February 14, 2014


My biggest shock was how quickly the street cleaned up after the plow finally came. The street went from snow packed and icy to wet and very passable is a few short hours. All due to the sun.

And so, another storm has passed and by the end of this week, the temperatures will be in the 50's and maybe we can say good-bye to the snow for the rest of the season.

Next year I'm going to pay off the ground hog so he doesn't see his shadow!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, February 14, 2014

Two Storms Down, Another in the Way!

Happy Valentines Day!

Just when I thought the storms were over--and I could begin digging out for good with the promise of springtime weather coming soon, another "Clipper" is on the way with 1-5 inches, tonight.

Ugh!

I'm sitting here watching the continuous weather reports, like I could make them change. I wish I could make them change. 
My Street at 7 AM on Valentine's Day

Our street remains unplowed as of 7AM and my driveway is currently more akin to an ice skating rink than a driving surface. The deep ruts in the street make driving nearly impossible. 
Makayla Enjoying the Crusty Snow

What is good about all of this? 

Not much. 

My sidewalk is iced over--and now with the temperatures warming it has a layer of water on top on it. 

It is cold! I think I need a palm tree fix. 

Soon.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Thunder Sleet Rocks the House

Rainbow Drive at
5PM on February 13, 2014
I heard it this afternoon. Thunder! During the middle of the sleet storm, it was then that I decided to finish the shoveling before the oncoming additional 4 inches of snow expected this evening followed by the return of the deep freeze.

All of the slush should turn into ice before morning.

What a joy! My street still has not been plowed and if the additional snow arrives and then freezes--it should be a lot of fun tomorrow morning.

Ugh.

Here is a video that Chis took of the Thunder Sleet--although she did not get a thunder clap on the video.



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

From the Eye of the Storm

Yes--it snowed. Get over it!

We were forecast for 6-10 inches and measured 11 inches on the back deck. Well, sadly, the forecasters were mostly correct. Now sleet is falling and later today, just to add insult to injury, we should get another three or so inches. 

Ugh.

What's worse? The neighbor's snow blower is broken. I spent an hour on it last evening and could not get it running. It's not getting gas. It ran fine, for a few seconds, when I poured gas into the cylinder, but I could not find out why it wasn't getting gas on its own. I'm worried the intake valve is stuck closed. 

So this will be a snow removal by hand operation.

It may be a long day. I think I am going to get a fire going in the fireplace and think about shoveling. Perhaps it will disappear.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Snow in the Forecast, Panic in the Streets

It is 12 degrees outside my house this morning as dawn prepares to wake up and start the day. it is supposed to be a cold but fairly nice winter day, right up until the snow begins falling. The news is abuzz again with the threat of a significant storm which is forecast to drop 6-10 inches of snow upon a region ill equipped to handle it. 

I was joking yesterday that now that the Super Bowl is over, the best place to buy TV commercial time is before the local weather forecast. Everyone is watching the weather.

The stores reportedly are already running short of milk, bread, and toilet paper. 

Bread! We need bread!

The hard part about storms like this are the thousands of people who lose electrical power and are forces to stay warm huddled around fireplaces. Some in our area may lose their power for a week or more. Some are only now recovering from the ice storms of last week.


Who knew there are three models used to forecast snowfall? Sadly, I did. It comes from living in Maryland for almost 20 winters. Today, I expect all of the conversation will be about the snow. The storm is so bad already in the south that airline flights are being canceled for today and our region will see many cancellations tomorrow. I just hope the people in Atlanta do better this time than they did during the last storm.

Who wrote that stupid some about "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow?" (Sammy Cahn and Jule Styn in 1945). 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 28, 2011

Snow--The Aftermath

The aftermath of the snowstorm which dumped about 8 inches of snow on us in five hours is incredible.  There are countless trees and branches down. Powerlines are still down--in fact they had the intersection of US 1 and MD100 closed last evening for a downed powerline.

The snow was heavy and fierce. The region is still discussing the 1000 (yes that is one thousand) car back up on one of the major arteries in the region which occurred because people over extended themselves and their vehicles--it was reported that some were driving their cars using summer tires--no wonder they couldn't move.

Some of the stories are in the Baltimore Sun article about drivers retrieving their abandoned cars--Suffice it to write--the situation here was pretty grim as so many people were unprepared for the rapidly worsening weather situation.

I can report, however, that our family made the best of the situation, and in some cases the loss of electricity, and we all made it through the storm in a testament to creativity and perseverance.

Hopefully this is the first and last "big one" of the season.

And if you were wondering, there are about 51 days until Spring. And the worthless weather forecaster--the rodent of Punxsutawney makes his annual prediction on Wednesday!  Stand by for that one.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Snow Painted on the Trees

January 27, 2011 - The Back Yard
I am amazed at how snow so radically changes the way things appear. Aside from changing the dreary landscape to pure white, it adheres to the tree trunks like a white paint.

For a while the trees appear as if they have been highlighted by the painter's brush.

I guess, in reality, they have!
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