Itstrainingtime

My south-facing yard was 50% covered when I got home from work last evening, and what was covered was down to about 1-1.5". My more sheltered areas still had decent coverage. Just want to clarify that it didn't all disappear but it did take a beating.

This is very true. It's one thing to share thoughts with family and friends but when people's livelihoods are at stake it's an entirely different animal. So now, my forecast outlet is here. I'll be undercutting you a lot going forward, I'm quite sure of that.

I will "take" any snow we get, at the same time, I've now transitioned to bigger game hunting. Getting 2" of snow that is gone in 23 minutes doesn't excite me in late February and March. I'm investing in opportunities for storms that could deliver at least 6" or more. I think really it comes down to wanting to see snow on the ground for at least a day. You know, as far as sun angle goes, yesterday was exhibit A on how strong the sun is at this time of year...cloudy day, (shoot, snow was falling for a good part of it) temps in the mid 30s and yet my pack was decimated. Take the same conditions we had yesterday and move the calendar back to early January and our landscapes would have looked a lot different this morning.

Interesting going back to the threads from 2010-11, a lot of forgotten names along with a lot of us still here. It didn't take me long to find a Canderson post about winds.

How far back are you looking for? All of our threads since Eastern became Americanwx in 2010 are right here under the Upstate NY/Pennsylvania main subforum. If you're looking for older thread predating 2010 on Eastern, reach out to Randy (Stormtracker) and see if he can help.

1978 was the storm that really got me jacked up as a weather enthusiast. There were some similarities between that one and the one that we just missed out on. Since I was 12 at the time my memory is somewhat limited to my hand-kept records and I have one vivid memory of being awakened in the middle of the night by the winds. I remember opening my curtains and immediately freaking out in the very best way possible. The combination of snow and wind...one of those vivid childhood memories that I knew I'd never forget. I recorded 18" in Manor Township. That storm created a 9' drift in our driveway, my dad contacted the township and they used their "V Plow" to dig us out. That storm was a true blizzard and one I'd love to repeat. Just missed my chance of just that happening.

My cousin lives between Lewes and Georgetown in Sussex County DE. He sent me a measurement of 23.4" a while ago. No power and it's not expected back until Wednesday. The shore is shut down. They are going to try and get Coastal Highway open today but it's surreal right now in slower lower Delaware.

Just to clarify, I'm not "out" as in leaving here. I'm just tired of the hassle of being asked to make a forecast and then ridiculed for it because it isn't what they want to hear. I wanted to provide some context of why my forecast was so important to me. I'm sorry that I pushed it on all of you but I needed an outlet.

I think there's a good chance that I'd communicate a little bit better professionally. Hey, I got lucky with my "forecast" but unfortunately, it's going to be my last one. And this is what I wanted to get off my chest last night - When significant winter storms are threatening our area, there's a group here at work that collaborate on how to handle adjusting operations schedules. I'm a part of it for 2 reasons; one, I'm in HR, and two, I'm looked at as the company's "weather authority" to some extent. This storm will be my last for providing my insight. Why? It's become a pain. I was approached last Wednesday for early thoughts on the storm. I shared the same thing here at work that I shared here online. I gave probabilities that were intentionally vague being 4 days out. Then on Friday morning, I gave my "call" of 3-6". I was ridiculed. I was harassed. I was dare I say it, even threatened. Because, I was bombarded with snow maps. Snow map after snow map after snow map of every model from every Tom, Dick, (intentional use of that name) and Harry showing 13", 16", 20", 25" that were literally pushed in my face and told that I needed to change my call. I explained my thought, my reasoning as to why I thought they were all off. I said that yes, there would be those amounts, and yes, they would be close to our area, BUT I felt pretty good that it was going to slip east over the final 24 hours. They didn't want to hear it. (even though they came to me for my thoughts) I was hit up again on Saturday. Same thing, new day. Texts. Emails. More maps. Oh my, more maps. I'm not kidding, I was emailed and/or texted well over 70 snow maps on Friday and Saturday alone. I was asked once again about Sunday. I reiterated that Sunday during the day would be a non-issue. More flack. More hostility. Whatever. And you know what came next? Yesterday, I start getting texts. Emails. Calls. Why isn't it snowing? This is a bust. Is it even going to snow at all? I'm thinking "did you actually stop and listen to me at all?" And on and on it went. Today, right now I'm sitting in my office at work. Alone. I am THE only one in the entire office building. Why? Despite the fact that every road was wet this morning, the decision was made to shut down. The decision was made on Friday. Here I am. Angry. Frustrated. Tired. And most of all, jaded. People today do not know how to act. They sure as hell don't listen. And it saddens me how people act. Hey, this storm was almost impossible to forecast...I mean really, like @pasnownut said...we were THAT close to something much bigger. And that's just it. If you forecast the weather today, you better have really thick skin because if you're wrong, your ass is grass. The amount of hatred and mocking online yesterday towards WGAL's storm team was sickening. This was probably one of the hardest events to predict ever. I had my reasons for my call but as I said...I still lucked out. At least mostly. One big problem today is snow maps. Everyone has access to them. I had someone hand me a print out of the GFS 12z on Friday afternoon. I asked her where she got it and she said she googled how to access snow maps online. And these people see these maps and it's assumed that they're accurate. And then I have to explain why I don't think they are. Whatever. Snow maps have their purpose and they're fun to look at but they ARE driving a wedge between the general public and people who forecast weather for a living. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. They can't win. MU's biggest weakness is conveying those truths in a professional way. He's arrogant to a fault. That's on him. But for the rest of the met world...I sincerely feel sorry for all of you. The public has way too much access to way too much (false) information and it is putting them in an impossible situation. I'm out. No more forecasts from me. Just not worth it.

He made his call 2 days after I said the same amount.

Lot of 5-6" reports from over there. I must have just caught some of that heavier stuff overnight. I was shocked when I went out early this morning. I easily had 4" on my car.

Sounds like we ended up at about the same amount. Looked like it on the way to work, too. Down here at Turkey Hill there was/is well north of 4" it appears.

3 separate measurements this morning at 5am yielded a total snowfall in Maytown of 3.6". I received nearly 2" of snow after 11pm. Thrilled to nail my forecast from Thursday of 3-6" and glad that I never wavered from it. Wasn't sure last night I would make the low end.

I'm heading to bed now. I'm writing a postmortem tomorrow at some point. I have some thoughts...

Seeing 8-10" reports from NJ - HRRR says they have over 2' to go on top of that.

Jealous. Enjoy.

Incredible. I was just outside and I have .2" with flurries. All paved surfaces are wet. I'm not even going to make the low range of my prediction. Disappointing.

Rehoboth Beach cam...dear Lord.

I have a light coating. Light snow falling, poor growth. Temp still 33.

Band is becoming more and more evident on radar. It's blossoming across central Perry down through central Cumberland and down into central Adams. You look primed to get pasted

I have white rain and 33. Rates not nearly good enough to start accumulating.

Mt. Holly's latest map shows 11" in Reading and 1" in Harrisburg. Brutal.

Literally seeing my first flakes now. Temp is 35.4.

Shut up. You don't voice your opinion. You only reguratate every bad model run and offer literally nothing else. I am one of many that are beyond sick of it.

The gradient on the latest HRRR really brings back Boxing Day nightmares. Still over a foot just east of the Lanco line.