JoMo

That bright thing in the sky decided to show back up today. So much rain! The -EPO looks to build in about 9-10 days, but the first push of cold air looks to be directed into the western US. Maybe in time it will bleed east. We'll see!

Lockdown in France. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-28/macron-imposes-new-nationwide-lockdown-in-france-as-cases-surge

It will be warmer for a bit, but even the Euro EPS has come around to more of a -EPO look. I don't get the Ensembles, so not sure what it does after this, whether it dumps the cold in the west or what. The 06z GFS preps for another ice storm.

It was looking like it would be an extended stretch of boring and warm after this, but the 12z GFS and CMC decided to pop a -EPO in about 10 days, which would result in downstream troughing and a dump of cold down the Plains. We'll see.

Italy has to deal with violent lockdown protests now, so I don't think whoever said that about protests is far off if another lockdown were to occur. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54701042

It's about 32-33 here. Trees have a glaze on them but streets and everything are ok. Saw OK has 200,000 people without power.

October ice storm, pretty rare.

Covid conspiracy theories exist around the world and are widespread. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/26/survey-uncovers-widespread-belief-dangerous-covid-conspiracy-theories

That's what I don't really understand. They call it the "election infection" and don't believe it's real. They believe the numbers are inflated and that covid doesn't really kill that many people, but the underlying conditions do, and that it's basically just the flu.

It isn't just anti-science rhetoric, or ignorance. It's a lack of trust in public institutions and the government in general due to the politicization of pretty much everything.

Yep and France just hit it out of the park with over 52,000 cases, out of a country of around 67 million people. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/france-hits-record-52-010-daily-covid-cases-spain-declares-n1244709

I don't see those type of people blaming everyone else for it. Those type of people typically just want to live their lives, and go on with living how they see fit. So, to answer your question.... until you get the point on why "ignorant and angry" people do what they do, or feel the way they do.

A draconian measure would be to threaten people with hefty fines or imprisonment if they don't wear a mask. Also, some other draconian measures would be to separate families and guard them under the threat of violence if they were to break quarantine. That's largely what created the 'anti-mask' people in the first place. The belief that they are essentially being "muzzled".

As far as politics goes, it's a pretty bad situation for the current admin because you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. If this had happened in a non-election year then things would have probably been handled differently. It was a situation where they wanted to minimize the economic impact to the country and not cause mass panic, yet, at the same time, not be responsible for a lot of loss of life, knowing that the other side will use it as a political weapon. It was a hands-off type of approach so they wouldn't have to take all the blame and they could instead blame State and Local leaders. We'll see how it plays out on election night I guess.

Well, there are decency laws on the books. There aren't really any 'mask wearing' laws on the books. There's a lot of anti-mask laws on the books though. Mostly has to do with the KKK, rioting, and concealing the face to commit crimes though. You can't police everyone, everywhere, all the time when it comes to mask wearing, and I would bet that most people are getting the virus from friends and family members when they gather.

"Forcing" people to wear masks, just makes people not do it to 'fight against the government'. Masks aren't stopping the spread, they lower the risk, but it's not a magical thing that's going to change people's habits when it comes to hand washing and social distancing, which is something people are tired of as it is.

That's been clear since the pandemic started. You're not going to 'control' it unless you want to resort to draconian measures that are against the US Constitution or that will result in civil unrest or destruction of the economy/jobs, which will have a longer term impact. It never was about fully controlling it, it was always about slowing it down until a vaccine was available by giving guidance on best practices about public health measures that could be taken to reduce the risk of spread.

Chiefs game tomorrow afternoon should be snowy in Denver. I have my doubts how far any frozen precip gets in this area. KS and NW MO look like good spots, and W OK.

Well... Convalescent plasma is ineffective for covid-19 https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4072

Highest total of the pandemic today in France. Doesn't look like whatever they are doing is working so far.

Wow is it cold out there, already down to 41 with 30's upstream. So weird after how warm it was just hours ago!

German cases surged over 10k and it looks to be out of control. People are "hamstering" toilet paper again. https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-hoarding/germans-start-hamstering-toilet-paper-again-as-covid-19-cases-surge-idUSKBN2770UB

18z GFS, good grief. But is it really really wrong?

00z Euro was a dud for ice and snow. 06z GFS still had some around though.

Yeah, but the Canadian and it looks like the Euro are going to leave a cutoff back in the SW US. This should allow things to warm and lead to less/or no ice/snow on those models. That's pretty typical of what we end up seeing.