AdamHLG

It’s days like today when I start thinking whether the underrated days will over perform. There’s a feeling in the air as I walk the dog .


.

The underrated days produce. Glad everyone is ok.

To round out my top 3 all-time favorites is PDII 2003.  This one has the best story.   I had a guys ski trip planned for that Presidents Day weekend in Killington VT - with an airline flight to Albany and back.  By 2003 this site, or the precursor to this site, was up and running, and I was all in for winter tracking which I had been since the Blizzard of 1996.  The first blips and 'omg' type comments started about a week out with the long range models, and by 4 days out this baby was on the maps and being actively tracked, with the typical variations and board mood swings that come with that.  I started getting pissed that I was going to miss it - if it was going to happen that is.  I remember telling myself odds are it will bust to make myself feel better.  So, I go on the trip to Vermont on that Thursday, drive from Northern Baltimore County and park my car at BWI long term parking, fly to Albany, and rent a car with friends to drive to Killington.  At that point, I start tracking on my phone and every 6 hours it starts looking better and better to my heartbroken wide eyes.  By Saturday am (I think it was Saturday), I am skiing, and I recall a clear deep blue sky - not a single cloud anywhere - and it was brutally freezing!!!  I remember telling myself that I was right under the dome of cold high pressure.  I then get a call from my wife that it is "puking snow" and the neighbor offered to clear away the outdoor AC unit because the snow was piling up so high.  I couldn't take it.  I made a snap decision to tell my friends 10 seconds after that call "I gotta go".  They said WHAT?  I said my wife and young kids need me there is a blizzard.  They asked "how you going to get home" and I then remember I flew there.  I said I was going to rent a SUV and drive.  They thought I was nuts.  They were right, but they are not storm trackers.  They dont have the fever.  

And that is exactly what I did.  I packed my suitcase and rented a SUV in VT and started driving home.  I was driving for hours wondering when the snow would start.  And then BAM right at the upper northern tip of the NY/NJ line it went from no flakes falling to interstate covered with snow in 5 minutes.  And 30 minutes later it was deep snow and driving at 15-20 mph.  I basically had to get in line with the convoy of tractor trailers that carved out tire tracks on the highway and that was the idea the entire way home as the snow piled deeper and deeper.  It was CRAZY.  I eventually got to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the overhead signage said "bridge closed" and at the toll booth all the lights were red - but nobody stopped and there were no toll keepers, so everyone just drove right through.  Once on the actual bridge there was no snow on the highway - it had all blown off!!    I eventually get to the outer loop of the Baltimore Beltway, and I see these headlights zig zagging left and right coming from the inner loop about a mile away through the heavy snow.  I am like WTF is that?  As the lights pass me, I realize it is 2 snow mobiles racing on the beltway!!!!!  You don't see that every day!  By the way at this point it is 2 am.  I had left Vermont at noon only stopping for coffee 3 times. 

I eventually get off the Beltway and it is still crazy snowing and very deep but that SUV got me home and what a blast that final 5 miles of a drive that was.  My wife could not believe it (I never told her I had left VT - she NEVER would have allowed me to do that).  I told her it was because I loved her and the kids and I needed to make sure she and the kids were safe - all true - but it played nicely! --)  So, that got me lucky at the end of the drive on top of all of the experience of the wildest storm experience of all time!

The next morning I drove back to BWI, returned the rental, and dug out my car that was buried to the roofline - only continuing the fun with all the other drivers at that lot digging out.  Ok maybe PDII was my #1 now that I think about it again.

18 hours ago, Cobalt said:

1/26/11 was the the first one I can remember "tracking", being glued to TWC coverage, cycling back from the TV to the window, waiting for a changeover. It must've happened in an instant, going from pouring rain to a near whiteout, by far the highest impact for a single-digit snowfall I have ever seen. 8 inches of heavy wet snow that caused a 3 day power outage (nearly as long as Feb 2010's snow blitz), and a prolonged snowpack after. Those high impact rain to snow events (1/3/22 is in the same realm as that one) have always been a favorite of mine. There's just something about a dreary environment transforming into a powder keg at a moment's notice. 

 

Most memorable stretch of winter has to be Feb-March 2015. Nearly every flavor of snow event, and some historic cold that we might never see again. 

Yes - this was the infamous Commutageddon storm.  This is my #2 favorite storm of all time partly because I was driving home in this storm to try and beat the changeover - and failed.  Never saw so many stuck vehicles in any storm before or after that storm.  Crazy night that was.

My # 1 storm was the Blizzard of 1996, as this was my first storm I tracked on Internet Relay Chat.  I still remember posts scrolling by and specifically a post about an hour before the first flake fell that said " 3.15" QPF - I see it but I can't believe it".  That was an incredible blizzard.

I just took a strike inside of my RadarScope blue circle. Hello. Not severe but today delivered 2 good bolts. One over York and One over my house.


.

I need these cells to the southwest of me to keep growing north to get into northern Baltimore county. Let’s do this ! Love fridays. Sitting on outside porch. Single rolling distant thunder . Dog on alert next to me chillin and ready to howl. Scotch in hand and RadarScope on my phone.

O wait. That was a flash. 20 second delay long distant rolling thunder. To the north east. Maybe it was that York cell. That was cool and unexpected.


.

1 minute ago, kgottwald said:

Way too early in the day for storms!!

Storms are like cocktails.  Never too early and never too strong!  

I guess my RadarScope app is broken. I see nothing but cloudy skies and no returns on radar but we have canceled baseball games and watches posted.


.

Active Event: Tornado.

I’m listening to "Sussex County Fire and Seaford Fire / EMS" using the Scanner Radio app. You can listen to it by going to https://scannerradio.app/?l=NDE1MDE


.

That video was very funny!! Great job lol.


.

Whoa who said this season was a bust! As long as I keep my eyes on the mulch it almost looks like winter. Just a little more Tr and it will be completely almost covered!


.

I have to ask. Are we done here? Forget fantasies every 10 days. Last real storm was 2016. It used to be every 3 years. This is bad but is this permanent? I loved this winter hobby since 1991 but I fear it’s over. Sorry for being a Deb. Needed to vent. This winter sucked and this season is over. Better to face it, look into the sun angle, and walk it off.


.

I have to ask. Are we done here? Forget fantasies every 10 days. Last real storm was 2016. It used to be every 3 years. This is bad but is this permanent? I loved this winter hobby since 1991 but I fear it’s over. Sorry for being a Deb. Needed to vent. This winter sucked and this season is over. Better to face it, look into the sun angle, and walk it off.


.

Thought you guys might appreciate this.  These two uploads came up as a memory on my facebook feed - 7 years ago today - on January 21, 2016.  It seems so long ago.... because it was.     

Either way, thanks for all the updates. Your posts are my source to keeping abreast of the tropics. I really enjoy your updates.


.

We’re about to have a long stretch of boring aren’t we. Summer severe had its roar. Next up a late November nor’easter.

Probably time for another earthquake.



.

1 hour ago, BlizzardNole said:

That video is crazy.  Rough evening between the DC lightning tragedy and that tornado.  We had a couple close strikes at one point while completely dry and not under the cells.  Dangerous

For those unaware, 2 of the 4 victims died.  It always upsets me to see people injured or killed that hide under trees during a lightning storm.  I learned as a little kid to never stand under trees, well before I became a weather enthusiast.   So for this to happen in a metropolitan city it is upsetting when there should have been rumbles of thunder preceding the strike that signaled "we better get some shelter".  But I wasn't there.  I also read that they were from Wisconsin and I am unsure of how prevalent lighting is from their hometown.    Maybe this was a strike well in advance or after the actual cell overhead.  Posting this to point out the dangers involved.  Prayers go out to the victims, family and friends of this tragedy.   

^^wow

And back to no power again northern Baltimore county. Didn’t we just do this last month?!?!?  Seriously?  Not sure if this post will make it out of my phone. 

currently mostly cloudy skies northern Baltimore heading into noon time is not exactly the look I am going for on severe potential days.

^^nice.    I guess nothing up for today?  I remember 3 or 4 days ago today was a potential severe day.  Maybe not so much now.  Anything on the horizon.... so to speak.... in the upcoming 3-4 days?  Or just hot hot hot? 

Having just gotten power back on Sat night after last Tuesday's storms, be careful what you wish for!!

That is a great sign. About one hour after a few trucks made it down my street, the power was back this morning. Hope it is the same for you.

We are still out - day 5. However, about 1 hour ago, the electric army has finally arrived!!





.