weatherwiz

17 minutes ago, Baroclinic Zone said:

Here's a novel idea.  How about every time lines go down, we force the power companies to start burying them underground.  I live in a neighborhood with all the utilities underground.  No worries of power lines coming down.  Just the older lines outside the development.  

Isn't there is a huge issue with this? I feel like this has been brought up but apparently the cost to do this would be astronomical as they would have to battle the horrific "under surface" features. I think though where it is possible to do so they have done this. For example, in West Hartford I believe all of West Hartford Center has their power lines underground. 

24 minutes ago, WxWatcher007 said:

Just got an update from a State Rep friend. Sounds like ES has a fire lit up under them now lol.

Crews arriving and coming from Canada, PA, MA, over 1,800 trees to be removed in their early assessment, and working round the clock now...

hmm shades of 2011 where it took days post-storm for CL&P to seek out-of-state help

gotta love the differences between the 6z/12z 3km NAM

I actually can't stand the 3km NAM...I think it's a POS model. You would think the increased resolution would make it pretty solid but I think it's trash. IDK...maybe some scores out there will prove me wrong but it's trash.

And my reference about leaving should a category 2/3 hit the state has to do with the aftermath. Power outages probably on the magnitude of months in many places, extend of the damage would be near catastrophic...I doubt there are many structures here that could withstand those winds...maybe the newest of buildings, you can bet there would be significant food shortage, gas shortage. 

4 minutes ago, hammerz_nailz said:

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

 It probably would b/c I'd likely get taxed on my way out

3 minutes ago, Ginx snewx said:

our town doesn't even have its own bucket truck, lol they share with Canterbury.  Disaster prep is a joke around here. I grew up in Westerly RI where its a priority,  I guess 38 had a lot to do with that since they had the highest death toll in the country from that.

CT is literally nothing but an unorganized mess. Honestly, probably the only thing CT has seem to have done right is the response to COVID...though obviously there are some questionable aspects but given where we sit...can't complain. This state just flat out sucks though...there's a reason why people are fleeing the state in alarming numbers. It's almost impossible to drive down a street and not find at least several houses for sale. It kinda sucks too b/c there are some excellent communities in this state to raise a family. The cost of living makes it nearly impossible. Sometimes I really wonder if school and the debt was worth it. Between school loans, car payment, and car insurance that right there is more than enough to get a solid place with someone. CT just can't seem to do anything right...our emergency/disaster response is an absolute joke. just makes the thought even scarier for when we do get hit by a category 2 or 3. I see something like that coming...bye-bye, I'm out. 

Just now, Ginx snewx said:

So an example for @Hoth My road, they trimmed the tree across the street but not the one on the south side. These wires cross the street, they told me it was the towns problem.  I don't get it, maybe its me.

Sounds like the blame game. "It's not my responsibility, it's yours". Freaking clowns. 

5 minutes ago, CoastalWx said:

My friend in Hamden sent me some video from that area. Looks like a big mess there. 

Hamden is like a hot spot for damage in CT. Whether it's tornadoes, floods, mictobursts, 40'' of snow...Hamden is the spot. 

6 minutes ago, klw said:

I have no idea which way it has to be flipped as I am almost always using a camera.  Such is life in areas with very spotty cell coverage.  It seems to me as long as the lens faces towards what you want to capture that the upsidedown issue auto corrects later.

I remember once having some weird issue if you flipped the phone to the left but the good news is you can easily edit and flip to the proper position. I do have a camcorder...not great but it's something. The plus about using your phone is you can instantly upload to YouTube and Social Media...the downside though is if that's your only source for tracking radar or communicating with others you're hit. I would love to get a high quality camera someday...I've always had a huge interest in photography. 

3 minutes ago, klw said:

Upright is a natural way to hold the phone so I can understand it happening as it does not seem to be lessening.  It thought for sure when the guy focused on how much the wires were shaking that he was going to move At least the trees were all upwind from the lines.

I get so pissed at myself though when I've realized I forgot to flip the phone sideways too. 

Speaking of that though...don't you need to flip the phone in the correct direction? Like if you have your phone out in front of you so the screen is facing you, it needs to be flipped to the right, correct? 

Just now, klw said:

Two immediate thoughts while watching that  video:

1. Landscape!  Stop holding the phones vertically people!

2.  Why are you underneath the powerlines!  Agggghh!

 

(I realize this was not Ginx filming but rather whoever did)

1) That is annoying but that is something I do myself. I think part of the reason is you're getting caught up in the moment and the last thing you're thinking about is the proper position of the phone. Plus...the position of holding the phone vertical is natural to most people. When you're taking video of something that pumps adrenaline the last thing you're thinking is "oh crap I need to put my phone sideways"

2) I've caught myself in this position before. This is why when I go chasing around here I always position in an open parking lot where there are no trees or power lines around. I really try to get well ahead of the storm and pick a spot. I prefer not to drive in it b/c the rain is too intense...you never know when you'll encounter ponding or if you can even see a car in front of you or if someone will hit you from behind. 

During the 5/15/18 outbreak I was taking video outside at this restaurant and I look up and right above me was power lines...I quickly ran inside. Hell, the other day I was outside one of the doors at work and there were power lines above me so I quickly ran inside. 

6 minutes ago, BrianW said:

I drive all over Fairfield County for work. Trees and wires are still down on roads all over the place. 

Its not just Eversources fault. Towns and the state haven't cleared roads. Also just heard on the radio that Frontier owns most of the poles not Eversource and they are a big part of the issue as well. 

I would expect you probably won't have power until late next week. Tons of commercial areas on Post Rd are still out. They focus on those spots first. If your on some rural residential road you are last on the list.

I'm curious to know whether there is communication between utility companies and, towns/state, and places like Frontier who own utility poles. It sounds like there is minimal communication judging by response efforts...and if there is communication its probably not very productive.  

10 minutes ago, RUNNAWAYICEBERG said:

Still haven’t seen any ES trucks around and the tree in the middle of the road that took down our power hasn’t been touched. 

I heard from a co-worker they have utility trucks out in Old Saybrook!!! (At least we know there are some out there). Still 5 towns with 100% of customers out

Just now, CoastalWx said:

There is a good s/w moving through late Fri into Sat morning..that would help. So yeah wiz, you  might be right. 

I think you are right though...most of it is south. But I suppose though it all depends on where the boundary sets up. Right now there really isn't much support for it to be north enough. Although sometimes you can get elevated convection on the north side of them. 

Just now, CoastalWx said:

Not a lot of MUCAPE. Think most of it is offshore unfortunately. 

yeah it does look to stay mostly to the south. The 3km NAM also seemed to be a bit more beefy than NAM/GFS in terms of elevated CAPE. The 3km NAM actually looked like there was a small window for severe across LI and potentially the Cape later Saturday AM. Not sure I totally buy into it, but these setups have been known to surprise some in the past...especially in August. 

Could be some loud booms along the coast overnight tomorrow/early Saturday morning 

10 minutes ago, Modfan2 said:

Here is were I will disagree a little; first New England and the Northeast are extremely susceptible to extensive tree damage from events like this and will be going forward. You can trim around power lines all you will always of trees further away that can hit the lines. The storm winds ended at dark and the surveying of the damage really only took place in Yesterday. Today out of state crews will start to come in today (Florida Power & Light sending crews to Jersey yesterday) and set up staging and work. With the amount of damage a downtime of 3-4 days is not unreasonable. 
 

I believe pre staging crews in this situation would be difficult due to damage up the NE Coast. What Eversource should be doing and FP& L has been doing for the past five years is swapping out a lot of the wooden poles for Cement poles, including high tension.

I have been involved in many restorations from IRene, Sandy, Matthew,Irma, and Michael and they all present different challenges.

But how do surrounding states...including states like MA seem to restore power so much more quickly. Ryan posted a tweet yesterday...I forget which storm it was...maybe the Oct snowstorm but looking at towns along the MA/CT border...towns on the CT side were dealing with significant outages days and days after the storm...meanwhile just over the border many towns had significant progress.

I'm not downplaying the fact that we are susceptible to wind events and the fact we have tons of trees near power lines...but they should know this, understand this, and that should be all the more reason to be better prepared. They have never, ever been over-prepared for an event...it's always under-prepared and significantly. They just can't keeping putting blame on weather forecasts for their inability to do their jobs.  

9 hours ago, Ginx snewx said:

no its not Wiz. They failed

oh I know they failed. I just thought Scott's point was valid that the entire (well like 95%) of the state was impacted and when that happens it makes efforts much more difficult...BUT they should have been prepared for this and planned. They failed 

11 minutes ago, CoastalWx said:

I mean to be fair, the whole state of CT is impacted so it plays a role. I just wonder if they were prepared. I was at a town EMA meeting for Norwell. I know the fire chief who is a huge weenie, and he invited me to this meeting as an expert in the weather. It was more for climate change, but whatever. I gave my two pennies. Anyways, national grid was there and they talk about being in communication with the towns. The fire chief last October said that he told Nat Grid “we have a problem” and they got the crews there as quick as they could. I don’t know how the communication goes with various companies, but it sounded like Nat Grid works with the towns on a regular basis.

That is an extremely fair and valid point. I have to be inclined to think that they were just not prepared. Whether that was from just lack of proper guidance, disregarding forecasts, maybe they just aren't equip to handle such a situation...who knows. Also...don't completely quote me on this but I don't believe they actually have their own in-house meteorologist (though that may  be UI). But I do know that many utility companies actually employ their own meteorologists. 

1 minute ago, powderfreak said:

I honestly don't know if I've ever had a Miller Lite.  Our college beer was Molson... we wished we were Canadian, ha watching "Hockey Night in Canada" on channel 11 out of Montreal while at UVM.  Coors was another popular one... but never Miller.

I love Miller Lite. Although I can't remember the last time I had one. I hardly ever drink anymore and when I do I can barely even finish a drink. But too me, it has the most flavor out of Bud Lite and Coors Lite. I first started drinking when I was 19/20 and I hated the taste of alcohol...couldn't stand it but I tried Miller Lite and I seemed to not hate it so I fell in love with it. That and 40's of Steel Reserve were my drinks of choice watching hockey games. But I retired from 40's of Steel Reserve December 13, 2018. ughhh 40's of Steel Reserve were the best thing ever 

1 minute ago, CoastalWx said:

The guys here are pretty good. In the damage capitol of Plymouth county, they are out in full force after the storm. Half the town of Norwell just to my SE lost power and almost all back I think. That’s a heavily forested town too. 

Just goes to show how much can get done with the right preparations and a little organization. I mean the day after the storm...ES really didn't have much to say. Instead of providing a plan it was "blame the weather forecasts" exactly like 2011. The message was "we need to assess". That is totally fine...obviously you need to assess a situation after it occurs, but you should already have plans and strategies in place..that's what emergency management is for. 

Just now, CoastalWx said:

Isn’t the town supposed to clear up the trees? We had that town come in and take a bunch of trees out today in the hood.  

I believe so. Each town's DPW I think is responsible. I saw alot of that going on in Branford...especially last night when heading home. Even saw some along highway today

31 minutes ago, Damage In Tolland said:

They can’t get out until the trees are removed from the wires. That’s the issue. The amount of trees still on wires and roads closed tells you all you  need to know. Gonna be a long one 

Interesting b/c when I was listening to the radio earlier...I could be wrong here but I thought there was somebody on talking about the damage photos and from what it looked like there were not a ton of pics showing trees mangled in wires. 

Let's also remember...even after the Oct 2011 snowstorm it was days before they finally asked for out-of-state help. I believe ES stated today they wouldn't be seeking out-of-state help. I just have a hard time buying they did not receive any information indicating this potential. T

1 minute ago, Sn0waddict said:

Where are you seeing these numbers by chance? Just curious. Particularly the NJ numbers, that’s impressive if they have made that much progress already.

I actually came across this website today 

poweroutage.us 

Gives a national overview of power outages and if you click on each state you can also get a break down of the percent of customers within each county out. 

For example, this is what it is currently showing for NJ