I need some Snow Sux Jim

[Riley Smith]

So we're waiting on the cold air apocalypse to arrive on the Gulf Coast. Somehow it got pushed back a day or so and that's good with me. They're predicting snow/winter mix for this area and I'm ready to cache some of Jim's Snow Sux products. To you up North, a tiny snow like what we are due is the least of your worries. YOU guys have salt trucks. Down here we use sand! There isn't a snow plow in 400 miles. And the populace is NOT experienced on driving in such conditions. It'll get downright dangerous out there.

If, in fact, we DO get some of that white stuff. I'm still not convinced, knowing that just like hurricanes, our weather people see a chance to get some glory and air time. In 70 years, I've seen snow on this coast just a very few times. I don't feel like I've missed anything and look upon it as a major inconvenience instead of a day off work. Off work? Read that bit about snowplows and sand above again. However, the grandkids are excited and maybe they'll get a taste of it.

I should hire myself out to fix pipes after this. Oh for a Pro Press! The cold will definitely strain the plumbing supply chain. Does Home Depot order more fittings for the cold? Who knows? All I remember is the house plants freezing INSIDE in 1983. In closing, I haven't done any boating and won't. The only time I've ever had trouble with my wooden mast was when it got so cold it made a crack down near the bottom. That was fixed and forgotten but hopefully it won't happen again. Our pipes are less than perfect for such weather and we've shut the Labrot House water in and drained the lines. We're ready as much as possible, including stocking some gasoline for the generator in case the power goes out. We'll see!

[Frank B.]

I remember throwing my paper route in Gulfport approaching New Years with about two inches of snow/ice on the ground.  I would say that a Honda Super Cub, my vehicle of choice for that task, does not perform well in the snow but back then the policy was the paper would get delivered, no digital options to fall back on.  We are spared from the snow on the North border, but are scaring single digit temps mid week.  Will require opening all the cabinet doors on exterior walls that have plumbing behind them, and placing one of those little personal heaters that do about 300 watts in front of each.  Also will drip the faucets on those nights.  Houses probably built a little better for these couple times a year conditions, but still not good enough to just forget about it.

[Jim B., CD-25]

Riley, your SnowSUX family of products (SnowSUX, ColdSUX, FreezingRainSUX) are on their way.  I saw yesterday that this latest cold front was predicted to bring snow to New Orleans, then across MS and AL.  I thought of you and prepped this kit.

The forecast for our former home in the Tropical Tip sounds miserable: no sn*w forecast, but temps in the 30s, rain, and plenty of wind.  That SUX.  Living in the desert, it has now been 149 days since we've had any measurable precip.  Most mornings lately have been in the 30s.  It's a dry cold.  (humor, ar, ar)  Mother Nature is volatile right now.  I don't know what we've done to piss her off so much.

Local weather forecasts here are bi-polar.  They'll lead with "Snow in the forecast..."  It used to make me catch my breath, but they are talking about northern Arizona (who knew there are ski areas in AZ??).  The typical highs this time of year are in the 60s.  These 30º+ temperature swings each day mean you have to dress in layers.  Unlike my daily "uniform" of a t-shirt and shorts when we were in south Texas... except for when these northers blew in.

Stay warm, my friend; indoors is your friend until this moves through.

Jim (president, CEO, and a user of the entire line of SnowSUX® products)

[Doug SC]

When I did plumbing work in the mountains of NC, we never put water lines in outside walls. If a fixture was on an outside wall we came up through the floor.

[Brian N.]

Living in a 125 year old house in a zone which gets sub 32 deg F often is interesting. Pipes to the second floor run in the outside walls with little insulation. We keep the water dripping in the tub and sinks and that seems to be enough to prevent freezing and burst pipes. I blow out the pool lines and sprinklers late fall.

One advantage of a small boat is how little winter prep there is. My Brother-in-law and sister owned a 48 foot motor yacht and haul-out and winterizing were a major project. It was a luxury yacht, very comfortable, but there was always some project to get to or complete. They gave up the yacht after some major expenses.

[noelH]

Don't forget your outdoors faucets.  We in the cold north have "frost hydrants".  Basically the valve is deep into the house.  You shut the water supply off with the inside valve. Then open the faucet to drain whatever water is left. Close the faucet to reduce the cold air entry to the shut off valve.

They worked back in the "good old days" when we use to experience coldest nights at sub -30C.  The new weather normal is schizo.  About a week ago the local ski area had to shut down for a day to preserve the base.  Bit of rain and +4-5C.  Today, the area was closed due to cold. -22C at sunrise, but windchill made it feel like -31C.  We have become wimps:).

[noelH]

Regarding snow. Township use to have to plow only if 6"/15cm of snowfall accumulated on the road.  Recently the number has been bumped up to 8"/20cm.  What shuts down warmer regions is just normal winter day up here.  It's the winter rain that hits frozen ground that makes things interesting. Better traction when the rain falls on top of a few inches of snow vs. a snow packed road. Had to invest in set of real ice and snow tires for the truck.  Expensive and the microporous grippy outer layer of rubber only last ~15,000-20,000 miles.  Less if you drive in temperatures above 45F.  Then you just have a set of snow tires.  Fine for snow. Not so good for ice.

[Riley Smith]

I remember it snowing once when I was about 8-10 yrs old. We lived on Martin Street then and the old house was cold anyway. The snow was cold but kids don't care and I almost got frostbite from playing in the white stuff. It snowed a couple more times since then, but to my recollection, less than half a dozen times in these 70 years. This is the very first time the weatherman has said DAYS ahead that we could get snow. All those times before it was if the stars align and the butterfly's wings cooperate. Needless to say, snow is an EVENT in south Mississippi.

It snowed in 1973 and I slept through it. I was going to college and working 2nd shift at the shipyard. And not sleeping. I got up to go to class and almost killed myself on the ice on the stoop. Went back to bed and slept right through it. Sleep was much more important. I can't remember if I went to work that night or not.
 
And then there was the time I had to go get Jeremy at the School of Math & Science. I think that storm was the story in the movie "The Perfect Storm". Sonya had been scheduled to go after him and Robin. Robin was Iranian royalty and rode home with us. I pre-empted her trip because of the weather and it started snowing at the George County line, just a few miles north. HUGE flakes and it kept snowing. I was freaking because MSMS was at Columbus and I knew if the roads froze it was going to be awful. Luckily it stayed right above freezing until I got to Columbus and there was some snow on the ground there.

And the kids were out playing when I reached the college! I had to round them up and get them motivated to get the heck out of Dodge. There was one young man there from upstate that was trapped with no transportation. Further to the north, it had turned into a massive ice storm and EVERYTHING was shut down. We booked it south.

We had a big old custom Dodge van back then and the wind kept picking up as we went south. The snow turned to rain and lightning. I wrestled the van from Laurel to the coast in those winds and when I pulled up to Hwy 90 in Ocean Springs to drop Robin off, lightning struck somewhere nearby and blacked out the WHOLE PLACE. I have never been so tired in my life from the stress and 10 hours of driving in a  raging gale and windstorm with a van.

I can't wait to see what this one brings

[Frank B.]

15f as I type, the mid point of four days with the temp never reaching 32, not normal for MS.  I've got four supplemental heaters going for plumbing protection and general comfort to augment the slightly under capacity heat pump that struggles during these times. Plan to add two tons this year and zone up and down to fix that problem.

Jeremy must be smart, takes that to get into MSMS.  My next door neighbor has both her sons there right now. 

I remember the ice storm associated with your trip to Columbus.  Took down a number of trees on our property and knocked out the power for a few days.  Fortunately, had plenty of firewood and a have an engineered fireplace that has a heat exchanger with blower in the den. Pulled out the sleeper bed and the whole family slept in that room. Also fortunate to have a lot of camping/backpacking gear so options to cook meals.

Last years ice storm shut down the whole area for a week.  We were well supplied, but after about four days, I decided to go to Walmart to get some fresh produce and dairy.  We have a Subaru Outback so I felt confident about the drive and it went fine.  However, when I got there I found no trucks could get through and there was nothing fresh to buy, so wasted trip. Pic of the produce aisle.

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[Norm L.]

I had a weeklong January job on Lake Powell of North Arizona fame. (water was low but it is worse now)
I bought suitable clothing to spend 6-8 hours a day outside and on the water.
We were blessed. In the 20's at night with occasional light snow. During the day 30-35 degrees, clear blue sky, nice sun, no wind, low humidity. It was actually nice as long as you had gloves on. Going north to Bullfrog by car we hit a very cold and windy 7000'. Out of the car just long enough to take a photo.

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While the depths of Grand Canyon are amazing, so are all the mountain formations in N, Arizona and S. Utah.

But I digress from southern winter and will skip a January week in Moscow story. As it was very cold and dull. Except for the cab drivers.

I've had two jobs where I had to drive a long distance the morning after a local ice storm, One was ugly among the destruction of trees and power line. The one in Tennesse was a beautiful sunny day with the ice coating on the trees, bushes and country houses beautiful. The not so beautiful was the long drive to the job site at 25-30 mph on the iced roads.

For you Riley, I remember driving back from Pascagoula with I-10 covered in a light snow. I was easing in the right lane being passed by many pickups. I caught up with 3 of them.  Two off the road to the right and one off the left into the median.

[Riley Smith]

That's what I'm talking about! I left Minnesota right after the `1st snowfall a few years ago. Of course there was more coming and I heard Dixie calling. My son wrecked his vehicle right after I left. Not terrible but just goes to show us guys in the South need to stay off icy roads!

[Captain Kidd]

Living here in the north GA area for the past 19 years, we often hear tales of the "blizzard of '93". Crippled the area for some time. We've had a few snow events during these years - one gave a white Christmas which is quite memorable: grandkids young and enjoying our steep driveway, pulling the kids on sleds/saucers around the yard with the lawn tractor, a dozen cardinals in our yard much of the day.

Riley, we want a full report once the snow gets through including pics.

[Riley Smith]

Update: It has snowed all day and is still snowing. It's 24 F and I've gone out with the grandchildren a couple of times. MAN! It is BRISK out there! I suppose we've gotten maybe 6" and all the roads are basically shut down. They closed I-10 between Pensacola and Louisiana. No way am I going anywhere unless the power goes out. So far the faucets and water well are fine. I'm worried our palms will freeze but there is nothing I can do about it. And I'm pretty sure these avocado trees by the pelican are toast.

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[Spot]

We were -20F this morning. We've crept above the 0F 'event horizon' during the day and are looking to get warmer. Once it warms up we may get some snow.

[Riley Smith]

This has been an epic snowfall for this area. As mentioned previously, snow only happens a few instances in a whole lifetime on this coast. I'd say we got a good 8" and it will be remembered for a very long time and broke records. Once in 1983 it got very cold and stayed that way for several days, so this is on par with that as far as cold goes. I hope some of those old-timers are still around at the refinery and remember what happened then. I don't think it even snowed that time, it was just COLD. Of course, all this has basically shut down everything travel related. We don't have any way of dealing with it and hopefully it'll be gone in a couple of days. I saw a picture of the high-rise bridge over the Escatawpa River that was covered in snow and ice and made my stomach do flip flops. No thank you.

Two of the grandkids are here and basically trapped because that bridge must be crossed for them to get back home. There are bridges everywhere here and all of them are froze up I'm sure. I can only imagine what I-10 looks like going across the river. One of my daughters is a ER nurse practitioner and she told me that no bad accidents had occurred, so I guess everyone is staying put.

  So we've made a few forays into the white and played a bit, but it is so cold you can't stay out very long, even dressed for the artic. We've enjoyed watching the birds at the feeders. They mobbed it all day long and I'll have to refill the feeders in the morning to try and help keep them alive during this. At one time there were ten cardinals there as well as a bevy of chipping sparrows, tufted titmouse, and chickadees too. So far the electricity is good and I guess that money the electric co-op paid for trimming trees around the lines awhile back is paying off. We'll be in trouble if the power goes out. The cat wanted out and was totally freaked and disoriented by it all. She didn't stay long!