So how about this global warming stuff?
Sweltering, are we?
Yes, numbers say the earth is warming.
Well, you’d never know it around these parts.
It’s freezing out there. Heat just isn’t on the list to change things anytime soon.
While last weekend’s winter storm wasn’t nearly as bad for us as it was for the rest of the East Coast, that doesn’t mean this weekend is a safe bet.
Far from it, actually.
So don’t yank out the shorts and flip-flops anytime soon.
According to the Wakefield office of the National Weather Service Thursday webinar, a strong low pressure system is expected to develop off the southern East Coast and slide to the northeast beginning sometime Saturday.
A variety of computer models have the storm taking a few different roads.
And let’s face it, coupled with a variety of options, predicting a winter cyclone can’t be the easiest thing to do.
As it looked Thursday, the storm could be really close to the coast and likely would be another mostly-rain event. Or it could distance itself from the shore and we could be left with a dusting.
Then there is the computer models’ most popular scenario – the one where the system goes in-between the other two possibilities and blasts our region with a ton of solid, wet snow. And don’t expect it to melt away anytime soon if that’s what we get, because temperatures are forecast to live in the freezing world for at least another week.
Even with the worst notion, the good news is that this low should be a fast mover and could be finished with us sometime midday Sunday.
And if we’re getting bulldozer loads of snow, it can’t move on fast enough.
The cyclone will cause a few problems in addition to snow. It’s supposed to dish out winds of around 50 mph along the coast, blows that will cause dune and beach erosion up and down the coast, and moderate to major flooding in southeastern Virginia.
Stay off the roads until early next week so crews can plow. They’re getting ready to douse the major routes with saline to help clear lanes when the sun comes out Monday.
It is what it is and, as my wife tells me, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Make sure you’re good on propane if you aren’t serviced by natural gas, and have plenty of water and some vittles to hold you over.
If you plan on playing in the snow or shoveling the driveway, wear good polarized sunglasses. The sun’s reflection off the flakes isn’t good for your vision.
And me? I will secure a tarp to the back steps so Oliver can safely go downstairs to either do his business or just play in the snow.
And Mr. Tolliver just reminded me to tell folks to look out for their pets. While they might sport a fur coat, they still get cold, especially in way below normal temperatures like we’re experiencing. Make sure they have food and water and keep them inside with you.To read more of my work, go to: leetolliveroutdoors.com
