How’s yours?
February 3, 2011 (Thursday)
The First Baptist Church of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., put up a sign on their marquee display, “Whoever is praying for snow, please stop!” I don’t remember a winter storm so severe and so widespread all at the same time. Few people noticed Groundhog Day. It’s hard to get excited about it when weather is already uppermost in the minds of the public.
Ice and sleet, followed by snow, is forecast for this area later today, tonight and tomorrow. Perhaps the chief feature of all this weather that affects us in this semi-tropical location, is the temperature. Below freezing for an extended period of time. Every time that happens, people are always amazed at the extent and type of damage that a long freeze can bring.
Rolling blackouts across most of Texas have affected millions of people. The public has been asked to cut back on electricity usage if possible, and our church dismissed its mid week dinner and associated activities to do its part.
The severity of the storms varies around the nation. Chicago was hit by a blizzard with temperatures below zero, unbearable conditions with zero visibiilty, and snow plows unable to handle the massive amounts on roadways. People in Chicago are accustomed to severe weather, but most are shocked by the strength of these storms.
I suppose severity is relative, depending on what people are used to seeing. Here in this beautiful seacoast city, this kind of weather may not be as bad as in other places, but for us it is b-a-a-a-d!
Worse is promised tonight and tomorrow.
With riots in Egypt, political upheaval in other Middle East nations, the Superbowl this weekend, and a massive storm across the nation, we have no shortage of breaking news this week.