Snow day!

[S.F.B.]

Snow in the Portland metro area has caused them to close the schools. The kids and I are hanging out and going to play games today. Personally, I think it is foolish to shut it down but there are a lot of people here who don't know how to drive in these conditions. I spent 27 years in Denver and have seen my share of snow so I have dealt with it.

There is a fresh keg in the fridge so I have my provisions. All is well.

[newportstorm]

I spoke with a customer at work last week who lives in the Portland area. She postponed her relocation to southern California three weeks because there was snow around Christmas time - a whopping 3"! :eek:

I chuckled in my head while she told her story about "the storm". I'm from New England, so 3" of white stuff is a minor inconvenience at best. Then again, most of us "northerers" would probably melt in the desert southwest. hehe. Enjoy the time off!

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

Living in Washington DC area which consistantly ranks in the top three for horrible traffic and bad drivers makes me glad when everything shuts down when we get hit by snow. I would rather have one day off and let them clean the roads then fight traffic on uncleaned streets for days. Any prdiction of snow here sets off widespread panic.

[steveh]

How much snow fell in Portland? Did you guys beat out Las Vegas' storm last week? ;)

Snowed 6" in Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon/evening, now we're expecting a high of 14 today, I need a winter warmer - badly!

S.

[fretlessman71]

My sister lives near the Nike plant in Beaverton. Just how much did you get?

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Any prdiction of snow here sets off widespread panic.

I LOVE that band! Sorry Chaz, couldn't resist. ;)

S.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by steveh
How much snow fell in Portland? Did you guys beat out Las Vegas' storm last week? ;)

Snowed 6" in Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon/evening, now we're expecting a high of 14 today, I need a winter warmer - badly!

S.

We're still waiting for snow here in Nashville - we've had flurries, but nothing that stuck. Probably won't get it this year, either...

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
How much snow fell in Portland? Did you guys beat out Las Vegas' storm last week? ;)

Snowed 6" in Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon/evening, now we're expecting a high of 14 today, I need a winter warmer - badly!

S.

It is supposed to snow here Thursday. I am heading to Las Vegas early that morning. I hear they will be in the upper 60s.

[chazwicke]

And Congrats on the big 800 Steveh. Quite an accomplishment.

[S.F.B.]

All told we are at 8" at the moment. The snow has changed to "frozen rain". Hail to most folks. I have been out to clean the walks and driveway twice. My wife closed shop at 1:00 this afternoon and is home now also. Tomorrow will most likely be worse on the roads than today due to freezing. Looks like the kids will be home again. Cool!

Been sipping on my IPA and some Alaskan Winter Ale.

Stay warm.

[skahtboi]

There you all go talking about that snow stuff again. We are actually having a cold snap here though, highs only in the 30's today. However, it is supposed to be back in the 60's by week's end.

[batkins]

I'm across the river in Vancouver, Washington....were at 6" in my back yard.....but the snow has stopped and the freezing rain has started. It's beginning to form a crust on the top of the snow. Think I'll stay at home, in front of the fire and drink some beer.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.......or sleet or whatever.

[steveh]

Originally posted by S.F.B.
All told we are at 8" at the moment.

WOW! That's huge for Portland, isn't it? When I was there a few years ago a bartender told us that they closed down the town after an inch of that freezing rain (which isn't the same as hail in the midwest - it's very treacherous).

Stay warm, and I hope you're stocked up!

S.

[chazwicke]

Saw you guys on the news. Lots of cars and trucks slipping all over the roads. Kinda looks like our usual traffic. Stay safe!

[S.F.B.]

Schools closed again. Roads are now snow with a crust of ice over the top. I don't think anybody is going to be getting around well today.

8" is a lot for this area. It is the most I have seen since I have been here. The only other time I recall it like this was 1998. We got something like 6". The big difference is we didn't get a cold blast of the arctic air to cool the ground off before it snowed. That caused the first inch of that one to be ice on the streets.

[Beaver]

8" is nothing! Last March we got about 36" in one storm. :)

[fretlessman71]

8" is a lot for Portland, just like the 7" Nashville got a year ago to the day shut us down for about 48 hours. Towns like us aren't prepared for that amount of snow, there's FAR too many hills, and there are so many people that live way out in said hills that the county can't possibly get road crews out there in time to get the snow clear for the busses. They just cave in.

Now, the storm YOU'RE talking about happened on my birthday, and I must say it was a welcome change. CO had not gotten a real "blizzard" since 1993 about the same time; conversely, when I was growing up in Loveland, we used to remember the winter by when the blizzard hit: "Remember the Winter of '78? Amazing blizzard that year!" "Wasn't as bad as '84, though... the famous Christmas Eve Blizzard! All those people spending Christmas at the airport..." Now THOSE were the days! :)

[fretlessman71]

Oh, yeah... sorry for your loss on Jan. 1st... :D

[S.F.B.]

My kids were just out playing. Neither one of them could crack the surface of the snow. There is abot 3/4 of an inch of ice over the top of it. Slick as hell too. Both of them are icing bruises as I type.

[fretlessman71]

Sledgehammer! That'll do it... no, on the SNOW... THE SNOW......

Just kidding! I sure hope they're doing all right. What a disappointment that must be for them!

[Beaver]

That last storm actually did shut the town down for a couple of days.

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Oh, yeah... sorry for your loss on Jan. 1st...

Thanks, I'm still recovering. :)

[S.F.B.]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Sledgehammer! That'll do it... no, on the SNOW... THE SNOW......

Just kidding! I sure hope they're doing all right. What a disappointment that must be for them!

LOL!

They are fine, thanks. Not disappointed either. We had a smaller storm that camr thru New Years Eve that put a couple of inches on the ground that they got to play in. Yesterday they got to have fun in it while it was still powder.

[studentofbeer]

-21 with wind chill in chicago yesterday and i didnt even have a beer last night as i spent most of my night unsuccesfully searching for a bday present for the girlfriend instead. but it will be cold for a while i guess, so plenty of time to warm up with beer in the future.

[batkins]

Do you have as much ice as I do? We have a 1" layer on everything. My car is actually encased. You can't even see the windshield wipers. This is definately not what this Florida boy is used to seeing. Wow!
Good enough excuse to sit in front of the fire and drink beer.
Stay safe and warm!
Cheers,
Bill

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by Beaver
That last storm actually did shut the town down for a couple of days.


Yes, but the difference is that it takes 2 feet of snow to do that to li'l ol' Ft. Collins! ;)

[Summer]

I don't know what ammount of snow is normal to everyone. At the moment here (my hometown in Finland) we have 15" of snow, and it's normal to have over 20". And up north ( I live in the southern part) there can be 45" of snow. But I guess we here are used to driving etc. in these conditions.

Anyways, I love snow ;) Hope you all can enjoy it too!

J.

[chazwicke]

I might love snow too if I drank enough Koff Stout. Ever drink that Summer?

[fretlessman71]

Finland sounds like the Colorado Mountains.... they had EIGHT FEET fall on my birthday last year!

[S.F.B.]

Originally posted by batkins
Do you have as much ice as I do? We have a 1" layer on everything. My car is actually encased. You can't even see the windshield wipers. This is definately not what this Florida boy is used to seeing. Wow!
Good enough excuse to sit in front of the fire and drink beer.
Stay safe and warm!
Cheers,
Bill

Everything had 3/4 of an inch on it. It is actually melting from underneath. I just got in from clearing my wife a path to the street. She thinks they might work tomorrow.

[studentofbeer]

the ice is crazy. i dont own a car but walking the 4 blocks from the el to work is quite trecherous, and the el platform can get darn cold!

[steveh]

Originally posted by studentofbeer
...and the el platform can get darn cold!

Welcome to Chicago! ;)

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Summer
I don't know what ammount of snow is normal to everyone. At the moment here (my hometown in Finland) we have 15" of snow, and it's normal to have over 20". And up north ( I live in the southern part) there can be 45" of snow. But I guess we here are used to driving etc. in these conditions.

I've heard that the snow is quite welcome in Suomi because it reflects and magnifies any and all light to brighten up the long Winter nights there. Since I heard that, I look at the snow in Chicago a little differently, and it's true - it does brighten the scenery. Now if I can just get all the salt crud off my car!

S.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by steveh
I've heard that the snow is quite welcome in Suomi because it reflects and magnifies any and all light to brighten up the long Winter nights there. Since I heard that, I look at the snow in Chicago a little differently, and it's true - it does brighten the scenery. Now if I can just get all the salt crud off my car!

S.

This is not a problem in Colorado... the term "snowblind" is learned by most at a very early age, and more novice skiers come off the slopes with a bright red nose that they think is a sign of how cold it is, when it's REALLY a very bad sunburn!

[steveh]

Fret, I'm talking about night in Finland - which tends to take up the majority of the day's hours in Winter. I imagine there's only a small window of opportunity for snow-blindness!

A former co-worker used to also work for Finn-Sugar here in the 'States and had the opportunity to visit Finland a few times and heard of the fondness for the snow and its reflective quality. Sort of like all of those sun-lamps you guys in the Pacific Northwest use to keep your spirits up in the rainy season! ;)

S.

[fretlessman71]

I know that... actually, Colorado is one of the sunniest places in the world - quite the opposite of the Finnish wihter. 9 hours of sunlight on Dec. 21st if it's clear... and it usually is! (Like I said, it's just not a problem there... :D )

[Summer]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I might love snow too if I drank enough Koff Stout. Ever drink that Summer?

Yes, sometimes. It's sold in Finland by the name Koff Porter, and imported to US as Koff Imperial Stout. (I assume you mean that?)

Great roasted malt flavors with hints of caramel, coffee, and dark chocolate if I remember right. Maybe I'll go and get me some to enjoy after sauna tonignt ;) It is really a Finnish beer worth tasting (haven't found many of that kind...).

J

[Summer]

Originally posted by steveh
Fret, I'm talking about night in Finland - which tends to take up the majority of the day's hours in Winter. I imagine there's only a small window of opportunity for snow-blindness!
S.

Yep. Today the days lengt in my hometown is 5hours and 40min. But the snow makes it seem more light, without snow it would be really dull and dark all day. But you are wrong about snow-blindness, sorry! In February and March we still have lots of snow, and sunshine too during the day. And people like to go skiing a lot then. If you don't wear proper sunglasses and sun protection cream on your face, you'll definitely get sunburnt and propably snow-blind for a while. It's really bright, when the snow reflects the sun. Believe me I know, I got snow-blinded for few hours when I wasn't careful...

J

[fretlessman71]

It's too much fun to see the people who have never been to CO before go skiing and come back with a bright red face and peeling nose. I get to swagger over to them, hitch up my overalls, spit through the huge gap between my teeth and say, "Y'all ain'f from 'round here, is ya?" :D

[steveh]

Originally posted by Summer
In February and March we still have lots of snow, and sunshine too during the day. And people like to go skiing a lot then. If you don't wear proper sunglasses and sun protection cream on your face, you'll definitely get sunburnt and propably snow-blind for a while.

Well yeah, March is almost Spring - it serves those people right for not being more careful! ;)

March is just about the time that everyone in Chicago relaxes and thinks that the worst is over, then Mother Nature will hit us with one last blizzard for St. Patrick's Day!

S.

[chazwicke]

And of course March is when the bocks start showing up!

[davesarman]

A fun event held every February in Minnesota is the Schell's Bockfest (http://www.schellsbrewery.com/news_bockfest.php). Held outside at the brewery in New Ulm, it's a rowdy, fun time with lots of brats, beer, oom-pah bands and general mayhem. The weather can get pretty chilly, so you see some interesting attire to keep people warm. Very fun time, the whole town shows up, it seems like. If your ever in the area, I recommend checking it out!