monsoonmartin

What a storm.  A foot on Thursday morning, then a thundersnow-laden blizzard on the back end.

The numbers are staggering: 20.5" in Birdsboro, 18" in Mertztown, 20.3" in Bethlehem, 18.5" in Gouglersville, 19.5" in North Jersey, 20.2" in Honey Brook, 18.8" here in Reading.  Most of the area fell between 12 and 18 inches of snow.

In meteorology (even among hobbyists), there is a tendency to overquantify.  To get all number-nerdy and focus on the pressure readings, the temperature gradients, the snowfall totals, the QPF.

But--not to get too philosophical here--this storm is one that reminded me why I am so drawn to forecasting the weather.  Numbers are important in forecasting (as in life), but there's the unquantifiable element: the power of nature to overwhelm, and to do so effortlessly.

In Lord of the Flies, a novel about boys stranded on an island, Ralph stares out to sea during a contemplative moment and is "faced by the brute obtuseness of the ocean."  He's realizing (with a little "fall of the heart") that the water is going about its ebb and flow indifferently.  In the same way, we scurry around trying to outsmart nature, to anticipate it, to control it, to defeat it.  And nature rolls on, not to spite us, but with utter disregard of us.

Not sure why I'm in such a ruminative mood.  Maybe it's just easier than worrying that the next snow-hunk that falls off our roof is going to be the one that breaks a window.  Or that the next gust of wind is the one that dislodges a branch onto a power line.  Or that the school year will never, ever, ever end.

There's another little storm coming tonight.  I almost can't bring myself to tell you about it, but that's my "job," so here goes...

Yes, I censored the nipples. I thought it would be unfair of me to confront you with unwanted nipples when all you wanted to do was read my blog. You can't unsee things.Snow moves in for most of us about midnight or 1am (Friday/early Saturday).  On and off, varying rates until about 1pm.  Should only accumulate about 1-3 inches, but remember that it doesn't take much for the roads to become treacherous.  I mean, after a foot and a half of snow, this seems like mere child's play.  But today's 100-vehicle pileup on the PA Turnpike is a reminder that the key to driving in the snow (more than having a snow-savvy car) is slowing way down and keeping a generous following distance.

Backing things up a bit.

Today is getting up to 41 with plenty of sunshine, so the roads will get better and better as the day goes on.

And then the aforementioned nuisance snow.

Cold over the weekend: high of 28 Saturday and 22 on Sunday.  Low of 15 over Saturday to Sunday; 5 overnight Sunday to Monday.

And then some snow/mixed precipitation moves in for Monday night into Tuesday, so stay tuned for updates on that.

And then it gets warmer by the end of next week!  I promise it does.

Monsoon

P.S. Here's this video.