January 22
...serving up your daily dish.
Sailors take warning.
After laying in a cache of firewood yesterday afternoon, the Barista now discovers that the living room is too cold (damn these old houses) to even enjoy the warmth of a wood stove. We're in long underwear and multiple layers, under a down comforter, with a space heater blasting, and have suspended all plans for self-improvement or merriment that involve leaving the bed.
Anybody going to the grocery store before the storm? If so, send us pictures of the hilarity. Extra points if you capture a check-out line brawl.
The temperature at 10 am is 10 degrees. Here's the official forecast. Note the last paragraph. And remember, send us word of cancellations: tips at baristanet dot com.
Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service
...BERGEN NJ-EASTERN PASSAIC NJ-ESSEX NJ-HUDSON NJ-UNION NJ- 600 AM EST SAT JAN 22 2005 CORRECTED EXPIRATION TIME ... BLIZZARD WARNING FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...
SNOW WILL MOVE IN THIS AFTERNOON... AND WILL BECOME VERY HEAVY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY MORNING... THE TAPER OFF SUNDAY AFTERNOON. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE 16 TO 24 INCHES BY SUNDAY EVENING. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW... NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON... AND WILL BE QUITE GUSTY TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. WINDS MAY GUST UP TO 45 MPH LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING... ALLOWING VISIBILITIES TO DROP TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. THESE WINDS WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW AS WELL AS POWER OUTAGES. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL BE BELOW ZERO AT TIMES.
A BLIZZARD WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS OF OVER 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH CONSIDERABLE FALLING AND OR BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BECOME POOR... WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. THOSE VENTURING OUTDOORS MAY BECOME LOST OR DISORIENTED... SO PEOPLE IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS.
ANY TRAVEL IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF YOU LEAVE THE SAFETY OF BEING INDOORS... YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK.
THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING WINTER WEATHER SITUATION! PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD COMPLETED BY NOON TODAY
Really nice photo Deb! on my way to the grocery store now ...
Posted by: Cat | Jan 22, 2005 10:18:55 AM
Actually, the photo is by Barista husband Warren Levinson. Take your camera, Cat.
Posted by: The Barista | Jan 22, 2005 10:21:50 AM
OK - took my camera but realized in the A&P where the scene was a bit tense that I had no battery power left! Oy! Whole Foods was a marvel of organization - I parked - shopped - and got through the check out in 20 minutes! It looks bad outside but be patient they know how to handle pre-blizzard frenzy. American Royal hardware still has ice melt and shovels and they've also got it together - went twice and got parking in their lot both times!
Posted by: Cat | Jan 22, 2005 11:28:09 AM
At 9 a.m., I ran the West Essex Trail, from Verona to Little Falls and back. Nine degrees! Since then, I've been enjoying the (relative) warmth of the indoors.
I wish I had rented a couple of movies for the afternoon/evening, but, alas, Curry's Video is no more.
Posted by: Chris | Jan 22, 2005 3:25:04 PM
Just checked the National Weather Service site ... http://www.crh.noaa.gov/forecasts/NJZ005.php?warncounty=NJC013&city=Bloomfield ... which indicates "heavy snow and freezing fog."
Freezing fog?
Posted by: Chris | Jan 22, 2005 4:05:42 PM
Yes, I can vouch for Chris! He was also the first one back in our group of 4 very brave people!
Posted by: Miss Martta | Jan 22, 2005 6:43:45 PM
