A *Sparkalish* Roar!: SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

This winter in Northern Illinois, has been...let's say a bit disappointing, especially for the 12 and under crowd. Last year we had a nice snow the day after Thanksgiving. This year I was out grilling our dinner the day after Thanksgiving. No White Christmas, 45° on New Year's Eve. It's just, ya know...an anti-climatic winter. It's warm, even. Today, January 11, 2012, the temperature is supposed to be 55°, it was 58° yesterday. Really?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow begins our first "winter storm watch". This just in from the National Weather Service:

ALERT 1 - Winter Storm Watch
A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9:00AM CST FRIDAY, JANUARY 13
Issue Time: 3:13AM CST, Wednesday Jan 11, 2012
Valid Until: 11:15AM CST, Wednesday Jan 11, 2012
Back to summary
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNINGTHROUGH FRIDAY MORNINGUrgent - Winter Weather MessageNational Weather Service Chicago IL313 AM CST Wed Jan 11 2012
Mchenry-Lake IL-Kane-Dupage-Cook-Kendall-Will-Lake IN-Porter-Including The Cities Of... Woodstock... Waukegan... Aurora...
Wheaton... Chicago... Oswego... Joliet... Gary... Valparaiso
... Winter Storm Watch IN Effect From Thursday Morning ThroughFriday Morning...

The National Weather Service IN Chicago Has Issued A Winter StormWatch... Which Is IN Effect From Thursday Morning Through FridayMorning.

* Timing... Snow Will Develop By Midday Thursday And Continue IntoFriday Morning.

* Accumulations... Snowfall Totals IN Excess Of 6 Inches ArePossible.

* Hazards... In Addition To The Falling Snow... Winds Will IncreaseTo 15 To 25 Mph With Gusts Up To 35 Mph By Thursday Evening AndContinue Through Thursday Night. The Strong Winds Will CauseConsiderable Blowing And Drifting Snow... Especially IN OutlyingAnd Open Areas. Wind Chills Are Also Forecast To Drop To NearZero.
* Impacts... Accumulating Snow Will Likely Make Travel DifficultFor The Afternoon Commute Thursday... With Travel ConditionsPossibly Becoming Treacherous And Even Dangerous IN Open AreasThursday Night Into Early Friday Morning.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions...

A Winter Storm Watch Means There Is A Potential For SignificantSnow... Sleet... Or Ice Accumulations That May Impact Travel.Continue To Monitor The Latest Forecasts.

Last February 2 (my birthday, incidentally). We had a FREAKING BLIZZARD here, complete with emergency warming station set up by the Village. This picture is in the morning, only a few hours into the blizzard.

Here's one after my pal and I finished SHOVELING the driveway:

So, needless to say, my kids are SO EXCITED about the snow forecast and so am I! Bring it mother nature!

Cheers!!

3 comments:

KimJanuary 11, 2012 at 8:27 AM
Hee hee. I am happy someone is excited! I kind of am, but am worried about driving to the train station in the snow. Other than that, the snow does not bother me!
Maggie WJanuary 11, 2012 at 10:04 AM
OMG you SHOVELED your driveway after the blizzard? Talk about a workout!!

I'm a little bummed because it's hard to run after work when it's snowy/icy. I avoid the sidewalks because you never know what you're going to get and it's too dark to see, so that means running in the streets after they are plowed, which isn't the safest. Another blogger suggested running in large mostly empty parking lots (the lot by the JCPenney at Wolf & 30 comes to mind). Those are lit and hopefully will be cleared of snow. I'm guessing out Wednesday night runs will be taken to the streets.
JeniJanuary 11, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I'm running tomorrow with Don and Julie at noon. YAK TRAX!!