[W.F. Lantry]

Hey, folks,

Sometimes it feels like DC is in the center of some kind of cosmic demolition derby. For the past few years, we've gotten slammed with 'once in a century' storms at least twice a year. And here comes the next one.

Not that I mean to complain, or anything. I just wish they'd come up with better names. I mean, it's one thing to have one's power out for a week, while one literally freezes in the dark. But to name its cause Snowgasm? It seems beyond the pale. Then there was Snowpocalypse. And just a couple months ago, we all had to learn a new word: Derecho.

At least that name had a Castilian flair. Spanish is, after all, the loving tongue. But Frankenstorm? Snowicane? Seriously, who picks these things?

Looks like this one is gonna hit right between DC and Philly. For those who know hurricanes, that means DC is on the dirty side. Again. Dang! And the track has been moving South all day:



There must be some really awful Karma in this town. You know it's bad when people are starting to call it Beelzebub's bowling alley!

Thanks,

Bill

[Maryann Corbett]

Yikes. Looks bad, Bill. Once again, I'm concerned about NoVa, mid-Maryland, and about Boston.

(I blame the politicians and the lobbyists for all that bad karma.)

[Shaun J. Russell]

Funnily enough, I'm currently on the phone with United Airlines, trying to change my parents' return flight from Norfolk to Seattle. They were scheduled to leave on Monday morning at 10:00 AM. Guess what time the hurricane is supposed to hit Southeast Virginia? 10:00 AM Monday morning...

Part of me thinks all the hubbub about this storm is hyperbole, but it never hurts to take precautions. We live three blocks from the Elizabeth River, which leads directly to the Atlantic ocean. I'm a bit concerned about a possible storm surge. We'll see...

[W.F. Lantry]

Looks like they've settled on calling it Frankenstorm. I blame the national weather service office in College Park, just a few miles from here. But protesting their naming practices is about as futile as Cuchulain standing at the shore and fighting the oncoming sea...

Shaun, if the track follows the blue line below, your worries about flooding may be realized:



.


Imagine all that water pushing into the Chesapeake with nowhere to go. Yikes! Now imagine being in downtown Alexandria!

For us, the flood plain of the Anacostia river is right behind our house. The riverbank itself is about sixty yards from our backyard. This whole thing could get way more exciting than I'd prefer. Quick calculations say the lip of the dam two miles downstream is below the level of our basement, but depending on my own mental calculations is obviously a fool's game. I love living close to the river. Most days...

Thanks,

Bill

[Shaun J. Russell]

Originally Posted by W.F. Lantry

Shaun, if the track follows the blue line below, your worries about flooding may be realized:

Wonder what the Vegas odds are on these projections. Here's hoping the HWRF projection turns out to be the right one. That should make for the least displacement / damage etc.

[Patricia A. Marsh]

A plethora of information here ---> http://www.wunderground.com/blog/Jef...?entrynum=2277

[W.F. Lantry]

Patricia,

Thanks for that link. Here's the picture there that scares me:



If you look at where that image is 'pointing,' it looks like the center is heading straight for DC...

We're just back from buying the last of the batteries. Lots of empty shelves. And canned food: crabmeat, salmon, chicken... stuff we'd eat anyway, and will keep no matter what. We're getting pretty used to the drill. After the Derecho, it was hard to find open gas stations, so we're already seeing long lines at some places, even though others are fine. Kate is putting large containers of water in the freezer.

We took our generator in to get serviced. Should be ready for pickup by close of business today. After that, there'll be nothing to do but hunker down and watch the sky. We can already see the long, curving bands of clouds...

Thanks,

Bill

[Patricia A. Marsh]

Bill ---

Here's a link to a video showing what Sandy looks like from space . . . as well as a brief article indicating that there are competing models for the path of the storm, one from Europe and one from the US, including a hyperlink:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...6pLid%3D226617

[Catherine Chandler]

Hoping for the best for all Sphereans affected by this storm. Stay safe!

[Don Jones]

Snowicane? Frankenstorm? Snowgasm? Snowpocalypse? Beelzebub's bowling alley?

As you know Bill, these are names that make fun, or make light, of something that one can’t control and that can and will do harm. Apotropaic. Whistling while passing through the graveyard in the dead of night and such.

Also, they are great marketing devices. Frankenstorm, in a word, sells.

Wishing you safe passage, Bill, and everyone else affected by the coming storm.

Don