Anyone else in the path of major winter storm?

[RoxMonster]

Later this week? I’m in IL and they said our whole state could end up in the “bullseye” but it’s affecting a large portion of the Midwest and Great Lakes Wed-Sat. Local meteorologists are saying could be a couple feet of snow, -40 wind chills, and winds up to 80 MPH.

We didn’t have plans for Christmas anyhow beyond delivering some meals Christmas morning locally. We aren’t traveling and are just doing a quiet holiday at home. But I know a lot of people are traveling. A coworker is driving to FL Thurs and didn’t know about the storm until I mentioned it and is now trying to leave Wed. My main concern is extended loss of electricity. It is no fun doing a hotel with our dog. And hopefully we’d be able to drive to one.

Anyone’s plans being interrupted or cancelled? What prep are you doing ahead of time?

I hate winter.

[abs]

We aren't projected to get any snow or ice but we are expecting very cold weather (teens) and our pipes aren't really built to withstand that. I just hope we keep power. Do not want a repeat of 2021 with damage to the house.

[Jalapeñomel]

It shifted so just rain here. I'm so sad about it.

[Patsy Baloney]

I am nervous and farther south in IL. The past few big ones have been really disruptive, but not as bad as the initial forecast was predicting. I don’t want to be complacent, but I’m also wondering just how bad it’s going to be.

We were hoping to have grandparents over on Christmas night, and I wonder if the blowing snow will cause issues with that.

[pixy0stix]

We're on the edge, so 2-5 inches of snow and -25 wind chill. Thursday is going to suck, but after that it clears out quickly here.

[waverly]

Yes, I am. I am making plans. My co-workers are in denial.

Also, my sister thinks we can wait and see on the weather so that I can make a 5 hour drive to her house for Christmas. Um no to that. I am not coming. I tried to tell her and got the wait and see response. Um no matter how much waiting and seeing, I am not traveling. We don't usually travel for Christmas which is what I told her last year when she invited me. Sweet that she invited me, but I can't drive in the Midwest long distances at this time of the year.

We don't typically lose power, so that wasn't a concern of mine until you mentioned it. Yikes! My prep is mostly because we will have to close work, and I have to do stuff around that. Otherwise, I am buying stocking stuffers now instead of later. We are fine on groceries, but may want to go get something on Wednesday to supplement. Yes I know it will be busy on Wednesday, but I need to eat some of the stuff I have already before buying more.

[Velar Fricative]

I just saw temperatures in the teens in NYC this weekend so I guess that's why. No snow from what I see so far. I hope everyone dealing with unusually cold temps and/or snow remains safe.

[dcn]

Yep we are in Kentucky and they are calling for rain turning to ice, maybe some snow. Very windy and very cold. Fun times.

[maudefindlay]

We are, but local meteriologists are holding off predicting snow totals. Single digit to negative degree temps though Fri and Sat with wind gusts leading to white out conditions. Kids are off school then and DH is off work then. We have all our gifts and I will food shop Wed. We are doing our own Christmas Friday at home. Saturday we are to go to FIL's in the evening to celebrate with DH's family. He lives just across the road, like a 5 to 10 min walk so that will likely stay on. We are to go to my parent's on Sunday. They are a 20 min drive. My brother and his family might not be able to make it if weather is bad as they are over an hour away. I'm ok with that one being canceled as things are strained with my parents and DH and I have pulled back from them.

[beerlover]

I'm in Central PA and I think it's a toss-up right now. Sounds like travel will definitely be messy but not sure if it will be mostly rain or a rain/snow mix. DS is to have school all week and a half day Friday and I'm not in the mood for any more virtual days yet!

As far as Christmas travel goes, we only go 45 minutes so we'll probably be fine to go somewhere Christmas Eve if everything's cleaned up.

[icedcoffee]

We're watching it. Originally it said snow now it's looking like rain, but rain can cause shitty travel conditions too and it's supposed to be COOOLD. The drive from DC to NY is bad on a good day so we're watching to decide when we leave. From there we're heading to upstate NY to ski and I'm just worried it's going to be cold AF and we will not deal with it well.

[underwaterrhymes]

Chicago area up by the WI border here, so yup.

As far as prep is concerned, just making sure we have plenty of no-heat food. If needed, we could put cold stuff in the garage. We have a gas fireplace and gas burners, but still hoping we don’t lose power.

[pandorica]

Dec 19, 2022 13:05:41 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

It shifted so just rain here. I'm so sad about it.

Same. We just had a super let down of a storm last week and now the rain is going to wash away the little bit of snow we do have. I was so excited to have snow on the ground for Christmas

[chilerellanos]

I think they said maybe 5 inches of snow Wednesday night and ridiculously cold temps. Thursday our HIGH is -10.

I’m glad we aren’t getting feet of snow because I work thu-sun, and I work in a hospital so it doesn’t close for weather.

I’d basically be stuck at the hospital for 4 days during Christmas weekend.

[icedcoffee]

I can't decide when traffic will be the worst this weekend. I realllly don't want to sit in traffic for 500 years. Originally we were thinking of leaving late Thursday, but now I'm wondering if we should maybe get up super early Friday and go.

[dancingirl21]

Western Chicago suburbs, so yep. DH is working in SC this week and was supposed to fly home Thursday night. He just changed his flight to Thursday morning.

We are supposed to travel 4 hours to my family in WI on Sunday. I think we should be fine by then. We are home otherwise. I didn’t hear about the wind being that bad. I should make sure we have food in case of a power outage.

[shortstax]

Ohio here, and I'm really hoping it gets me out of spending Christmas afternoon with the ILs (an hour away.)

Fingers crossed, lol.

[lust2hart]

Forecasting up to 4" of snow on Thursday here (Kansas City area), but historically we get a lot less than predicted.

[toepick]

Dec 19, 2022 13:12:46 GMT -5 dcn said:

Yep we are in Kentucky and they are calling for rain turning to ice, maybe some snow. Very windy and very cold. Fun times.

I'm leaving Kentucky for Denver and other than the first frigid day, it's going to be warmer there than at home! 

[bex1973]

Maybe? LOL - the meteorologists are holding off predicting what will happen in MI until it gets closer. I'm going to the store tonight to get the last few things we need for the holiday meals so I can hopefully miss the mad rush of folks stocking up.

Kid is worried it will mess up plans for Christmas Eve with family but we'll see.

Otherwise we're stocked with firewood and kerosene should the power go out but thankfully that doesn't happen too often because our power lines are buried.

[momin2013]

Southern Ontario here - looks like it's now rain on Thursday, rain-snow turning to snow on Friday, and more snow Saturday with quite cold temps. I'm wondering if it will end up being a snow day for schools on Friday.

Family is not coming to visit until Monday, so I think we'll be in the clear by then.

We've had a green Christmas the last couple of years so I actually don't mind some snow!

[huskymom]

I wish!! Just looks like a lot of terrible rain for CT - 60 degrees Friday then 30 Saturday.

[eddy]

In Iowa so yes. It is stressing me out lol.

I would love snow for Christmas. But it could impact our plans to see family which is frustrating.

[fluffycookie]

I'm in Mass and they are calling for all rain where I am and it could be close to 60. After the storm clears out it's supposed to get brutally cold so I worry about stuff icing up friday night and Christmas eve morning

[mrspez07]

In Denver looks like we’re getting snow and freezing cold temps on Wed night through Thursday, with strong winds. The high will be 0 or below. The winds would be the worst part, I don’t mind the other 2 as much, but wind in any season sucks. Before and after that short timeframe it’s looking to be “warm” for winter.

[zaneyzoo]

We are! And I am sooooo excited. We haven't had snow on the ground for Christmas in I don't know how long. Bring it on

[boiler717]

Indianapolis, and yes. We were supposed to go to a play and dinner Friday but were able to move to Wednesday. I have all the food coming Thursday.

[RoxMonster]

I’m jaded about the power thing because we had an awful ice storm around New Years in 2015 that knocked our power out for almost 5 days. It was awful. After day 2, it was too cold to stay in the house and we had to do a hotel stay with our wild dog.

I’m hoping their “worst case scenario” models don’t come to fruition.

[shauni27]

Dec 19, 2022 13:19:05 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Dec 19, 2022 13:05:41 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

It shifted so just rain here. I'm so sad about it.

Same. We just had a super let down of a storm last week and now the rain is going to wash away the little bit of snow we do have. I was so excited to have snow on the ground for Christmas

same here as well. My H is devastated (he manages a local ski area and has spent HOURS and HOURS on the hill with his team making snow for weeks now. To see it washed away is so bad for morale.)

[shauni27]

Dec 19, 2022 14:30:44 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

I’m jaded about the power thing because we had an awful ice storm around New Years in 2015 that knocked our power out for almost 5 days. It was awful. After day 2, it was too cold to stay in the house and we had to do a hotel stay with our wild dog.

I’m hoping their “worst case scenario” models don’t come to fruition.

after the snow storm we got on Friday, many people here are still without power. We were so fortunate that we were one of TWO streets in our town (the largest in the region) that did not lose power! Even the grocery stores and gas stations were closed!