Blizzard 2015 Boston

[dave1949]

Our ever-increasing berm next to the front walk.

I think you should fire-up a 55 gal. drum with coal, put a big kettle on the top of the barrel, shovel snow into the kettle. :laughing:

What a mess.

Eastport, Maine: 99" of snow in the past 20 days. About 1200 residents and a three-man town road crew. Eastport is located on several small islands near the Canadian border. They are asking for help from the National Guard.

Eastport residents buried by

 

[DFB]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nyc-hiker-found-dead-n-h-mountains-article-1.2118000

An strong and adventurous woman apparently, and maybe a risk taker. Originally from Omsk, Russia (southwestern Siberia about 1200 miles east of Moscow).

Thanks for linking that Dave

 

[Garandman]

The last time I went winter hiking in the Presidentials, we aborted with -25 F and 100mph winds. My best friend ran a mountaineering program and took five attempts to reach Mt Washington in winter. You can lean against a 50mph, 40 degree breeze. At cold temps the wind hits you a lot harder. Too bad.

Those of you in the area know that the MBTA is a mess after years of mismanagement. They may apply for federal disaster relief funds - and will probably be denied. The feds tightened up the rules after Hurricane Sandy.

....federal regulations provide that “a catastrophic failure must not be primarily attributable to gradual and progressive deterioration or lack of proper maintenance.”

The MBTA deferred a lot of maintenance in favor of expansion. They were supposed to be recording all the deferred maintenance items for later remedy. Obama even game the $1 million for the data system. But then they would look really bad: so they just stopped logging it. So now they have no proof that their problems are the result of anything but their own mismanagement, even though we did have unprecedented snowfall.

 

[Garandman]

The last time I went winter hiking in the Presidentials, we aborted with -25 F and 100mph winds. My best friend ran a mountaineering program and took five attempts to reach Mt Washington in winter. You can lean against a 50mph, 40 degree breeze. At cold temps the wind hits you a lot harder. Too bad.

Those of you in the area know that the MBTA is a mess after years of mismanagement. They may apply for federal disaster relief funds - and will probably be denied. The feds tightened up the rules after Hurricane Sandy.

....federal regulations provide that catastrophic failure must not be primarily attributable to gradual and progressive deterioration or lack of proper maintenance.

The MBTA deferred a lot of maintenance in favor of expansion. They were supposed to be recording all the deferred maintenance items for later remedy. Obama even game the $1 million for the data system. But then they would look really bad: so they just stopped logging it. So now they have no proof that their problems are the result of anything but their own mismanagement, even though we did have unprecedented snowfall.

 

[Pixguy]

MBTA = overpaid political hacks

 

[IslandTractor]

MBTA = overpaid political hacks

I don't use MBTA much but I'd note that the privately run commuter rail system serving Boston hasn't done any better during the past few weeks.

 

[houstonscott]

I don't use MBTA much but I'd note that the privately run commuter rail system serving Boston hasn't done any better during the past few weeks.

What's the future look like up there if all that melts fast this spring. Anyone thinking about that now? Seems like the treat of floods is real and might be fare worse. HS

 

[IslandTractor]

What's the future look like up there if all that melts fast this spring. Anyone thinking about that now? HS

We don't generally have problems with floods. Lots of storm drains and rivers.

 

[tcartwri]

In case you guys are feeling a little overwhealmed.. This reminds me of building snow forts as a kid.

[video]http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/PEI/ID/2654524972/[/video]

 

[dave1949]

In case you guys are feeling a little overwhealmed.. This reminds me of building snow forts as a kid.

[video]http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/PEI/ID/2654524972/[/video]

I hope Marcel noticed he is living in Summerside, not Wintercide.

Yikes!

 

[DFB]

Snowstorms cause widespread economic damage in Massachusetts | masslive.com

I see the PPH had run a story also about businesses losing because of all the snow :confused3:

Portland's restaurant business has little appetite for snow - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

 

[BLUE ME]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-b...-shows-massive-snowbanks-on-youtube-1.2959726

 

[Garandman]

There is no doubt of the economic impact. We can't reach people and getting signatures for purchases has been difficult. When the Commiewealth bans travel we can't process new jobs through our 3D printers so they sit idle.

This is MA school vacation week and the NH ski areas are usually maxed out. At Mt Sunapee the employees are required to park at the lake, and all three parking lots are usually full along with up and down the access roads.

This week, either because of the snow or cold weather forecast or both, they didn't even fill the second lot. Yesterday it hit 25 degrees and minimal wind and blue skies.

 

[Paul Thornton]

I just made a comment to my wife that I thought it looked kind of dead around here for a Mass vacation week.

 

[IslandTractor]

We went on a walk around our neighborhood (Boston suburb) this afternoon. Seems a lot of folks are still digging out or dealing with ice dams. There don't seem to be very many homes "deserted" as they should be during a school vacation week. In fact it was notable when we saw an occasional home with unplowed sidewalk or walkways. Last weekend a good number of flights were cancelled at Logan airport so perhaps people just cancelled plans rather than rebooking. I suspect a lot of ski trips were also cancelled during the past weekend/Monday when temps were below zero. It was quite mild today though it did snow a couple more inches.

I can see that restaurants would be hurting in Boston. You'd have to be out of your mind to drive into Boston at supper time these days. The traffic is horrendous due to snow narrowed streets and even if you got in to town there would be nowhere to park. The city covered parking lots have been full for the past week or more. I took my daughter to a doctor's appointment yesterday and there was not even any parking at the hospital.

 

[Garandman]

Three People Buried By Falling Snow In Cambridge « CBS Boston

CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – Three people were buried when a massive amount of snow fell off a Cambridge ice rink Wednesday night. Cambridge Police say four adults were walking down the sidewalk next to the rink when the snow fell. Three were brothers from Cambridge, officials said.

Dan Delongchamp was the first person on scene and started digging. “I want to say it was five minutes of terror,” Delongchamp said. “Digging in the snow trying to find somebody, it was terrible.”

A 34-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, both of Cambridge – were stuck under the weight of five feet of snow.

The last time I was at this rink, the game before ours was Cambridge versus Brookline, "Battle of the Wealthy Liberals."

In case you can't read them, the bumper stickers read Obama Biden and Elizabeth Warren, and the sign says, "Compact cars only." The betting was 50/50 but the owner is a doctor from Brookline. I guess in Brookline any Honda is considered "compact."

And the slip of paper in the back window said "I'm a parking piggie" with drawing of a pig face.

 

[IslandTractor]

I've been to that rink many times. The danger of snow and ice falling from the roof is very well documented by multiple warning signs. Parking is tough due to the health clinic next door. Back of the rink is the best option.

Neither Cambridge nor Brookline are known for their hockey teams these days. Not enough Catholic families left in those communities. Hockey in MA is dominated by kids from middle class Irish and Italian families. Arlington, Framingham, and similar burbs turn out the most competitive teams these days. Nobody with a big family can afford Cambridge or Brookline.

 

[Garandman]

Snowstorms cause widespread economic damage in Massachusetts | masslive.com

People in NH and VT complain when people from MA visit: and when they don't.

WACHUSETT (CBS) – Record setting snowfall is taking a toll on many local businesses – including ski resorts.

Vice president of Wachusett Mountain, Carolyn Crowley Stimpson, says this is the best snow – the best conditions – they’ve ever had. Stimpson says it’s also one of the worst February vacation weeks they’ve ever experienced.

“It’s really lonely around here. We’re in the vacation period and look at it, it’s empty! It’s crazy! Every day we’re saying, ‘Where is everyone?’ I think they’re all just stuck in the snow bank in Boston,” says Stimpson.

...Revenue at Wachusett Mountain is down 17% so far this year. The resort is down 40% if you only factor in the past three weeks.

 

[Garandman]

A Hingham ferry carrying more than 100 passengers had to be towed into Boston after getting stuck in ice Friday morning, officials said.

When the vessel, which left Hingham around 8:15 a.m., got stuck inside Hingham Harbor, another Boston Harbor Cruises vessel was used to tow it, while a Coast Guard icebreaker forged a path in front.

The Coast Guard cutter Pendant was already breaking ice in the Boston Harbor when it was diverted to help the ferry, said Ross Ruddell, a spokesman for the Coast Guard.

Hingham Ferry stuck in ice with more than 100 passengers aboard - Metro - The Boston Globe

 

[DFB]

People in NH and VT complain when people from MA visit: and when they don't.

Far as I know all the flatlanders are still invited

Ski Vermont Has More Snow and Ideal Conditions for this Weekend - Ski Vermont

I haven't really read or heard any complaints from the local ski area. Mt Snow is only minutes away from me

The quote is for Wachusett Mountain. That is still in Massachusetts if I'm not mistaken :confused3:

I didn't even know they had a mountain down there :laughing: