End of week - keep your fingers crossed

[jdew]

Things are looking up for the Poconos for when you can't make it up north . . .

from the NWS:

"Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service

300 PM EST TUE DEC 2 2003
... THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER EVENT OF THE SEASON IS POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE WEEKEND OVER EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA... NEW JERSEY... NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND... AND DELAWARE...

A SLOW-MOVING COASTAL STORM... OR WHAT MAY BE A COUPLE OF STORMS... IS TAKING SHAPE FOR LATE THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND FOR THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC AREA. THE FIRST SURGE OF MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED FROM THE SOUTH THURSDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR RAIN TO MIX WITH SNOW OVER EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN NEW JERSEY... WITH PRECIPITATION POSSIBLY WEIGHTED MORE TOWARD SNOW OR OCCURRING AS MOSTLY SNOW NORTH AND WEST OF PHILADELPHIA.

AS THE NEXT LOW MOVES NORTHEAST AND POSSIBLY STALLS NEAR THE AREA OR OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY... AND UPPER LEVEL ENERGY MOVES OVERHEAD... MORE WINTRY PRECIPITATION IS POSSIBLE INTO THE WEEKEND. WINTRY WEATHER MAY EXTEND SOUTHWARD INTO PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND AND DELAWARE AS COLD AIR IS DRAWN SOUTH.

IN ADDITION... A STRONG ONSHORE FLOW IS LIKELY WITH THIS STORM. IF THIS MATERIALIZES... THERE IS A THREAT OF COASTAL FLOODING DUE TO THE STRONG NORTHEAST OR EASTERLY FLOW AND THE APPROACHING FULL MOON.

A SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF THE REGION LATE THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND... SO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS PROVIDING ADVANCE NOTICE OF THIS POSSIBILITY. HOWEVER... SINCE CONFIDENCE IS LOW IN THE COMPUTER MODELS AND IN EXACTLY HOW THIS SITUATION WILL PLAY OUT AT THIS TIME... AREA RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS TO THE REGION ARE URGED TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES AS THE EVENT GETS CLOSER....

[Mumster]

All the better....As long as it doesn't slow my return up North.

As I recall, we had our first major storm for the winter the first weekend in December last year too. It took us about 18 hours to :hummer: to New England during it.

[Castlerock]

Aw, come on Mum. I love driving in snow. It means better skiing. If it is too bad, I just stay up there and ski the freshies the next. (I know, sometimes it isn't possible).

But on a serious note. Get some (4!) winter tires. It makes a huge difference. It probably costs less than your insurance deductable and extends the life of the summer tires. It also reduces the pressure on your knuckles....

[M@]

I'm getting 8 snow tires on saturday. Let the snow times roll baby!

Spinning this weekend as a , "Oh man, I wanted to go skiing, and it's cheap and shawn is having a big party..." whine to the wife, so as to set up future skiing requests.

M@

[Castlerock]

Check this out M@.

Not only is there a storm this weekend, but the long term MRF model (goes out 10 days) has another noreaster for next weekend.

Check out the MRF loop at Unisys: Unisys MRF loop (http://weather.unisys.com/mrf/loop/mrf_pres_loop.html)

[targheehucker]

awww some mets after my own heart...while climatalogy doesnt suggest there being alot of snow for the mid-atl, the forecast sure looks good now!! they have taken all the wet stuff off for N&W of the city!!!

[M@]

Castlerock: Nice, I decided I need a page of web links - there are SO many.

http://m.sheppard.net/weather/

M@

[skicdave]

M@:
I'm getting 8 snow tires on saturday. Let the snow times roll baby!

Spinning this weekend as a , "Oh man, I wanted to go skiing, and it's cheap and shawn is having a big party..." whine to the wife, so as to set up future skiing requests.

M@ M@ I'm looking at purchasing some snow tires for our PT. Give me some guidance. What should I look for? What kind? How much (ballpark)? I want tires that perform well, not looking to pinch pennies. Any biggie on snow tires vs ice tires? I'll be buying rims for them also. Any thoughts appreciated.

:snowflakes: :tube: :tube: :tube: :tube:

not :makeoutonatube:

[Mumster]

It was scarey last year when we drove up during the storm - all the roads were jammed so it took around 18 hours. Our tires were ok, but other people were all over the road. :eek:

Castlerock, I'll check out the :tube: on my car. The hubby isn't big on winter tires. :( I better at least make sure I have traction.

Anyone know of easy on/off chains or other easy things that can improve traction if the hubby doesn't want to spring for new :tube: ?

[M@]

Dave: I'm getting Cooper WeatherMaster ST2's studded. 4 for each car. Total is gonna be $640.

If you wanna spend >$100 a tire, go with some Hakkapalita's. I've had those in the past (when I was only buying 4 at a time) and they were great.

M@

[Mumster]

:ma:

$640/car or total?

[RR]

Mumster check out the Snow tire Wheel package price at The Tire Rack (http://www.tirerack.com/snow/changeover.jsp) it comes in at 575.68USD (includes Road Hazzard protection) for the set of 4 Bridgestone Blizzaks mounted on steel wheels (size 215/60 QR15 for my Taurus).

I'm not sure if balancing is included, I'm guessing that your local shop will have to do that.

Sears has had some excellent values in the past. Their Roadhandler Ice & Snow Winter Radials are worth a look too. I used them in Maine for two winters when we lived up past Old Town. Two big Ayuh's for them!

[M@]

Mumster:

$640 total (8 tires)- mounted and balanced. He priced the tires a little more indivudially - but when I said, "How much for 8" he gave me a bit of a discount.

M@

[Bannick]

M@:
Mumster:

$640 total (8 tires)- mounted and balanced. He priced the tires a little more indivudially - but when I said, "How much for 8" he gave me a bit of a discount.

M@ 8 tires just what are you driving? Some sorta stretch SUV???

A friend of mine has 8 tires on his 4 wheel drive John Deere tractor that he uses on his dirt farm in Saskatchewan?

[skidude]

Mumster:
All the better....As long as it doesn't slow my return up North.

As I recall, we had our first major storm for the winter the first weekend in December last year too. It took us about 18 hours to :hummer: to New England during it. I hope we get that snow. I don't think I will be able to make it up to Camelback because of skimum ditching me. Anyway I could make some money shoveling all of my lazy neighbors out :) .

[surfy]

Hey Mumster,

DO NOT get chains. They are a pain to put on, they have a tendency to wrap around your exle if they aren't on right, and you can only go 20 mph with them on. When I lived in North Cali we had to put chains on to get through the Sierras and to get to Lake Tahoe. They were a royal pain although skiing Squaw, Heavenly, and Kirkwood made it worth it.

surfy

[Mumster]

Thanks Surfy. I talked the Hubby into looking at tires for me. My car is old, so he isn't thrilled about spending $$$. But, he was cruising the internet last PM with the info RR and M@ provided. :tube: