Our prayers to Ullr the Snow God have been answered. At least for southern New England that could receive more than a foot of snow from this nor’easter. Watch the storm on radar.
The only downside, apart from the people who have to drive anywhere, southern Vermont ski areas should get just a few inches.
But for Connecticut, the forecast is good news for cross country skiing and shoeshoeing in the days ahead. How often does this happen? A word of advice: if you plan on skiing or snowboarding at any of Connecticut’s four areas today, make sure you check their web sites or call ahead first. They are open now, but may close early if traveling becomes difficult.
There’s one thing that annoys me: where does T.V. station Channel 3 (WFSB) get off in naming storms? Who do they think they are? They’ve been doing this for decades. Remember the Blizzard of ’78? They named the storm Larry. C’mon. Probably named after some producer or an anchor person’s kids.
According to Channel 3 s Web site, the tradtion began in 1971, when the station’s call letters were WTIC. Former WFSB weather guy Hilton Kaderlie took the practice to a higher level with the naming of the now legendary Blizzard of ’78 as “Larry.”
Eversince with every big snowstorm, we get a new name in this Channel 3 “tradition.” This one is named “Barbara.”
I’m sure the other Connecticut TV forecasters must grimace anytime they hear OUR snowstorm named by Channel 3.
Nowadays, Channel 3 attempts to add some “credibility” to naming storms by partnering with the Science Center in Hartford. It’s still stupid, but a lot more open and logical on HOW they name storms. This season they’re naming storms after famous scientists. For a list of the storm names, and their reasons behind it, click here.
What’s even dumber happened in 2007 when the National Weather Service in Buffalo started naming lake effect snows after dog breeds. And the year before that? They named storms after insects.
There is one word I do like fora snowstorm: “Snowmageddon,” coined by President Obama during last week’s D.C. blizzard. It’s a perfect word because it described the end of the world mentality that Mid-Atlantic people showed while cleaning out grocery stores during a widespread “panic.”
In the 1990s, newspapers joined in naming storms with the biggest called “Storm of the Century,” followed by “Storm of the Century II,” “Storm of the Century III,” etc. We stopped because it became ridiculous.
So what do you think? Should we start naming snowstorms? After what, or who?
In the meantime, let’s thank Ullr for our snow and ask for some in Northern New England as well. Enjoy the snow!
No Way should any single station name a storm. It is irresponsible. What is worse is that there are agencies and other institutions in the state that are too dumb to realize it’s a gimmick, and begin referring to the storms by name. The only named storms are hurricanes, and that is done by the NHC. There should be a major uprising and boycott against any station that presumes it has the right to name storms.
Comment by snow job — February 10th, 2010 @ 9:28 am