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-   -   "Storm of the Century"? (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/off-topic-discussion/270981-storm-century.html)

MS Fowler 02-05-2010 01:18 PM

"Storm of the Century"?
 
I may be somewhat older than most of you, but I know I am getting tired of every major storm being referred to as " THE storm of the Century".

Maybe we have to redefine what that means. In my business, a storm whose severity is such that it occurs only once is a hundred years is called a 100 year storm. ( Engineers are such word-smiths!)
I have lost count, but I know I've lived thru at least 5 or 6, and maybe as many as 10 of these 100 year storms. I am NOT much over 200 years old.

As an aside----After Agnes ( 100 year storm), the Army Corps ( the "p" is silent) required that all small dams be inspected and evaluated for safety. My company got several of these. One, in Baltimore County was one of the original reservoirs for Baltimore City,called Lake Roland. We found it to be lartgely OK, but needed some maintenance attention. One of our conclusions was that the dam was safe except, possibly, if it were hit by another 100 year storm before the maintenance could be completed. I delivered that report the day the David ( another 100 year event) hit the Baltimore area. The dam survived; the timing was awful.

helpplease 02-05-2010 01:19 PM

Everything is "of the century" or "of the decade" or something....I think news outlets are just getting bored or lazy...

JollyRoger 02-05-2010 01:20 PM

It's a major El Nino event. Nice slow mass of drizzly, thick clouds, made us miserable in Houston for a week. You are going to get one hell of a snow storm out of it, it is perfect for manufacturing the stuff by the yard.

Craig 02-05-2010 01:22 PM

Americans have very short memories. Have you ever noticed that the "most significant events of the century" are usually those that have occured within a generation?

MS Fowler 02-05-2010 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger (Post 2399278)
It's a major El Nino event. Nice slow mass of drizzly, thick clouds, made us miserable in Houston for a week. You are going to get one hell of a snow storm out of it, it is perfect for manufacturing the stuff by the yard.

The weather prognosticators are saying it has the potential to drop 3" of rainfall equivilent. At 8" to 12" of snow per inch of rain that is just too much.

JollyRoger 02-05-2010 01:24 PM

It is slow moving. It parked over Texas and slow-drizzled 24/7 for a week, and then it got pumped up from a big tail of moisture coming in the El Nino blow off that created it. It has lingered and lingered, just getting itself ready to visit you. It's all dress up, and looking for fun! Sun just came out here, I kid you not five minutes ago, after a week of Seattle-in-Houston. it's all yours.

MS Fowler 02-05-2010 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig (Post 2399285)
Americans have very short memories. Have you ever noticed that the "most significant events of the century" are usually those that have occured within a generation?

Same with the stupid " Best_____" of all time lists.
Best singer, best movie, best actor, best whatever.

Was there ever a more beautiful actress ( sorry, I can't call her an actor) than Rita Hayworth?

Craig 02-05-2010 01:34 PM

Exactly, apparently the whole country has developed ADD.

dynalow 02-05-2010 02:18 PM

Around these parts, the last really damaging storm was the ' 62 N'oreaster. That was a huge storm. Nothing like it in the last (half) century.;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday_Storm_of_1962


Calling for 18-22 inches of snow with blizzard conditions here along the coast beginning in a couple of hours. Hardest snow to come after midnight at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour till around noon tomorrow.:eek::mad:
At the store last night, you would have thought it was July 3rd the way people were jamming the aisles.:rolleyes:
Well, it'll be good to catch up on reading, or do a little telecommuting work from home.
Is that Villanova - Georgetown game still scheduled for tomorrow in DC at noon? ;)

Craig 02-05-2010 02:23 PM

The biggest one I remember was 1978 in new england:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_United_States_blizzard_of_1978

dynalow 02-05-2010 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig (Post 2399334)
The biggest one I remember was 1978 in new england:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_United_States_blizzard_of_1978

We got a pretty good pasting from that storm, but nothing like New England got. Not as strong a tidal event here.

"One of the major problems with the Blizzard of 1978 was the lack of knowledge about the storm's severity. Weather forecasting in New England is difficult, and meteorologists had developed a reputation as being inaccurate. Forecasting techniques and technology had improved dramatically in the 1970s, but the public was still quite skeptical. Snow failed to arrive in the pre-dawn hours as predicted, and many locals felt it to be another failed forecast — despite the accuracy of NWS forecasters' predictions concerning the Great Blizzard — and they went to work and school as normal. Because of this, people did not have enough time or will to prepare properly for the blizzard.[6]":rolleyes::rolleyes:

JollyRoger 02-05-2010 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig (Post 2399334)
The biggest one I remember was 1978 in new england:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_United_States_blizzard_of_1978

I was living in New England at the time, there were boats washed in all over the place, and powerlines down everywhere, what a storm.

Craig 02-05-2010 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger (Post 2399346)
I was living in New England at the time, there were boats washed in all over the place, and powerlines down everywhere, what a storm.

I ended up stranded at my parent's house for about a week before the roads were opened. The power was out for several days.

MTI 02-05-2010 02:46 PM

To all our east coast members, my thoughts will be with you as I mow the lawn tomorrow . . .

Craig 02-05-2010 02:48 PM

It's almost 50F in Denver today, but I have to be in Detroit on Monday.


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