>

Just escaped Chicago yesterday back to Los Angeles, feels like I made it out just in time but you can bet I was waiting for my flight to get cancelled. 
Sounds like it’s gonna be a rough one, stay safe everybody.
As a truck driver currently in St. Louis, MO and looking to head home to Rochester, NY for Christmas, I have a feeling I am gonna be fucked >

Are you able to head out now?? Either way drive carefully >

My 34hr reset is at midnight CST. I will be about 6hrs ahead of the storm while heading to Ohio to pick up a load that is going to Newark, NJ. I’ll have to stop somewhere in Pennsylvania for my 10hr break and will probably get hit by it while there. Hoping it won’t be too bad for snow. High winds and extremely low temps could be an issue
Edit: Thanks for the gold whoever sent it lol. First time getting one! 
But as for an update, I stopped in Columbus, Ohio to pickup my load and it has been delayed until this evening so my dispatch told me to just deadhead home. I ran my clock out to 20 mins left and made it to the OH/PA border on I-90. 
I checked the weather and the storm isn’t supposed to hit until 1am where I am currently shutdown. I am staying ahead of the storm by the skin of my teeth. I am able to drive again by 11pm so fingers crossed I’ll make it home just in time to shutdown before the storm hits. 
Thank you everyone for the well wishes and info on conditions. 
And I thank my lucky stars too for an awesome dispatcher who always has my back.
Edit2: 2:21am EST - I made it home safe and sound. Roads were a bit dicey with some gusting winds and heavy rain and fog closer to Rochester on I-90. I made it just in time as there were signs warning that I-90 was closing to empty commercial vehicles (which I was) by 4am this morning and to all commercial vehicles by 6am. 
Thank you again everyone for the well wishes and for the awards. I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday! >

Oh fuck, man. Yeah, some of those mountains (and i say it judiciously as i look at the cascades) turn to just sheets of ice, especially when you get the freezing fog/ clouds at the top. Hopefully PennDOT is on top of at least the major hwys >


Hopefully PennDOT is on top of at least the major hwys

All 3 PennDOT employees will be standing at the front door to their office estimating 2 years to remove the snow drifts from their cars >

Usually it's a bunch of people standing around a hole in the ground watching one guy fix a pipe or something lol. >

I live on the Canadian Prairies, -36 Celsius with a -50 windchill this morning. This is day 3 of that crap. Stay warm friends. >

Fuck i experienced once -40 and it wasn’t pleasant >

It’s -44 right now! >

So just slightly unpleasanter >

I personally can't wait to read this story every year for the rest of life. >

Exactly. It’s not even been 8 years since the polar vortex of 2014. How soon we forget. >

Holy shit that was 2014? I thought it was like two years ago >

Yeah if you're remembering the one that basically nuked Texas and caused Cancun Cruz to flee to his natural habitat it was just a couple years ago. Honestly even barely that. Like 1.9 years ago. >

Was that the same one that swept into the Midwest? >

It hit just about everything from Texas all the way to here in Kentucky. I didn't lose power though. >

The most devastating winter storm since last year’s winter storm. >

Well, at least since last year's disaster you guys properly winterized your grid and fired the people that caused the outages right? >

"Why prepare when you can repair?"
Putting money towards something that "could" happen would be a waste if it doesn't happen, right?
First rule of government spending: Don't! 
If it doesn't earn money or allow you to take money, it's not worth the money.
/s >

The Preparedness Paradox >

It's been crazy to see how people fell for that with COVID.
It's like, dude, the hospitals in China and Italy had people dying on the floor. In Canada, even with health measures slowing its spread, we still ended up having to airlift people between hospitals to make room and still only ended up under capacity because enough people died. >

Here in Italy doctors were getting PTSD because, due to the limits of hospital beds and materials, they had to decide who was going to live and who was going to die.  Most hospitals had a shortage of masks because people were stealing them. Had a friend up north in the Milan area (where Covid initially started here) that was literally losing at least one person she knew every week for several months. It was really bad here. >


Cheyenne, Wyoming, recently dropped 32 degrees in just eight minutes.

That’s some Day After Tomorrow shit. You could literally go from feeling a little brisk to actually freezing in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette.
Edit: wooooooaaaww my most upvoted comment. And all thanks to a snowpacalypse >


eight minutes.  
That’s some Day After Tomorrow shit. You could literally from a little brisk to actually freezing in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette.

I'm about 80-some miles away from Cheyenne, we're three degrees warmer at the moment but I can confirm we dropped fast and hard too.  Only -12 so far so we have a ways to go, though. >

So when you go outside, how many layers do you wear? If i’m in the 20s and I have heavy gloves and jeans and tee shirt plus sweat shirt plus heavy coat and a beanie i still feel pretty cold. I live where it snows some but not a ton. >

When it hits the -30, Usually 3. Undershirt, Tshirt/button down, and coat. I’ll bump it to 4 with a sweatshirt or jacket if it gets real bad. Thermal gloves, boots, jeans, under jeans layer if it’s truly cold. Then a beanie and a fur hat with flaps that snap under my face. I also have a big ass curly afro. 
The winter coat, boots, and gloves are all rated for -50. The biggest issue is usually wind and cold on my face. I have some scarves I can use, but I usually don’t. I’m mostly outside for extended time in the cold to walk my dog, I use that as a gauge for when we really need to go back inside. Spoiler alert: it’s quickly. Most of my trips are between buildings and cars. >

How long do you walk your dog for, and how does the dog feel about being outside?
This is turning into a bit of
an “I’m freezing, AMA” for you, but I’ve never experienced anything like those temperatures outside. I did work in a food factory once and the walk in freezer was about -30c/-22f. I used to do the stock-take in there and,  when the door closed behind me, even though it didn’t lock so I couldn’t get trapped, I’d always have this tiny moment of lizard-brain panic. I could see myself like jack nicholson at the end of The Shining frozen solid holding a clipboard instead of an axe. >

It is -35 f right now where I am at in south western MT.
I have a dog that is on medication that makes her pee ~60 minutes.  Dog walks are very swift.  I get dressed for outdoors, open the door, and the dog immediately dashes to the nearest flat part, does her business, and immediately dashes back inside.
Her sister just went out and was trying very hard to poop without having any feet in contact with the ground, gave up and started switching between which three of the legs are touching.  It almost resulted in a face-plant.  If it weren't so obvious her feet hurt it would have been funny.
We are outside less then 2 minutes each trip and they immediately go lie in front of the heater again.
Edit  Dog Tax.
This is the trip-hazard
This is princess pee-a-lot 
This is temp at 8:00 AM.  Ignore the 10:00 AM. I'll be damned if I can figure out how to get it to change time zones.  On my list of things to fix, but low priority. >

get them some dog shoes "dog booties" helps in heat or cold >

It is a great idea.
Until this storm I've never had an actual need for them and it didn't even cross my mind until yesterday.  Since it doesn't typically get either too hot or too cold for booties to get regular usage.  
  Sadly, I'm snowed in until my plow guy can get to me on Friday.
*Edited for clarity because I should not be allowed to write pre-coffee. >

Maybe you Could try and put small ankle socks on their paws? For the two minutes it might make enough of a difference. >

I like where your brain is at.  I'll give it a try. >

It's not even the first 'once in a generation storm' in the past two years, maybe we should think of a new term. >

Once in a year storm. >

Another big fucking storm >

Into this house we're born >

Into this world we're thrown >

Like a dawg w/out a bone >

It's like rainnnnn >

From a lacerated sky >

Bleeding it's horror >

It'll be the biggest once in a generation event of the year >

This month, can’t wait for next months once in a generation event >

Well next month is a new year so technically you’re both right >

Now kiss! >

California is about to be 80° on Christmas >

In California currently, it’s 32! >

I'm in SoCal. It's 55. >

Central. 44 >

With so many people leaving town, I wonder how many will come back to busted pipes. Even in CO, I don’t think our pipes are winterized enough to handle these kinds of temperatures. >

I live in Northern Colorado.  We've had colder temperatures even last year.  This particular storm just dropped it so quick.  At least it's only a 2 day cold before it bounces back in the 50s. >

Who wants to bet Texas hasn't done shit since last time it was a record cold there? >

This is an email I got today. I basically am being asked to not use electricity with my heater set no higher than 65F. This is fucking bullshit. I’m just outside of Austin, TX. 

Artic Front Alert in Texas
Hello Valued Customer,
Please be aware that an Artic Front will impact Texas with hard freeze weather resulting in temperatures dropping to the teens and 20s. There will also be a wind chill factor that will cause the weather to feel colder than the temperature.
We want to ensure that our customers are aware that cold temperatures also mean increased energy use. To avoid blackouts and high bills, please take the following steps:
-Set your thermostat no higher than 65 degrees
-Make sure your EV is charged before the front arrives
-Do not use large appliances during the front
-Do not use your oven or stove as a heating source
-Cover outdoor faucets, pipes and sprinklers with insulated coverings
-Remove garden hoses from outside faucets
-Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warmer air flow around plumbing
-Allow cold water to drip from indoor faucets
Also, make sure to pay attention to the local news and highlight any warming centers in your area just in case. Thank you for taking the necessary actions and please be safe! >

65 is a pretty normal winter indoor temp in places that usually freeze in winter, but if you're not used to it, it can definitely be an adjustment. >

Legit. My thermostats are at 60 and I'm pretty comfy here in Washington. >

East or west of the cascades? I agree that king and pierce counties etc don’t get very cold. It’s different up in Marblemount and places east of there. >

West. I'm right on the sound, and it's 17F at the moment. >

Hang in there US. Best wishes from Sweden. >

Tack så mycket! >

Michigander here. I’m scared. I brought out my big blanket for this. >

Been hunting in the UP once a year since I was 10. Past a certain point of cold you only feel pain and then you wished it felt cold again >

Does nobody read the article before commenting?
They are referring to mayfly generations. >

Or because as article states, 

The storm is expected to become a “bomb cyclone” Thursday evening into Friday. A bomb cyclone is when a storm rapidly intensifies – and drops 24 millibars (a term used to measure atmospheric pressure) in 24 hours.
The storm is expected to reach the pressure equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane as it reaches the Great Lakes, with the weather service describing the strength of the low a “once-in-a-generation” event. 

Idk what that pressure change stuff is about or if actually true if it is a "once in a generation event" but I don't think many people actually read. >

Oh great, that much of a pressure change is sure to do wonders for my constant migranes this month.  Can Winter just go away already, i've suffered enough and it's only been a month. >

Time to get comfy and watch Stephen King's Storm of the Century >

That film was surprisingly scary for being so low-budget. >

all those made-for-TV Stephen King movies/series were all pretty good
Storm of the Century, the Stand, the Langoliers, Rose Red, Salem's Lot...and of course IT >

Bro, the Langoliers fucked with me more than it shouldve. >

Would love a remake with modern effects. I think one of the things that worked in favor of it was the daytime setting, with normal lighting. Seeing the world crumble in that environment is existentially terrifying.
Kind of felt like they were in an empty video game map. >

Time to cuddle up in NYC. So glad I don’t travel for holidays. >

Going to have wind chills of -36° here in WV. I’ve been here 23 years and have never experienced wind chills like this. 5 days of well below freezing temperatures, 36 hours of scarily bad wind chills. I’m on vacation which will be spent running my water and running out in these temps to run my car, just to make sure my older hybrid’s battery doesn’t go to zero. >

Yeah keep that car running, I hate to say but you'll be burning through gas for a bit to make sure it survives. It was -49c in Alberta this morning, mine was dead even after running it 3 times yesterday. >

Buddy of mine in Alberta was saying he's getting -59 with wind chill. >

Yeah. I really miss summer. >

Also, can we please petition the Weather channel to stop with the idiocy of naming winter storms? >

Winter storm Bill is only going to dump 2 1/2 inches on Chicago and weather forecasts are trying to come up with some cataclysmic hysterical twist on this storm so they don't lose viewers. >

I mean 50mph winds around Christmas really hasn't hit the Midwest in a long time. 5 years since we got a white Christmas and last crazy wind snowstorm I can think of was 2013 for 3 days. >

Michigan’s about to get fucked up and I’m dreading driving to work >

We just use this term far too often.  The once in a generation storm of my generation was a 5 day continuous snow (blizzard) that people who were at work when it hit were stuck at work for a week eating out of vending machines.  No plows could plow fast enough.  No one dared leave with drifts over 6 feet and no let up in snow.  
Sure this is cold and icy. It's a two or three times in a decade storm. >

except it's the entire country this time, not just a single place >

Also an absolutely massive country. >

Seriously, it's a fucking continent wide storm >

Looks like I’m going to sleep at work tomorrow evening because I get off at 11PM Thursday and have to be back at 7AM Friday. Not gonna risk driving through rural roads in this storm at night and in the morning. >

Good choice. Best of luck to you >

Good luck homies. Stock up on booze and food now, we'll see you in March. >

HAHAHA I’m driving from Denver to Omaha tomorrow. Wish me luck. >

Good luck. I drove from Minneapolis to Omaha tonight. It was very unpleasant. >

Are we becoming fruit flies?  Generations are getting shorter and shorter. >

I’m rolling my eyes so hard at the “once in a generation” bit. >

I particularly appreciate you for adding a pair from the same year! >

LOL; It seemed apropriate since those two headlines were about specific states. >

I wonder how many states have hardened their utility system to survive extreme cold weather. More to the point, I wonder if The second biggest state in this union is able to withstand extreme cold weather... Again. >

PNW utility employee here. We might reach a new peak usage tomorrow. This after having record heat 2 years ago reaching 116F in the PNW heat dome. >

Thanks for keeping things running for us! >

What makes it unique is that usually Christmas is really warm in the south yet it fucking snows at the tail ended of January or even in March sometimes. So this is kind of different >

Vancouver international Airport in Canada got wrecked. Coming soon to a state near you >

With round 2 coming on Friday. Toronto sounds like they also might be in for a rough few days so that’s both of Canada’s largest/busiest airports on either side of the country being hampered by weather. Stay home and stay safe folks. >

Live in Alberta, you're probably getting some of what we're getting.
It was -43C this morning according to my thermometer, and we've had windchills below -50C.
We don't usually get temps like this till February.  February is gonna suuuuuuck at this rate. >

And not a Chinook to be had :(. I feel like it’s been cold and snowy here since mid-November. I’m tired of winter already. But hey, at least today was the shortest day so inching our way towards sunshine! >

I know exactly what you mean, this winter has been very draining.  We had that -40 snap in fucking November, and at least where I live, never enough snow to be more than an absolute nuisance, hills have been struggling all winter.
Only real plus is that the models predict it did a huge amount of damage to the mountain pine beetle populations.  I imagine it also hit the ticks pretty hard too.
A silver lining on a very cold dark cloud. >

If it's like the one that slapped is in 2011 my city is FUCKED >

Wear a scarf or a mask when it gets breezy. It's currently -20 with 15 mph winds where I'm at and the skin goes numb quick if exposed. >

Kinda crazy that these once in a generation weather events happens pretty much every year now >

Currently "feels" like -48 where I live in montana >

There sure have been a bunch of “once a lifetime” events here in Oklahoma recently… >

I’ve been told “once in a generation” about 7 times in my life. Almost all of which were underwhelming if not slightly inconvenienced. There have been 2-3 occasions where the storm required the respect.
-Me In Massachusetts 
(If I were in Florida or northwest / north central, I would not complain) >

Rudolph, where are you?? >

What constitutes a generation? I think I might have already lived through a couple. >

Think it just means how widespread it is that's the rare part. Like my state has temperatures like we'll see like every other year. >

This is the point people are missing. This storm is massive. Yes, most of us will experience worse weather throughout this winter, but all of us experiencing weather this bad at the same time is very unusual.
There’s also going to be isolated incidents of once in a lifetime weather such as temps in Wyoming dropping 32 degrees in 8 minutes.
The people complaining of the over usage of the phrase is also indicative of the fact we’re well into the throes of global warming, extreme weather events are going to stop being once in a generation and start being once a year, or more. >

Stepdaughter is driving tonight from Madison WI to O’Hare to catch a 7:00 am flight to NC. Wish her luck! >

Americans on this thread: Talking in fahrenheit.
The rest of the world: "Keep your secrets, then." >

If you want to do a quick, lazy conversion from F to C then you minus 30 and then divide by two
So say 60F = (60-30)/2 = 15C
The real formula is -32 * 0.556 but nobody got time to do that >

Quick! Someone check on Ted Cruz's dog. >

We should start naming storms after the Republicans that deny Climate Change.  Hurricane DeSantis.  Abbot the Blizzard. >

If you're in Texas, good luck. Abbot did Jack shit last time, and won't do shit this time either, but at least we know Cruz will be in cancun, think he's got his tickets yet? >

It’s not going to be as bad down here. That 2021 storm was like 3 consecutive days under freezing. Even down near the coast. This one, at least where I live (2hours from the coast), it will be below freezing for maybe 18 hours then come right back up. It will be 70 again next week lol. And no precipitation like last time either. So I don’t expect anything bad to happen but always be prepared for the worst.
But yes fuck Abbott and Cruz. It’s only a matter of time until 2021 happens again and we have done nothing >

As a millennial I'm getting real tired of experiencing multiple "once in a generation" events. >

For being once in a generation, sure seems like we get these quite frequently. >

This is going to be one of the storms of all time. >

"once in a generation"
More like, every year in my 30 year life the cold season has got worse.
And will continue to do so. Regardless of "generations"
And I've lived in several equator lines, and yeah. The years have definitely kept dropping regardless. >

Once in a Generation = every 2 years nowadays.. >

Love these yearly, once in a generation storms >

Last time there was a storm this bad on Christmas, it turned Burl Ives into a snowman! They even made a movie about it. >

Just great. Yet ANOTHER reason for the McAllisters to leave Kevin home alone again this Xmas. Get it together guys. Maybe stay home from now on?! >

Getting really sick of these once in a life time events in less than 3 years. THE MATH IS NOT MATHING. The term has no significance anymore if it’s going to be every couple weeks. I wish things were boring again 😩 >

Won’t be once in a generation for long. Climate change is going to make summers hotter and winters worse. >

And it will create climate migrants desparately looking for a more hospitable place to live. Much of the "immigration" news does not mention that. For decades, some people did not want to address climate change. Those same people caused worldwide environmental  catastrophes, then blame others for fleeing those catastrophes. You want to lessen immigration? Fight climate change so people don't need to migrate! >

‘Climate migrants’ may have already been politically consequential, as those from Syria from 2014-on may have tipped the scales in favor of Brexit, and to a lesser degree Trump in 2016, as a reaction.
Expect more nationalism/authoritarianism to develop because more ‘climate migrants’ will be displaced and relocating elsewhere worldwide thanks to climate change. >

So I live in Albany New York, because of this storm, on Friday it's supposed to be in the 50s with rain. Then within an hour (4 to 5) it's going from 50 to 25, so ICE. Either way, it's just funny that all the news is like "omg bad storm" and Albany is like "spring weather" >

Central Coast, CA:  74 on Xmas with a light Pacific breeze.
Yep--hate us, we suck and you don't want to live here. >

Probably the most important factor why people complaining about California taxes/politics/regulations/traffic and threatening to move never have and never will. >

California has actually gotten really nice ever since the trash decided it was going to start taking itself out... >

It's going to be bad...heed the warning >

The Mississippi river should be fine after this now right, please say right >

If I remember correctly, it’s light fluffy snow so little moisture per inch >

These once in a generation things are happening on housefly generational timescales. >

Ah yes, once in a generation storm happening again like last winter, and the winter before that and record skips before that and before that and  before that....
Getting tired of this term already >

Montana here, we call this a a 'little chilly out' . >

Tomorrow evening for us through to early Sunday morning. Happy we had already planned to stay home, away from the cult 45 gathering at my parents, and the 3 hour trip with the in-laws to one of their nieces apartments -_-
Yup going to spend the next 5-6 days at home with the hubby and kid. It’s going to be so nice. >

Ah yes, the annual "once in a generation" winter storm. >

I have a feeling a lot of “once in a generation” storms will be happening in my lifetime. >

If anyone actually clicks on the article and watches the video, I swear to god that the weatherman almost calls it a “literal shit storm”. Anyone else notice that? >

And province too.
Except us in Manitoba >

What a terrible video. Slow it down and give us a shot at figuring out what happens each day so we can plan our travel… >

It's a once or twice a year storm. Buffalo got hammered with 6 ft just a month ago. >

This is what climate change looks like >

Why is every “ONCE IN A GENERATION” thing happening so frequently in my generation… >

The amount of once in a lifetime storms I've lived through in the last 10 years is getting annoying >

Can’t wait for the next ‘once in a generation’ storm next year!!! >

Over dramatic and a load of bullshit (typical for CNN and all other cable "news") . I've lived in Denver for 25 years. About 6 years ago we had temps down around -18. So this is no way the coldest day in Denver history. >

I’m in Colorado at the moment. Took the dog for a walk at 2pm and it was hot…I was in a hoodie and a plain white t shirt and sweating.
It’s now negative 10 degrees. >

Sitting here in Buffalo where we got 6 feet in one weekend last month and staring at the predicted total of snow (over a layer of ice this time) of up to 2 feet this weekend. On top of the 6 inches we got last weekend. 
Sigh.
Edit: now up to 3 feet with 70 mph winds blizzard warning Friday through Sunday. >

You know the fun thing about climate change is I get to seemingly experience once in a life time freak weather every year. >

There's been an awful lot of 'once-in-a-generation events' lately. How about that. >

*once in a generation so far >

This feels like the 8th year in a row for a once in a generation storm thing. >

I feel like we keep having once in a generation events.
Perhaps we should take a step back and look at what has been happening that might cause such extreme variations in weather and do something about it?
Oil companies: STFU >

“Once in a generation.” You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means >

Any comments from Phil, yet? >

We just had a "once in a generation" storm in February when everything fucking froze solid in my area. Trees collapsed, power went out, shit was ROUGH. I didn't realize that a generation is now considered less than 10 months. >

Arrived in denver airport for a 1 hour layover last night.
That was 10 hours and 3 hours of sleep on a cot along with 100 or so of my closest friends ago.
Rescheduled flight is set for another 7 hours from now. >

People are hyping this up like an incoming natural disaster, but the forecast is only showing like 3 inches of snow here in Western NY. That's not even enough snow to stop a compact car on all season tires.
What's really going to cripple the roads is all the subhuman idiots that don't understand how tires work, aren't going to slow down at all, and will cause accidents. I promise you people, even if you have to drive all the way somewhere at half the speed limit, it's still a lot faster and more comfortable than walking. >

“Once in a generation so far!”
~ Homer S. >

this sounds like a threat. >

I'll give you advice coming from a big man who values his time and has walked in some -25 windchill weather for miles at a time. If you wear clothing a few sizes up, you'll benefit from maintaining mobility as well as the part where it's easier to take it on and off whenever you DO get back inside. 
A nice, thick heavy hoodie ontop of your baselayer will do wonders for you, I run 3XL long johns on top and bottom, a 5XL hoodie with a 6XLt shirt ontop of that, and a 7XL hoodie if it gets like this out. Don't forget to protect your eyeballs with some kind of goggles depending on the wind gusts.
Insulated gloves and a facemask are crucial, because that's where you'll actually get frostbite first. Facemask will keep your own body heat inside yo boddddd-e