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December 22, 2022 8:46 am  #1


Christmas Storm

This storm is starting to get noticed outside of North America. The BBC briefly mentioned it in one of their weather forecasts. Also, the U.S. Weather Channel has names for all winter storms. Hello Elliot!

 

December 22, 2022 11:07 am  #2


Re: Christmas Storm

My issue with this storm is the over hype it's getting...   The Weather Network has dialed back some of the language, but experts are calling out the statements of this somehow being a "generational storm" or "once in a generation" event as being extremely over exaggerated.    Some areas will get loads of snow via lake effect, but others like Toronto are set to get maybe 5 to 10 cm.    I noticed this seems to be happening more and more by all media, online and traditional (somewhat).   Lets dial back a bit and report the facts.  We can call this a major storm in some areas, but as some have said.. this is hardly a "generational storm".   I'm starting to wonder if some are taking their lead from BlogTO who reports every 5 cm event as epic. 
 

 

December 22, 2022 11:21 am  #3


Re: Christmas Storm

I have no idea if this storm will live up to its hype, but the meteorologists I've heard say it isn't the amount of snow, it's the flash freeze and up to 100 km/h winds that could create blizzard conditions that's the true danger. Whether that materializes, it's impossible to say until it happens. That, plus the worst timing ever, right before the biggest holiday of the year. 

This is always the Catch-22 that our weather people at the TV station I called home for years have lamented: if you don't warn people and the worst happens, they come down on you like a ton of bricks. And if you do warn them and the worst doesn't happen, they come down on you like a ton of bricks. It's a no-win either way. 

Personally, I'd rather be prepared than not, but I fully understand why what some critics call "weather porn" can be tiresome and irritating. I guess we'll find out if the alerts were justified by Sunday.

 

December 22, 2022 11:59 am  #4


Re: Christmas Storm

If we get the 100+ km/h winds would be a real problem.  Winds like that can down power lines, especially if they are weighted down with ice.  The temperature is also going to plummet so this is a worry if people lose power.  If the power goes out it could take longer than normal to fix because of the blowing snow and strong winds.  Unsafe for hydro workers to go up poles with wind gusts of 100km/h. Let's hope the power stays on!

 

December 22, 2022 12:10 pm  #5


Re: Christmas Storm

I think words like "worse case" "could happen" etc. go along way.    When weather professionals are calling out some of the wording, they are using to hype this up by some warning the public is the issue.    Being prepared is great.. but fear driven panic is not what this storm is.   Using words "Generational Storm" is excessive which is my point when the facts not back the statement.  We have many 100km windstorms without using "generational event" to describe them.   
If the facts back the statements, I would have a different view, but they do not, which is backed by many who professionally work as meteorologists.  "Major" yes... "Generational"?  no.   

 

December 22, 2022 12:46 pm  #6


Re: Christmas Storm

https://twitter.com/donpaulbitsosun/status/1605693921559867392?t=SKDBntQ7aDkyAcZ3P9bw7w&s=19

it's a given that weather can vary greatly, even from Yonge and King up to Yonge and St. Clair in downtown Toronto there can be completely different conditions, but regular weather people who are reasonable in their reporting, like 680's Jill Taylor and the Weather Network team are flagging the next few days as unusually tricky.

memories of the major ice storm we had years ago are not particularly happy

meteorologists may be using the word "generational" in an attempt to get Jane and Joe Public to take the incoming weather seriously

 

December 22, 2022 1:55 pm  #7


Re: Christmas Storm

I suspect the weather forecasters in Ontario got spooked by what has unfolded in BC in recent days. The Vancouver area received more than double the amount of snow that was forecast on Monday night, and the airport has been absolutely paralyzed; they’ve even had to temporarily ban some non-US international flights from landing for a couple of days. With the holidays getting into full swing I’m sure nobody in Ontario or Quebec want a repeat of the disaster in BC; better to be over-prepared.

 

December 22, 2022 5:23 pm  #8


Re: Christmas Storm

 

December 22, 2022 10:33 pm  #9


Re: Christmas Storm

I was listening to WGN in Chicago - so far the storm is not as bad as forecast. Fingers crossed. 

 

December 23, 2022 9:56 am  #10


Re: Christmas Storm

Coming up on 9 am here in Collingwood, a few cm of snow, no wind to speak of at this point. 

 

December 23, 2022 10:22 am  #11


Re: Christmas Storm

London, 9:20 AM. The temp has dropped to minus 10. Very high winds blowing snow around. Not much accumulation yet. Can still see the grass on the lawn.


I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.
 

December 23, 2022 12:47 pm  #12


Re: Christmas Storm

First radio casualty of the storm - Deb Hutton won't be able to host "Free For All Friday" at 1 PM on iHeart because of a power outage in the Niagara area where she lives. Mark Towhey - already subbing for Jerry Agar - will be stepping in for another hour of radio instead.   

 

December 23, 2022 1:31 pm  #13


Re: Christmas Storm

RadioActive wrote:

    Deb Hutton won't be able to host "Free For All Friday" at 1 PM on iHeart because of a power outage in the Niagara area where she lives   

Could a cell phone and/or battery-operated laptop not have accomplished this?    It could have added excitement to the program AND an opportunity for Bell to claim that with Bell you'll never be down & out.     And if all power is down at her residence she could drive to a Tim Hortons that has power and give the boys in Brazil credit.    So many options (always glad to help)   
 

 

December 23, 2022 1:47 pm  #14


Re: Christmas Storm

What if she's with Rogers?

 

December 23, 2022 1:56 pm  #15


Re: Christmas Storm

RadioActive wrote:

What if she's with Rogers?

There's always $tarbuck$ (particularly in Niagara Region)
 

 

December 23, 2022 2:02 pm  #16


Re: Christmas Storm

RadioActive wrote:

First radio casualty of the storm - Deb Hutton won't be able to host "Free For All Friday" at 1 PM on iHeart because of a power outage in the Niagara area where she lives. Mark Towhey - already subbing for Jerry Agar - will be stepping in for another hour of radio instead.   

Mark did a great job today, full of energy and humour, talking about the weather without exaggerating the situation, talking to the listeners, not at the listeners. Wish all 1010 hosts had the skill.

Perhaps Deb Hutton had other matters as well as the weather which prevented her from going on with the show, we don't always know what goes on behind the scenes.

Below is tv footage of a sports reporter who has been called in to cover the weather. It's going viral on Twitter and I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of clips from this wind up on radio and television shows around Canada and the U.S. This sports guy is worth watching.

https://twitter.com/MarkWoodleyTV/status/1605961457337712640?t=7tbnbtc4p3FKpTZYKwJkkw&s=19

Last edited by betaylored (December 23, 2022 2:30 pm)

 

December 24, 2022 1:50 pm  #17


Re: Christmas Storm

12 hours later, no power, wind is howling. Power came back on at 11 pm, God bless the hydro guys out in this horrible mess. Still very little snow, yay. 

 

December 25, 2022 5:03 pm  #18


Re: Christmas Storm