Published: Monday, November 30, 2009
WINTER WEATHER
Plan well, ward off snow
We were pleased to learn that experts in weather prognostication are calling for an El Nino affect across the Puget Sound this winter. The thought of an unseasonably warm and dry winter is reassuring to those of us who are still traumatized by last year’s barrage of snowy, cold and wet weather that virtually shut down the region during the busy holiday season.
While the storms of 2008 are a distant memory for most of us, we shouldn’t forget just how unprepared we were. Abnormally heavy snowfall came more often and stuck around much longer than usual. Who can forget the mess? Our roads and parking lots became nearly impassable lunar landscapes complete with gigantic ruts and craters of compacted ice and slush.
Intense flooding in some areas served as a double whammy and the resulting regional paralysis hit hard, especially for local businesses and our communities’ most vulnerable populations.
When it comes to comfortably weathering a storm, there’s no substitute for advance planning and the standard list of supplies provided by the folks in emergency management is a good place to start. If you haven’t checked your stock of supplies since last year, do it now. Look for a working flashlight (and extra batteries), a three-day supply of food and water, a can opener and first-aid items. In addition, folks with pets and prescriptions ought to make sure they have a bit extra on hand in case they find themselves unexpectedly housebound for a few days again this year.
While we love the thought of a semi-tropical El Nino winter season, we also know that weather predictions have a tendency to sometimes get caught off guard by an unexpected storm. Given the conflicting influences on the weather systems in our region — from the arctic cold blowing in from Northern Canada and Alaska to the windy and warm effects of the Pineapple Express riding the jet stream from Hawaii, it’s no surprise that forecasters have trouble getting it right 100 percent of the time.
While we know better than to take any weather prediction to the bank, those of us who are still reeling from last year’s winter blast find the unseasonably calm weather prediction to our liking. But we also know that anyone who relies on the accuracy of a long-term weather forecast to plan their lives will undoubtedly miss the mark if they expect to be wearing their flip flops and tank tops to holiday gatherings this year.
While the storms of 2008 are a distant memory for most of us, we shouldn’t forget just how unprepared we were. Abnormally heavy snowfall came more often and stuck around much longer than usual. Who can forget the mess? Our roads and parking lots became nearly impassable lunar landscapes complete with gigantic ruts and craters of compacted ice and slush.
Intense flooding in some areas served as a double whammy and the resulting regional paralysis hit hard, especially for local businesses and our communities’ most vulnerable populations.
When it comes to comfortably weathering a storm, there’s no substitute for advance planning and the standard list of supplies provided by the folks in emergency management is a good place to start. If you haven’t checked your stock of supplies since last year, do it now. Look for a working flashlight (and extra batteries), a three-day supply of food and water, a can opener and first-aid items. In addition, folks with pets and prescriptions ought to make sure they have a bit extra on hand in case they find themselves unexpectedly housebound for a few days again this year.
While we love the thought of a semi-tropical El Nino winter season, we also know that weather predictions have a tendency to sometimes get caught off guard by an unexpected storm. Given the conflicting influences on the weather systems in our region — from the arctic cold blowing in from Northern Canada and Alaska to the windy and warm effects of the Pineapple Express riding the jet stream from Hawaii, it’s no surprise that forecasters have trouble getting it right 100 percent of the time.
While we know better than to take any weather prediction to the bank, those of us who are still reeling from last year’s winter blast find the unseasonably calm weather prediction to our liking. But we also know that anyone who relies on the accuracy of a long-term weather forecast to plan their lives will undoubtedly miss the mark if they expect to be wearing their flip flops and tank tops to holiday gatherings this year.
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