Photos of the Chicagoland Snowpocalypse
February 2, 2011 9:31 AM Subscribe
Fans of weatherman Tom Skilling's Facebook Page are posting some terrific personal photos of the blizzard's aftermath. This one is my favorite so far.
Holy crap that's a lot of snow.
posted by rtha at 9:37 AM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by rtha at 9:37 AM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
Fake Rahm Emanuel is also doing some excellent blizzard coverage.
posted by HeroZero at 9:38 AM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by HeroZero at 9:38 AM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Wow, check out the photo of lightening.
posted by clerestory at 9:39 AM on February 2, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by clerestory at 9:39 AM on February 2, 2011 [4 favorites]
These pictures are making me all nostalgic. I want to play king of the mountain on the piles they'll get after everything's plowed!
posted by meesha at 9:41 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by meesha at 9:41 AM on February 2, 2011
As a Chicagoan, I am thrilled- thrilled- with the snowpocalypse. Last night on facebook, I was talking to friends in St Louis and Michigan, who were also expecting snow, though they got much, much less than me. I won! I won! I won!
I have to go shovel.
posted by jenlovesponies at 9:42 AM on February 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
I have to go shovel.
posted by jenlovesponies at 9:42 AM on February 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
Time to stay inside and play Xbox. For the next three months.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:46 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:46 AM on February 2, 2011
There's not much of a snowpocalypse here in DFW, it's just really fucking cold. But I do wonder about any Steelers or Packers fans who might have been thinking "Ooh, the Superbowl's in Texas this year. It's going to be nice and warm compared to home!"
Then again, a lot of those fans are probably also wondering right now how they're going to make it to the game, considering the hundreds of flights that are getting canceled and the icy roads everywhere.
posted by kmz at 9:47 AM on February 2, 2011
Then again, a lot of those fans are probably also wondering right now how they're going to make it to the game, considering the hundreds of flights that are getting canceled and the icy roads everywhere.
posted by kmz at 9:47 AM on February 2, 2011
Man, I live in the City of St. Louis (not one of the suburban counties) and was sorely disappointed. I'd prepared for the Four Horsemen of the Snowpocalypse - Empty shelves, Pnuemonia, Road rage, and Wintry Mix - and all we got was two inches of sleet on top of a thin veneer of ice. I woke up to find an inch- if that- of snow on my truck. I'd finally convinced the wife that sledding as an adult was just as fun as when she was a kid, except now we can spike the hot chocolate with amaretto; there's not enough snow on the ground to even require 4wd.
"And I looked, and beheld a shiny, icy horse: and her name that sat on him was Weatherbimbo, and Snow followed with him."
posted by notsnot at 9:56 AM on February 2, 2011 [7 favorites]
"And I looked, and beheld a shiny, icy horse: and her name that sat on him was Weatherbimbo, and Snow followed with him."
posted by notsnot at 9:56 AM on February 2, 2011 [7 favorites]
Hell almost froze over last night. I'm about 300 miles south of Chicago. Last night was the first time I've heard thunder or seen lightning during a snow storm. It was awesome..
And on preview, I'm about 300 miles north of St. Louis.
posted by Sailormom at 10:00 AM on February 2, 2011
And on preview, I'm about 300 miles north of St. Louis.
posted by Sailormom at 10:00 AM on February 2, 2011
I'm in Chicago, attempting to move to D/FW.
I think everyone has a pretty good idea of how that's going. On the other hand, snow! I'm going to see if I can exit my apartment here pretty soon.
posted by cmoj at 10:03 AM on February 2, 2011
I think everyone has a pretty good idea of how that's going. On the other hand, snow! I'm going to see if I can exit my apartment here pretty soon.
posted by cmoj at 10:03 AM on February 2, 2011
I'm just stopping by to say that Tom Skilling is the greatest television meteorologist of all time.
posted by Rat Spatula at 10:06 AM on February 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Rat Spatula at 10:06 AM on February 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
I woke up to find an inch- if that- of snow on my truck.
While that's disappointing, it's even more disappointing here in the South, where a few mild flakes and flurries bring everything to a complete standstill even without the snowpocalypse. Chicago just closed its public schools because of snow for the first time since 1999. I had to laugh when I heard that because we've already had like 100 snow days here where I live and it's barely the beginning of February.
posted by blucevalo at 10:10 AM on February 2, 2011
While that's disappointing, it's even more disappointing here in the South, where a few mild flakes and flurries bring everything to a complete standstill even without the snowpocalypse. Chicago just closed its public schools because of snow for the first time since 1999. I had to laugh when I heard that because we've already had like 100 snow days here where I live and it's barely the beginning of February.
posted by blucevalo at 10:10 AM on February 2, 2011
On preview, I meant to say ..... the South, excluding poor Missouri and probably Arkansas.
posted by blucevalo at 10:11 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by blucevalo at 10:11 AM on February 2, 2011
Direct link to "fan" photos.
And Hell (Michigan) freezes more than you'd think. Example 1, example 2.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:13 AM on February 2, 2011
And Hell (Michigan) freezes more than you'd think. Example 1, example 2.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:13 AM on February 2, 2011
Missouri isn't the South! I grew up in Kansas City and the winters there are hellish. They've got over a foot there now.
I'm torn between a weird jealousy that I'm missing this, and grateful for the 67 degree temperature we've got going on here right now in North Carolina.
posted by something something at 10:16 AM on February 2, 2011
I'm torn between a weird jealousy that I'm missing this, and grateful for the 67 degree temperature we've got going on here right now in North Carolina.
posted by something something at 10:16 AM on February 2, 2011
Missouri isn't the South!
Well, I was born in California, so what do I know?
posted by blucevalo at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2011
Well, I was born in California, so what do I know?
posted by blucevalo at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2011
Why is it so hard to spell "lightning"?
posted by asockpuppet at 10:25 AM on February 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by asockpuppet at 10:25 AM on February 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
And Toronto got just 6 inches of airy snow (very easy to shovel) with a few more flurries right now. Bleh. This is the meteorological equivalent of having the cool Super Bowl ads filtered out by our local cable companies.
posted by maudlin at 10:28 AM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 10:28 AM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
Rolling blackouts in DFW have encouraged me to start a revolution to overthrow Gov. Rick Perry. Let's rock like Egyptians!
posted by punkfloyd at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by punkfloyd at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2011
I tried to go out last night. It turned out to not be such a great idea, and I quickly returned to my lair. I have friends who were out most of the night, though, and got themselves stranded far from home. Fortunately other friends were on hand to give them somewhere to stay.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:34 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by adamdschneider at 10:34 AM on February 2, 2011
Oh, and other MeFites might be interested to know that there is a meetup tonight.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:38 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by adamdschneider at 10:38 AM on February 2, 2011
Rolling blackouts in DFW have encouraged me to start a revolution to overthrow Gov. Rick Perry.
Eh. I don't think he's actually responsible for that (and it might be a good idea anyway), and even if he was, it wouldn't even make the top 100 offenses against humanity and common sense committed by His Helmetness.
posted by kmz at 10:45 AM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Eh. I don't think he's actually responsible for that (and it might be a good idea anyway), and even if he was, it wouldn't even make the top 100 offenses against humanity and common sense committed by His Helmetness.
posted by kmz at 10:45 AM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Stupid car tricks.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 10:47 AM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 10:47 AM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
Missouri isn't the South!
i've been through missouri quite a few times. it's the south.
posted by rainperimeter at 10:49 AM on February 2, 2011
i've been through missouri quite a few times. it's the south.
posted by rainperimeter at 10:49 AM on February 2, 2011
When I read "weatherman, Tom Skilling's Facebook page" I briefly thought Tom Skilling was a minor member of the Weathermen who was using social media to relaunch one of the 70s most famous radical groups. Then I got to the bit about the blizzard :(
posted by rhymer at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by rhymer at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2011
rainperimeter: "i've been through missouri quite a few times. it's the south"
The southern half is. The northern half might as well be the UP (which come to think of it, is basically the South with earflaps and ice fishing). St. Louis is as far south as you can go and not be guaran-damn-teed that grits will be on the menu.
posted by notsnot at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2011
The southern half is. The northern half might as well be the UP (which come to think of it, is basically the South with earflaps and ice fishing). St. Louis is as far south as you can go and not be guaran-damn-teed that grits will be on the menu.
posted by notsnot at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2011
St. Louis is as far south as you can go and not be guaran-damn-teed that grits will be on the menu.
What kind of hellhole doesn't have grits on the menu? It's one of the four basic food groups: grits, BBQ, fried stuff, and tacos!
posted by kmz at 10:59 AM on February 2, 2011
What kind of hellhole doesn't have grits on the menu? It's one of the four basic food groups: grits, BBQ, fried stuff, and tacos!
posted by kmz at 10:59 AM on February 2, 2011
Man, y'all have WAY better meteorologists in the midwest. I got into a shouting match with the Boston CBS affiliate's meteorologist on another forum yesterday when I discovered he's a climate change denier. Advantage: Tom Skilling.
posted by Mayor West at 11:22 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by Mayor West at 11:22 AM on February 2, 2011
Got a you better be on that conference call email. Chrisr what an asshole.
posted by stormpooper at 11:31 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by stormpooper at 11:31 AM on February 2, 2011
I was really shocked when I learned he was the Enron president's (Jeffrey Skilling's) older brother.
posted by anniecat at 12:01 PM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by anniecat at 12:01 PM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm about 250 some miles south-west of Chicago - we got it pretty bad. As I write this I'm looking at a window that has been completely covered with snow. The wind was the crazy part - all the powdery snow was being blown about and you couldn't see anything. My university cancelled classes two days in a row. I've been holed up in my house, getting a little stir-crazy. Streets seem to be plowed now. I may wander outside at some point to buy hot chocolate. Or whiskey; I still have to work out the cost-benefit analysis and see which one is more worth the trouble of freezing my toes off.
posted by majonesing at 12:29 PM on February 2, 2011
posted by majonesing at 12:29 PM on February 2, 2011
It was a whole lotta hype over nothing here in the Niagara area of Ontario. The killer "Blizzard of 77" storm of my youth remains champion.
posted by davebush at 12:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by davebush at 12:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
THUNDERSNOWWWW snOMG!
Best. Snowstorm. Ever.
Unless you ere caught out on Lake Shore Drive for 5 hours. Whoops. I apparently JUST made it through. Took the #147 home from downtown at a little after 3. Apparently everything started to go very bad for those who tried to take Lake Shore around 4 and after?
posted by Windigo at 12:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best. Snowstorm. Ever.
Unless you ere caught out on Lake Shore Drive for 5 hours. Whoops. I apparently JUST made it through. Took the #147 home from downtown at a little after 3. Apparently everything started to go very bad for those who tried to take Lake Shore around 4 and after?
posted by Windigo at 12:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Man, y'all have WAY better meteorologists in the midwest. I got into a shouting match with the Boston CBS affiliate's meteorologist on another forum yesterday when I discovered he's a climate change denier.
The now-retired founder of the weather channel (and also a former Chicago weatherman). is a climate change denier.
I read somewhere that a surprisingly large percentage of TV weathermen can't differentiate between climate and weather.
posted by Sir Cholmondeley at 12:57 PM on February 2, 2011
The now-retired founder of the weather channel (and also a former Chicago weatherman). is a climate change denier.
I read somewhere that a surprisingly large percentage of TV weathermen can't differentiate between climate and weather.
posted by Sir Cholmondeley at 12:57 PM on February 2, 2011
I didn't mean to imply that Tommy Skilling is a denier.
posted by Sir Cholmondeley at 1:00 PM on February 2, 2011
posted by Sir Cholmondeley at 1:00 PM on February 2, 2011
I listened to the CFD/CPD scanners for 5 hours last night. Dramatic. Between the LSD situation, the police SUVs and firetrucks getting stuck all over the city, the person who fell into Diversey Harbor, the retirement homes without power, the pregnant lady having to be taken to an ambulance on a snowmobile, the combination of cabin fever + alcohol spawning a boatload of domestic disputes, power lines down and whipping with sparks, stuck buses blocking main thoroughfares...let's just say that Chicago's Finest REALLY earned their pensions last night.
posted by jeanmari at 1:02 PM on February 2, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by jeanmari at 1:02 PM on February 2, 2011 [7 favorites]
This guy either just got done shoveling the snow off his roof or he needs to to get some insulation, stat. I'm leaning towards the latter because the roof is bare in some spots and just a bit of snow cover on other spots.
A friend of mine that lives in Chicago said they got 20 inches. Is that it? Or was his estimate off by a lot. 'Cause 20 inches in one system isn't really a whole lot.
posted by NoMich at 1:59 PM on February 2, 2011
A friend of mine that lives in Chicago said they got 20 inches. Is that it? Or was his estimate off by a lot. 'Cause 20 inches in one system isn't really a whole lot.
posted by NoMich at 1:59 PM on February 2, 2011
Anyone using http://chicagosnow.crowdmap.com/ ? I saw it linked off my neighborhood feed in everyblock and signed up for alerts for my area for people who need help.
posted by bleary at 2:03 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bleary at 2:03 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why was anybody even on Lakeshore Drive? We've known for days this thing was coming and we knew when it was going to hit. It's not like it was a sunny day and then womph! a ton of snow dropped out of the sky.
What was so important that endangering lives and hogging the already-strained resources of the city seemed like a good idea?
posted by merelyglib at 2:07 PM on February 2, 2011
What was so important that endangering lives and hogging the already-strained resources of the city seemed like a good idea?
posted by merelyglib at 2:07 PM on February 2, 2011
Why was anybody even on Lakeshore Drive?
1. the storm hit fast and hard. Within an hour of the first snowflakes the blizzard was in full effect. People probably thought that leaving downtown between 3-6 would be fine, and the forecast had slated the worst of it to happen past that time.
2. It was open; the authorities should have closed it sooner. Many people probably assumed that if it was open, it was clear.
posted by Windigo at 2:12 PM on February 2, 2011
1. the storm hit fast and hard. Within an hour of the first snowflakes the blizzard was in full effect. People probably thought that leaving downtown between 3-6 would be fine, and the forecast had slated the worst of it to happen past that time.
2. It was open; the authorities should have closed it sooner. Many people probably assumed that if it was open, it was clear.
posted by Windigo at 2:12 PM on February 2, 2011
I got out of work at 3:30 and took Lakeshore home, and even by then it was very scary and I regretted it. I was the most scared along the parts that are right up against the lake because "tidal waves that engulf roads" is one of my unconscious's favorite nightmare topics. I was wondering if the side streets would be any less scary though. I guess after 4 the answer would have been "no". This morning there was just now way I was risking my health to get to a job that doesn't give me health insurance. Right now we're out of juice so I suppose I have to venture out.
posted by amethysts at 2:15 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by amethysts at 2:15 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
In addition to what Windigo said, I listened intermittently to WGN throughout the night. They were taking calls from motorists stranded on LSD. Most seemed to have a decent reason. The funeral home director who was on his way home from a wake that the family didn't want to postpone. The doctor who had finished her shift at Northwestern Memorial, stopped to get groceries and then got stuck. The WGN reporter who looked at his own traffic website and saw that traffic was moving.
Sure there were the lame ones, who were like, "Hey, I need to pick up my wife from work. They should get their act in gear so I can get on my way."
As the City explained this morning, what happened was that traffic was moving well enough until there were three nearly simultaneious accidents within a mile or two, one involving a bus that turned sideways and blocked the road. Then it only took a few hours for conditions really to deteriorate, with snow-laden winds off the lake jumping from 50 to 70 mph.
So in retrospect they should have closed LSD earlier, but I wouldn't call it a huge judgment error.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 2:27 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sure there were the lame ones, who were like, "Hey, I need to pick up my wife from work. They should get their act in gear so I can get on my way."
As the City explained this morning, what happened was that traffic was moving well enough until there were three nearly simultaneious accidents within a mile or two, one involving a bus that turned sideways and blocked the road. Then it only took a few hours for conditions really to deteriorate, with snow-laden winds off the lake jumping from 50 to 70 mph.
So in retrospect they should have closed LSD earlier, but I wouldn't call it a huge judgment error.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 2:27 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ol' Tom. A chicago fixture.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ironmouth at 2:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
This guy either just got done shoveling the snow off his roof or he needs to to get some insulation, stat.
Neither. The wind has just been THAT strong. We've got 5 feet of snow up against the front door, and the top of my car about 20 feet away is bare (and hasn't been moved). The wind brought down power lines, a piece of Wrigley field, large tree branches, and blew all the snow off of structures and into huge drifts on the ground. The snow isn't sticky at all, it's like powder. And deep, deep, deep.
posted by jeanmari at 2:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Neither. The wind has just been THAT strong. We've got 5 feet of snow up against the front door, and the top of my car about 20 feet away is bare (and hasn't been moved). The wind brought down power lines, a piece of Wrigley field, large tree branches, and blew all the snow off of structures and into huge drifts on the ground. The snow isn't sticky at all, it's like powder. And deep, deep, deep.
posted by jeanmari at 2:31 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
snOMG!
Also, see: Blizzaster, Snownado, Snowmageddon, Blizzcopolyse, Snowmathon, Operation: GroundHogWild
posted by jeanmari at 2:35 PM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, see: Blizzaster, Snownado, Snowmageddon, Blizzcopolyse, Snowmathon, Operation: GroundHogWild
posted by jeanmari at 2:35 PM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
Dallas-Oklahoma City voyage, day 3:
44 miles today, averaging 12.5 mph. OK highway patrol said road over Arbuckle Mts. passable - they lied, they lied! Nevertheless, morale remains high. Toward evening, discovered haggard trio of native women operating local "Braums" establishment solely on hoarded supplies, purchased Jr. Chicken Sandwich and cheese log. Bivouaced on N. Pauls Valley as darkness falls. Tell all at home my thoughts are of them, and that I ran out of clean underwear Tuesday.
posted by ormondsacker at 3:19 PM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
44 miles today, averaging 12.5 mph. OK highway patrol said road over Arbuckle Mts. passable - they lied, they lied! Nevertheless, morale remains high. Toward evening, discovered haggard trio of native women operating local "Braums" establishment solely on hoarded supplies, purchased Jr. Chicken Sandwich and cheese log. Bivouaced on N. Pauls Valley as darkness falls. Tell all at home my thoughts are of them, and that I ran out of clean underwear Tuesday.
posted by ormondsacker at 3:19 PM on February 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
This guy either just got done shoveling the snow off his roof or he needs to to get some insulation, stat.
I'm technically just within the WGN viewing area -- it might still be available on cable here (for the Cubbies at least) -- and pretty much had the same thing happen. There was so much gale-force wind, and the snow flurries were cold enough, that they never piled up on roofs except in a lee of some sort. Most of it ended up on the ground.
posted by dhartung at 6:06 PM on February 2, 2011
I'm technically just within the WGN viewing area -- it might still be available on cable here (for the Cubbies at least) -- and pretty much had the same thing happen. There was so much gale-force wind, and the snow flurries were cold enough, that they never piled up on roofs except in a lee of some sort. Most of it ended up on the ground.
posted by dhartung at 6:06 PM on February 2, 2011
Wow! Who knew? I grew up watching Tom Skilling on WITI Channel 6 in Milwaukee back in the (mid-1970s) day. Yup, Tom - and a puppet called Albert the Alleycat. What a magical time to be a child, eh?
I can't imagine Mr. G here in New York City doing the weather with a puppet.
posted by droplet at 7:32 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can't imagine Mr. G here in New York City doing the weather with a puppet.
posted by droplet at 7:32 PM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why is it so hard to spell "lightning"?
Sorry - I copied from the caption, but should have checked before posting.
posted by clerestory at 11:22 PM on February 2, 2011
Sorry - I copied from the caption, but should have checked before posting.
posted by clerestory at 11:22 PM on February 2, 2011
Here in Milwaukee we had some drifts up to the roof of our garage. I actually tried doing a preliminary shovel during the actual blizzard part of the storm and it was all covered up by the morning.
posted by drezdn at 8:17 AM on February 3, 2011
posted by drezdn at 8:17 AM on February 3, 2011
Snowgasm 2011
posted by stormpooper at 10:20 AM on February 3, 2011
posted by stormpooper at 10:20 AM on February 3, 2011
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posted by phunniemee at 9:36 AM on February 2, 2011 [1 favorite]