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Old 01-28-2011, 05:03 PM
 
Location: roaming gnome
12,384 posts, read 28,513,296 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knitgirl View Post
I hope this isn't too long to post. Per Tom Skilling's column "The answer is no, it can never be too cold to snow. As long as some water vapor is present in the air, snow can fall. However at very low temperatures the air can hold only small amounts of water vapor, so any snow that does fall will be quite light. Snow, amounting to just a few tenths of an inch, has fallen in Antarctica where temperatures are as low as minus 70 degrees. In Chicago, nearly an inch of snow fell Jan. 10, 1982, when the temperature hovered around minus 15 degrees. The flakes were so fine and light that they could easily be blown off snow-covered surfaces." Here's the link just in case: Ask Tom Why: Can it ever be too cold to snow? - Chicago Weather Center (http://www.chicagoweathercenter.com/news/asktomwhy/ct-wea-0116-asktom-20110114,0,2554676.story - broken link)

I will agree that it is a very fine point, but in the range of temperatures Chicago experiences in winter, it is not too cold to snow.


The following is a more detailed answer to the question.
The Straight Dope: Does it ever get too cold to snow?
I don't think she was trying to make a scientific argument over the matter. She was just generalizing when it is extremely cold, the chance of snow is relatively low.
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Old 01-31-2011, 04:42 AM
 
Location: Chicago
4,085 posts, read 4,335,713 times
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Anyone else excited about this supposed blizzard that is coming Tuesday? I know I am.

If we do get hit hard, transplants will earn a merit badge on your Chicagoan uniform if you have never been through a really bad snowstorm in Chicago and decide to continue living here.

"White-out conditions are expected at times Tuesday night, with snowfall rates of at least 2 to 3 inches per hour possible with northeast winds of 25 to 40 mph and even stronger gusts.Localized totals in excess of 18 inches are possible, especially near the lake."

"The last storm of this potential magnitude to hit Chicago was in Jan. 2, 1999," said Richard Castro, a meteorologist at the weather service. That day, he said, 18.6 inches of accumulation were measured in the city.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/n...,5516335.story

Last edited by tonythetuna; 01-31-2011 at 04:52 AM..
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Old 01-31-2011, 05:09 AM
 
Location: Cornelius, NC
1,045 posts, read 2,657,847 times
Reputation: 679
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonythetuna View Post
Anyone else excited about this supposed blizzard that is coming Tuesday? I know I am.

If we do get hit hard, transplants will earn a merit badge on your Chicagoan uniform if you have never been through a really bad snowstorm in Chicago and decide to continue living here.

"White-out conditions are expected at times Tuesday night, with snowfall rates of at least 2 to 3 inches per hour possible with northeast winds of 25 to 40 mph and even stronger gusts.Localized totals in excess of 18 inches are possible, especially near the lake."

"The last storm of this potential magnitude to hit Chicago was in Jan. 2, 1999," said Richard Castro, a meteorologist at the weather service. That day, he said, 18.6 inches of accumulation were measured in the city.

'Potentially life-threatening' blizzard expected - Chicago Breaking News
Yeah, this is going to be the real test for me to see if I can handle the winters here. This one sounds brutal. Brace up everyone!
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Old 01-31-2011, 05:15 AM
 
Location: Chicago
4,085 posts, read 4,335,713 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldus View Post
Yeah, this is going to be the real test for me to see if I can handle the winters here. This one sounds brutal. Brace up everyone!
If the bad storm happens I wish you luck! Have fun,be safe,and be brave!

Here is a tip. If you can afford it and have the means, stock up on stuff like beer and food today or tonight, because if this hits like predicted, people are going to swarm the shelves Tuesday night.

You never know though, maybe this storm will be weak for us and hit New York hard again! That would be hilarious.

But I get the feeling our luck has ran out and we are due another big one after not having a storm of this level for about ten years.

Last edited by tonythetuna; 01-31-2011 at 05:28 AM..
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Old 01-31-2011, 07:18 AM
 
Location: Johns Island
2,501 posts, read 4,435,938 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldus View Post
Yeah, this is going to be the real test for me to see if I can handle the winters here. This one sounds brutal. Brace up everyone!
But it's really not much of a test...

With 18 inches of snow, you won't be going to work on Wednesday - you shouldn't even try. Unless you drive plows for the city, you get to hang out at home on Wed, and maybe even Thursday. Only drawback is needing to shovel all that snow.
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Old 01-31-2011, 07:23 AM
 
Location: Chicago
4,085 posts, read 4,335,713 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JacksonPanther View Post
But it's really not much of a test...

With 18 inches of snow, you won't be going to work on Wednesday
No, that would be Thursday. It will be snowing starting this afternoon through Wednesday. A few inches today. Maybe a half foot tomorrow and probably a foot or more on Wednesday.
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Old 01-31-2011, 07:24 AM
 
Location: Wicker Park/East Village area
2,474 posts, read 4,165,569 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jacksonpanther View Post
with 18 inches of snow, you won't be going to work on wednesday - you shouldn't even try.
lol.
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Old 01-31-2011, 07:27 AM
 
Location: "Chicago"
1,866 posts, read 2,850,028 times
Reputation: 870
Bring it on! I'm ready.
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Old 01-31-2011, 08:23 AM
 
11,289 posts, read 26,196,693 times
Reputation: 11355
Quote:
Originally Posted by JacksonPanther View Post
But it's really not much of a test...

With 18 inches of snow, you won't be going to work on Wednesday - you shouldn't even try. Unless you drive plows for the city, you get to hang out at home on Wed, and maybe even Thursday. Only drawback is needing to shovel all that snow.
Haha - i wish There might not be school, but for the hundreds of thousands of us who work downtown and take public transit - I very highly doubt there's going to be a big disruption in normal business. It might slow things down and get a lot of people talking, but I can't really see it shutting down the city in any way like it does down south.
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Old 01-31-2011, 08:29 AM
 
Location: Chicago
4,085 posts, read 4,335,713 times
Reputation: 688
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicago60614 View Post
It might slow things down and get a lot of people talking, but I can't really see it shutting down the city in any way like it does down south.
It did in 1999. A foot and a half of snow, especially snow that keeps blowing around, is nothing to sneeze at.

Look what happened to New York City a few weeks ago.
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