According to the Weather Doctor on the website about "cyclonic entities" at
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/storm/neaster.htm
"...only along the North American Atlantic coast, from Cape Hatteras northward to the Canadian Maritimes, can a storm truly be called a Nor'easter. By accepted definition, a Nor'easter should have gale force or stronger winds initially blowing from the northeast. These storms often bring heavy precipitation, falling as rain, snow, or at times, freezing rain. Along the coastline, heavy surf generated by offshore storm winds may cause extensive damage to the shoreline. Nor'easters are the most common, widespread severe weather events to worry New Englanders and Maritimers.
"The term Nor'easter arose in the colonial days before the concept of wind circulation around a low pressure center was established. Storms were then considered to travel from the direction of the wind. If a storm came with southwesterly winds, it originated from the southwest. A Nor'easter, therefore, originated, and arrived, from the northeast of those feeling its fury. Those beliefs began to change in the mid-eighteenth century, in part through the insights of Benjamin Franklin."
~*~You'll have to go to the website to learn more about Ben Franklin as a weatherman. It's pretty fascinating.
At the same Weather Doctor site but on a different webpage, you can read about blizzards:
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2000/alm00jan.htm
"Technically, blizzards are more than just a heavy snowstorm. The snow that fell last night drowned the city in a sea of snow, but the mild temperatures and gentle breezes did not qualify the storm for blizzard status.
"True blizzard conditions occur, according to the US National Weather Service, when winter storm wind speeds exceed 35 mph (56 km/h) and visibility is reduced by falling or blowing snow to a quarter mile (400 m) or less. In addition, these conditions must last for at least three hours. A severe blizzard boasts winds in excess of 45 mph (72 km/h). There is no specific temperature criterion in the US definition, but blizzards commonly have air temperatures below 20 oF (–6.7 oC) and severe blizzards below 10 oF (–12.2 oC).
"The official Environment Canada definition for a blizzard is similar but there are also regional specifics."
All that being said, I guess we had a Nor'Easter, but the predicted blizzard didn't happen. At no time did we see horizontal snow driving by the house, nor did we have reduced visibility.
But we did have a lot of snow and I was glad to be a part of it--The Valentine's Day Nor 'Easter. And I was in New York for the Blizzard of 2006! I wonder if I'll be a part of weather history for 2008?
Friday, February 16, 2007
February 15, 2007: Storm pounds region
I hate to keep posting someone else's writing here instead of my own, but I love the Morning Sentinel! They write about everything so well! I promise I'll get to my news in my words, but meanwhile, this was a heckuva lot of snow for this Texas girl. MRM and RBF think it was at least 2 feet of snow in our yard. Meanwhile, here's the news story from the early morning edition of The Morning Sentinel:
Storm pounds region
By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, February 15, 2007
People started calling it the St. Valentine's Day Blizzard by noontime Wednesday, just an hour or so after the governor's office declared a state of emergency.
Heavy snow and driving winds reduced visibility to near zero on central Maine roads as the first major storm of the winter plowed into the state, dumping nearly 10 inches of snow by 2 p.m. with a lot more to come.
Officials warned residents to stay off the roads and let highway crews do their jobs, and by and large they did.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning, effective until 5 a.m. today.
The storm eased for a period in the Waterville area at about 3 p.m., giving commuters hope that the storm was ending early, but it was just getting its second wind.
"That's just a dry slot moving through, the heavy stuff will be coming through shortly," Jim Brown at the National Weather Service said of the lull. "For inland locations like where you are, there will be one to two feet."
An hour later it was snowing again, driving out of the northeast with a ferocity.
The jackpot for snowfall is expected across the western mountains and foothills -- Maine's ski areas -- before the storm ends Thursday morning.
"Before today, the total was very little -- 10 to 20 inches, if that," said meteorologist John Cannon. "This one is basically going to double totals for some communities for the season."
Traffic slowed to a crawl and schools never opened for the day. Cars and tractor trailers slid off the roads, but no serious injuries were reported.
"We have had a few vehicles sliding off the road, but nothing serious," a state police dispatcher said. "It's very bad visibility."
By mid-afternoon Wednesday, Skowhegan Police Chief Butch Asselin said he had seen few problems with the all-day snow event.
"We're having a flurry of snowmobile-related complaints, you know, people operating on the roadway. These people have been waiting all year for this," Asselin said with a laugh.
State workers were ordered to go home at 12:30 p.m. Airlines canceled all flights at the Bangor International Airport, and most flights at Portland International Jetport were canceled as well.
Waterville City Hall was closed and city trucks worked to keep streets clear, but it was largely a losing battle.
Quentin Hardy, a delivery driver for the Waterville House of Pizza, said he had nearly 30 deliveries by 2 p.m. The restaurant itself was empty.
"The main roads aren't too bad, but the side roads are treacherous -- they can't get a chance to plow them," he said. "Even Main Street. They're just trying to get the main ones open and they can't keep up with it. There's just too much snow."
Over at The Center building on Main Street, a sad song by Carole King rose from The Forum, where Diana Cochran had prepared an open house for the homeless. There were chocolates and bears and hearts and candles and pizza, but no people.
"I have heart for the homeless," she said. "I can't believe nobody's come. It was advertised on the radio and I told the taxi people to bring people in."
In Franklin County, motorists were generally staying off the roads unless they were heading to the ski areas up north or had snow plowing businesses.
Local weather watcher Dennis Pike, who is also the Franklin County Sheriff, said he saw the first snowflake at his home on Fairbanks Road in Farmington at 4:17 a.m. and, as of 3:30 p.m., 9.8 inches had accumulated.
The Public Works Department in Farmington had plows out by 5 a.m. Wednesday, and they will stay out as long as they are needed, said mechanic Greg Soule, the only one left at the maintenance garage.
"We have nine pieces of equipment out and they are all doing what they are supposed to be doing. We live in Maine -- we're supposed to be able to handle this," he said.
Brian Caverly, dispatcher at Richard A. Carrier Trucking Inc. in Skowhegan, said the snow was slowing down business.
"It makes it real hard on business," Caverly said. "Seventy-five percent of our trucks are off the road today. It's too dangerous, hard going, and more accidents, more off the road."
Caverly said the less-experienced drivers are not sent out and the ones with more experience do the most necessary trucking to the sawmills.
"Everything we do is with sawmills, so we try to move what we can to keep them going," Caverly said.
Charles Robbins Jr. at Charlie & Son Auto Sales in Skowhegan said his towing and plowing service had been busy all day.
"It's all light snow, but there's lots of it," Robbins said. "My father is plowing on the road and I've been towing. There have been quite a few accidents -- eight, nine or 10."
Asselin said some of the Skowhegan Police cruisers were having trouble moving in the deepening snow, especially on Main Street hill. He had told officers to stay off the road until they were called into service.
As early as noontime, bigger trucks were having difficulty in the gathering snow. In Madison a tractor trailer could not make Thurston Hill. Police everywhere were scrambling to help mired cars.
Among the accidents police responded to were a rollover on U.S. Route 201 in Solon shortly after 1 p.m. that caused no serious injuries, a car that slid off the U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock about 10 minutes later, and the breakdown of a truck on U.S. Route 2 in Mercer at about 12:30 p.m.
Maine State Trooper Hugh Landry, who patrols in Somerset County, said the truck was driving east when it apparently broke down after failing to make a hill near the Norridgewock border. Both the truck and the trailer were towed.
In Pittsfield, Crystal Bradbury, shoveling snow from the sidewalk in front of her Middle Street home, took it all in stride.
"It's Maine. It's winter," she said. "You live in Maine, you kind of expect snow."
Bradbury was sent home early from work, but more than six inches of snow had already fallen by the time she grabbed her shovel.
"It's packed down a bit because the kids were out here earlier," she said. Her children had since run off to go sliding. "And who gets stuck shoveling? Me."
Steven Emery, Pittsfield Police Chief, said as of 12:45 p.m. the only accident in town was a minor fender-bender in a parking lot.
"Visibility is terrible," he said. "The plows can't keep up with it. Roads will not be sanded until they have been plowed. They're out and about, but they can't keep up with it."
Tammy Higgins, co-owner of Hocus Pocus Cafe on Main Street, downtown, said she drove to Newport on the back roads and had no problems.
"It's just been so mild for so many years that people freak out," she said. "I love (the snow)."
Doug Harlow -- 861-9244
dharlow@centralmaine.com
Staff Writers Darla L. Pickett, Alan Crowell, Betty Jespersen and Craig Crosby contributed this report.
Storm pounds region
By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, February 15, 2007
People started calling it the St. Valentine's Day Blizzard by noontime Wednesday, just an hour or so after the governor's office declared a state of emergency.
Heavy snow and driving winds reduced visibility to near zero on central Maine roads as the first major storm of the winter plowed into the state, dumping nearly 10 inches of snow by 2 p.m. with a lot more to come.
Officials warned residents to stay off the roads and let highway crews do their jobs, and by and large they did.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning, effective until 5 a.m. today.
The storm eased for a period in the Waterville area at about 3 p.m., giving commuters hope that the storm was ending early, but it was just getting its second wind.
"That's just a dry slot moving through, the heavy stuff will be coming through shortly," Jim Brown at the National Weather Service said of the lull. "For inland locations like where you are, there will be one to two feet."
An hour later it was snowing again, driving out of the northeast with a ferocity.
The jackpot for snowfall is expected across the western mountains and foothills -- Maine's ski areas -- before the storm ends Thursday morning.
"Before today, the total was very little -- 10 to 20 inches, if that," said meteorologist John Cannon. "This one is basically going to double totals for some communities for the season."
Traffic slowed to a crawl and schools never opened for the day. Cars and tractor trailers slid off the roads, but no serious injuries were reported.
"We have had a few vehicles sliding off the road, but nothing serious," a state police dispatcher said. "It's very bad visibility."
By mid-afternoon Wednesday, Skowhegan Police Chief Butch Asselin said he had seen few problems with the all-day snow event.
"We're having a flurry of snowmobile-related complaints, you know, people operating on the roadway. These people have been waiting all year for this," Asselin said with a laugh.
State workers were ordered to go home at 12:30 p.m. Airlines canceled all flights at the Bangor International Airport, and most flights at Portland International Jetport were canceled as well.
Waterville City Hall was closed and city trucks worked to keep streets clear, but it was largely a losing battle.
Quentin Hardy, a delivery driver for the Waterville House of Pizza, said he had nearly 30 deliveries by 2 p.m. The restaurant itself was empty.
"The main roads aren't too bad, but the side roads are treacherous -- they can't get a chance to plow them," he said. "Even Main Street. They're just trying to get the main ones open and they can't keep up with it. There's just too much snow."
Over at The Center building on Main Street, a sad song by Carole King rose from The Forum, where Diana Cochran had prepared an open house for the homeless. There were chocolates and bears and hearts and candles and pizza, but no people.
"I have heart for the homeless," she said. "I can't believe nobody's come. It was advertised on the radio and I told the taxi people to bring people in."
In Franklin County, motorists were generally staying off the roads unless they were heading to the ski areas up north or had snow plowing businesses.
Local weather watcher Dennis Pike, who is also the Franklin County Sheriff, said he saw the first snowflake at his home on Fairbanks Road in Farmington at 4:17 a.m. and, as of 3:30 p.m., 9.8 inches had accumulated.
The Public Works Department in Farmington had plows out by 5 a.m. Wednesday, and they will stay out as long as they are needed, said mechanic Greg Soule, the only one left at the maintenance garage.
"We have nine pieces of equipment out and they are all doing what they are supposed to be doing. We live in Maine -- we're supposed to be able to handle this," he said.
Brian Caverly, dispatcher at Richard A. Carrier Trucking Inc. in Skowhegan, said the snow was slowing down business.
"It makes it real hard on business," Caverly said. "Seventy-five percent of our trucks are off the road today. It's too dangerous, hard going, and more accidents, more off the road."
Caverly said the less-experienced drivers are not sent out and the ones with more experience do the most necessary trucking to the sawmills.
"Everything we do is with sawmills, so we try to move what we can to keep them going," Caverly said.
Charles Robbins Jr. at Charlie & Son Auto Sales in Skowhegan said his towing and plowing service had been busy all day.
"It's all light snow, but there's lots of it," Robbins said. "My father is plowing on the road and I've been towing. There have been quite a few accidents -- eight, nine or 10."
Asselin said some of the Skowhegan Police cruisers were having trouble moving in the deepening snow, especially on Main Street hill. He had told officers to stay off the road until they were called into service.
As early as noontime, bigger trucks were having difficulty in the gathering snow. In Madison a tractor trailer could not make Thurston Hill. Police everywhere were scrambling to help mired cars.
Among the accidents police responded to were a rollover on U.S. Route 201 in Solon shortly after 1 p.m. that caused no serious injuries, a car that slid off the U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock about 10 minutes later, and the breakdown of a truck on U.S. Route 2 in Mercer at about 12:30 p.m.
Maine State Trooper Hugh Landry, who patrols in Somerset County, said the truck was driving east when it apparently broke down after failing to make a hill near the Norridgewock border. Both the truck and the trailer were towed.
In Pittsfield, Crystal Bradbury, shoveling snow from the sidewalk in front of her Middle Street home, took it all in stride.
"It's Maine. It's winter," she said. "You live in Maine, you kind of expect snow."
Bradbury was sent home early from work, but more than six inches of snow had already fallen by the time she grabbed her shovel.
"It's packed down a bit because the kids were out here earlier," she said. Her children had since run off to go sliding. "And who gets stuck shoveling? Me."
Steven Emery, Pittsfield Police Chief, said as of 12:45 p.m. the only accident in town was a minor fender-bender in a parking lot.
"Visibility is terrible," he said. "The plows can't keep up with it. Roads will not be sanded until they have been plowed. They're out and about, but they can't keep up with it."
Tammy Higgins, co-owner of Hocus Pocus Cafe on Main Street, downtown, said she drove to Newport on the back roads and had no problems.
"It's just been so mild for so many years that people freak out," she said. "I love (the snow)."
Doug Harlow -- 861-9244
dharlow@centralmaine.com
Staff Writers Darla L. Pickett, Alan Crowell, Betty Jespersen and Craig Crosby contributed this report.
Police Log February 14, 2007
Tee Hee! You're gonna love this one. It's all the news that's fit to print AND it's about ice fishing! There were 20 more items in the police log but this one was the top of the list and none of the others got as much coverage. Read carefully . . . how much about ice fishing can you learn from this one police log entry?
Police Log
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, February 14, 2007
WILTON -- Police issued a summons Tuesday to a Wilton man who allegedly set fire to an acquaintance's ice shack around midnight Saturday.
Michael Cook, 23, is charged with aggravated criminal mischief, a felony. Cook became a suspect after Wilton Police Chief Dennis Brown collected evidence at the scene and interviewed him Tuesday, according to Brown.
Loss of the ice shack and fishing gear inside is estimated at about $2,000.
Brown said some residents saw the fire, but no one reported it to the fire department. The shack's owner, James Boivin, of Wilton, notified police the following morning.
Police Log
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, February 14, 2007
WILTON -- Police issued a summons Tuesday to a Wilton man who allegedly set fire to an acquaintance's ice shack around midnight Saturday.
Michael Cook, 23, is charged with aggravated criminal mischief, a felony. Cook became a suspect after Wilton Police Chief Dennis Brown collected evidence at the scene and interviewed him Tuesday, according to Brown.
Loss of the ice shack and fishing gear inside is estimated at about $2,000.
Brown said some residents saw the fire, but no one reported it to the fire department. The shack's owner, James Boivin, of Wilton, notified police the following morning.
Feb. 14, 2007: Donkey Update
At least now I know I'm not the only one who is following this story. Check out today's article. All that made the front page was a little picture down by the table of contents and a reference to the article which was on the front of the LOCAL section. But it's still big news (and actually, pretty interesting):
Media herd trots to donkey dilemma
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, February 14, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Jenny the runaway donkey is proving to be the most famous fugitive on four legs since Bonnie and Clyde.
As Jenny's walk on the wild side entered its 26th day on Tuesday, the couple from whom the donkey made her great escape fielded telephone calls from media outlets throughout the country looking for an update.
Fox News and CNN have joined a throng of local media in broadcasting the movements of the delinquent donkey, according to Joe Varricchio, who owns Mary's Garden with Mary Gaeta. Varricchio received interview requests from news stations in Boston and California.
"It's more exciting around here, that's for sure," Varricchio said as he awaited the arrival of an Associated Press reporter.
The news coverage could help bring Jenny's saga to a happy conclusion. Gail Lever of Princeton, Mass., first read of Jenny's plight on Tuesday, and Lever just may hold the key to reining Jenny in. Equine experts who have worked to capture Jenny believe the donkey is searching for a partner that was sold separately at an auction last fall. Lever believes her mule, Isabella, is that partner.
"I think we have her buddy," Lever said Tuesday. "When I saw this picture today, (Jenny's) the spitting image of Isabella."
Both donkeys -- Lever believes both are actually mules, the product of a jackass stud and a female horse -- were purchased at Tilton's Auction in East Corinth. Both were considered too ornery to handle and were passed off to another owner. Isabella went to Lever, who, with two friends, runs Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue, an informal donkey and mule rescue league. Jenny went to live with Varricchio and Gaeta, who hoped the animal would ward off the foxes, coyotes and raccoons that make off with about 60 chickens every year. Lever and Gaeta had both heard that the donkeys had been separated from partners.
"We could be wrong about this, but there are so many clues here that make me think this could be the long lost buddy of Isabella," Lever said.
Jenny escaped Jan. 18 and has been running in the fields and woods around Mary's Garden ever since. Varricchio and the Gaetas have gotten countless suggestions and offers of assistance, but all attempts to capture Jenny, even with tranquilizers, have proven futile.
Isabella, whose nickname is "Bellybutton," was sent to a farm in Acworth, N.H. She has made tremendous progress, Lever said, and is already eating out of outstretched hands. Lever believes Jenny can make the same progress.
"We're thinking of trailering Isabella over there and seeing if we could lure Jenny to her," Lever said. "We don't want to force her. We want her to come to us."
Karina Lewis, who specializes in equine behavior modification, returned to Mary's Garden for a second time on Tuesday. Lewis believes Isabella's arrival would hasten Jenny's capture.
"Karina said she'd go pick (Isabella) up if she had to," Varricchio said. "This is going to be something."
Lever believes Jenny and Isabella, who were likely lifelong companions and probably even sisters, have been heartbroken since the auction.
"These animals bond and they become such close friends," Lever said.
Lewis, who planned to return to Mary's Garden today, hopes Jenny will be captured before Isabella's arrival. Lewis and Jenny had just 10 minutes of what Lewis described as "contact" on Sunday during Lewis' first visit. That time of trust-building extended two hours on Tuesday.
"We're making definite progress," Lewis said. "I liked what I saw today. We're building rapport and that takes time. We're going to do this in increments and today was a huge step forward."
Media herd trots to donkey dilemma
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, February 14, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Jenny the runaway donkey is proving to be the most famous fugitive on four legs since Bonnie and Clyde.
As Jenny's walk on the wild side entered its 26th day on Tuesday, the couple from whom the donkey made her great escape fielded telephone calls from media outlets throughout the country looking for an update.
Fox News and CNN have joined a throng of local media in broadcasting the movements of the delinquent donkey, according to Joe Varricchio, who owns Mary's Garden with Mary Gaeta. Varricchio received interview requests from news stations in Boston and California.
"It's more exciting around here, that's for sure," Varricchio said as he awaited the arrival of an Associated Press reporter.
The news coverage could help bring Jenny's saga to a happy conclusion. Gail Lever of Princeton, Mass., first read of Jenny's plight on Tuesday, and Lever just may hold the key to reining Jenny in. Equine experts who have worked to capture Jenny believe the donkey is searching for a partner that was sold separately at an auction last fall. Lever believes her mule, Isabella, is that partner.
"I think we have her buddy," Lever said Tuesday. "When I saw this picture today, (Jenny's) the spitting image of Isabella."
Both donkeys -- Lever believes both are actually mules, the product of a jackass stud and a female horse -- were purchased at Tilton's Auction in East Corinth. Both were considered too ornery to handle and were passed off to another owner. Isabella went to Lever, who, with two friends, runs Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue, an informal donkey and mule rescue league. Jenny went to live with Varricchio and Gaeta, who hoped the animal would ward off the foxes, coyotes and raccoons that make off with about 60 chickens every year. Lever and Gaeta had both heard that the donkeys had been separated from partners.
"We could be wrong about this, but there are so many clues here that make me think this could be the long lost buddy of Isabella," Lever said.
Jenny escaped Jan. 18 and has been running in the fields and woods around Mary's Garden ever since. Varricchio and the Gaetas have gotten countless suggestions and offers of assistance, but all attempts to capture Jenny, even with tranquilizers, have proven futile.
Isabella, whose nickname is "Bellybutton," was sent to a farm in Acworth, N.H. She has made tremendous progress, Lever said, and is already eating out of outstretched hands. Lever believes Jenny can make the same progress.
"We're thinking of trailering Isabella over there and seeing if we could lure Jenny to her," Lever said. "We don't want to force her. We want her to come to us."
Karina Lewis, who specializes in equine behavior modification, returned to Mary's Garden for a second time on Tuesday. Lewis believes Isabella's arrival would hasten Jenny's capture.
"Karina said she'd go pick (Isabella) up if she had to," Varricchio said. "This is going to be something."
Lever believes Jenny and Isabella, who were likely lifelong companions and probably even sisters, have been heartbroken since the auction.
"These animals bond and they become such close friends," Lever said.
Lewis, who planned to return to Mary's Garden today, hopes Jenny will be captured before Isabella's arrival. Lewis and Jenny had just 10 minutes of what Lewis described as "contact" on Sunday during Lewis' first visit. That time of trust-building extended two hours on Tuesday.
"We're making definite progress," Lewis said. "I liked what I saw today. We're building rapport and that takes time. We're going to do this in increments and today was a huge step forward."
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