Thursday, December 18, 2008

This Is Not A Drill!

This was sent to my email just a little while ago. I'm guessing they thought they better put it all in capital letters so we'd take it seriously:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
DES MOINES IA 1127 AM CST THU DEC 18 2008

FOR THE COUNTIES OF EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-

(See...right up there ^ my county is listed up there)

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA..
DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SNOW WILL DEVELOP RAPIDLY AFTER SUNSET AND CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 9 PM AND 3 AM.

THE SNOW MAY BE MIXED WITH SLEET AND POSSIBLY FREEZING RAIN BEFORE MIDNIGHT BETWEEN HIGHWAY 20 AND HIGHWAY 30. (Yep, I'm located exactly right in between those 2 highways. One is 20 miles to the north of us, and the other is 20 miles to the south).

EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR (I gotta admit, I love Thunderstorms in the winter, because they are so unusual) WHICH COULD ENHANCE PRECIPITATION RATES.

SOME BLOWING SNOW IS EXPECTED.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE ATWEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES..


DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (2-7??? How long is this thing going to last?)
...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

SNOW WILL COME TO AN END FRIDAY MORNING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

ANOTHER ARCTIC COLD SNAP IS ANTICIPATED BY SATURDAY NIGHT. (Well this just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?) BITTERLYCOLD WIND CHILLS OF 20 TO 30 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY.

MODERATE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE SATURDAY ANDSATURDAY NIGHT...WITH WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW LIKELY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY.

I got groceries last night, so we're well stocked to make it through a few days, so looks like we'll be staying put. They have been talking ice too, so just in case, I bought some unscented candles to put out if we lose electricity. Jay is also getting the generator ready for keeping the piggies warm, and the blade is on his truck (He loves getting to use that thing). I have the dogs sweaters hanging by the back door so they don't freeze going outside, and... most importantly ... I have plenty of diet coke on hand, so no one needs to panic!
Since I won't be going anywhere for a couple of days, I guess I have no excuses to not get my gift wrapping all done. Unless....someone wants a part-time job. Seriously, I pay well, and I offer benefits. No 401k plans, but you get unlimited doggie kisses and Christmas goodies and hot chocolate.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

PLEASE....get rid of that stuff before we come up that way next week!!!! We're only getting rain so far, but just an hour North they're getting ice. I'm hoping ours' stays rain! :)

Love, Debi

Chel's Leaving a Legacy said...

Living only in South Texas and North Georgia, I can honestly say I've never read a weather alert like that!

Stay warm and cozy.