The first snowstorm of the season appears to be on its way this weekend, dropping anywhere from six to eleventy-million inches of the good stuff in the the city. Though D.C. might be a goner, we're probably not looking at the End of Days here—still, the Office of Emergency Management says you should probably pack a winter Go Bag in case this storm pulls a The Day After Tomorrow and separates you from Jake Gyllenhaal.
So what can we expect from SnOMG, other than an avalanche of histrionic headlines?
Right now details are still hazy—some meteorologists say we could get as much as 18 inches of snow starting Friday night-ish, or we could get 6 to 12 inches, or we could get a dusting. The de Blasio administration, known for its restraint when it comes to handling winter storms, isn't ready to panic, but no one wants to get caught with his or her pants down when it turns out we all have to live in igloos. "We want to make sure every New Yorker has a plan for winter weather and is fully prepared in case of a storm,” de Blasio said in a statement today.
Though my snow prep exclusively involves stocking up on wine, the OEM had some more useful tips, and if you read them you can have my nail polish when I die. These tips include coming up with a Household Disaster Plan; adding a blanket, warm socks and gloves to your Go Bag; insulating walls, doors and windows that are exposed to the elements; checking the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; wearing layers and sturdy boots while outdoors; and sticking an Emergency Supply Kit in your car. You can read more tips on the OEM's website or watch the below video, featuring some very sad-looking Islanders players:
It's noteworthy that coastal flooding could be an issue this weekend thanks to high astronomical tides, with Slate meteorologist Eric Holthaus reporting that the flood threat could rival that of a hurricane. It's certainly worth taking extra precautions if you have oceanfront property.
Anyway, spring will be here one day/spring will be here on Tuesday, when it's supposedly to nearly 50 degrees. Global warming is such a thrill ride.
