Snowy Day delivered severe traffic headaches
Mother Nature and the persons who attempt meteorological predictions remained a hot weekend topic.
Some residents still may not have reached home after Thursday’s snow, ice and rain storm.
James Taylor once crooned a “Damn, This Traffic Jam song that noted, “Well, I left my job around 5 o’clock, took 15 minutes to go three blocks, Just in time to stand in line with the freeway lookin like a parking lot. (“Damn, this traffic jam.”)
Friends relayed horror stories about needing three or four hours in traffic for commutes that generally require 45 minutes. One started hers with a half-tank of fuel which burned away until the gas needle dropped toward empty.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy held a Friday press conference that addressed the state’s response to the storm.
“I can understand and appreciate entirely and completely the frustration that I am hearing, and our team is hearing from commuters,” Murphy said. “Every storm gives us a test. This is not the first, by a mile, but it gives us the chance to review responses and make adjustments for the next one.”
Former Gov. Chris Christie tweeted “It took me 5 hours 40 minutes to travel from Piscataway to Mendham” an acknowledgment that cultivated wry responses about his administration’s infamous Bridgegate scandal.
Philadelphia meteorologists were all over the weather map as honcho forecasters delivered iffy predictions despite assistance from Doppler Radar and StormTracker Double Scan and FutureTracker.
Kate Bilo, a CBS Philly meteorologist, called for a “mid-to late morning” event that would deliver a “hit of snow for an hour before quickly turning to rain.”
Cecily Tynan, offered a 6 ABC prediction of a coating to an inch of snow and sleet in the Philadelphia area before quickly turning to rain.
Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz of NBC 10 advised, “Wait at work until later in the day.” The bowtie wearing forecaster did admit “Its one of those complicated weather days.”
Attempting predictions of winter weather remains a difficult task even with advanced technology.
Personally, opted for a route onto Monmouth St. but jammed traffic forced a turnaround. Made a huge mistake to try North Clinton Ave. which eventually produced stopped traffic.
The five-minute drive home took 45 minutes as cars stopped inside intersections caused major waits. So, it was more about poor driving then road conditions.
Of course, entrepreneurs had an opening to pitch product. This email arrived days after the wintry event.
“Hi L.A., our rollercoaster weather forecast may (literally) be causing you a headache.
“Did you know that fluctuating weather and barometric pressure changes are one of the top triggers for headaches? With migraines being the 3rd most prevalent illness in the world, it’s important that people understand their triggers and know what to do when a weather-headache strikes.”
Apparently, “WeatherX (from the makers of EarPlanes) are small earplugs that allow air to flow through its filters to help regulate barometric weather changes. As a natural, medication-free option to help to reduce weather-related headaches.”
A self-created poem that paralleled Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” relieved pressure.
Stopped in Trenton On a Snowy Day
What happened here, the other day;
My car resembled horse and sleigh.
We slid along the avenues; As mo-to-rists went way craycray.
The snow? had never turned to rain.
And ev’ry driver did complain About the gridlock ev’ry where, From West State Street to Lovers Lane.
Of course we blamed the weather seers,
Whose misjudged forecasts pleasured skiers.
Our cars? They gridded, slipped and locked.
The situation challenged peeers.
We did arrive, for some in hours;
And snow? It did evolve to showers.
We lived to drive another day, And cursed all Doppler radar powers.
They got it wrong from Schwartz to Tynan.
Their miscalls caused such wail and whinin’.
Most made it home both safe and sound,
And that should serve as silverlinin’.