[align=center]Study Finds Rise in Stormy Weather
[/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center][:-][/align][align=center][/align][align=center]The New York Times[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Posted: 2007-12-05 13:33:47[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Filed Under: Nation News, Science News[/align][align=center][/align][align=center](Dec. 5) -- Across the United States, the number of severe rainfalls and heavy snows has grown significantly in the last half-century, with the greatest increases in New England and the Middle Atlantic region, according to a report released yesterday[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]

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**Link to Photo's/Pictures/Story/poll[/align][align=center]at the end of this post. Click the below link [:-]
[/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Heavy rains and snows in the U.S. have risen by as much as 26 percent, says a new analysis of weather data from 1948 to 2006. Above: an April 2005 blizzard in Denver.
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[/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center][b]Environment America, a national group that advocates new laws and policies to mitigate the effects of climate change, issued the report.

The report, on the group’s Web site, environmentamerica.org, is an independent analysis of precipitation data from 1948 to 2006 that was vetted by two climate scientists.

It shows that the number of downpours and heavy snows has increased by 22 percent to 26 percent across the country since 1948. Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont were among the states in which occurrences of severe precipitation have increased more than 50 percent, according to the report. In Oregon and Florida, however, the incidence of extreme rainfall dropped slightly, though in Florida the drop was not statistically significant.

In some metropolitan areas, like Baton Rouge, La.; Binghamton, N.Y.; Bloomington, Ind.; Jackson, Miss.; Portland, Me.; and Reading and Williamsport, Pa., occurrences of extreme precipitation more than doubled.

“As temperatures rise,” the report notes, “precipitation will become increasingly likely to fall as rain rather than snow, increasing runoff and likely reducing water supplies in areas dependent on snowpack.”

The report’s release happened to coincide with the arrival of a destructive storm in the Pacific Northwest, where high winds and heavy rains flooded highways and left thousands of residents without power, prompting the governors of Oregon and Washington to declare states of emergency.

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Well it snowed here today. First snow this year. It will snow more tonight. This is the SS's first winter.
And I found out that winter driving gives me some Great MPG numbers. Due to the Lower speeds and me not getting on it at all LOL.

 

its been an extra dry year here, and os have hte last few... so if "global warming" means more rain, i'm all for it

 

quite a few changes here. the snow came later, but now that it's here it's here! lots more hail storms in the fall compared to previous years. and tornadoes are being spotted in the southern part of alberta and saskatchewan more frequently in the fall as well. (where before tornadoes were extremely rare)

that and we have been in the negative teens for temperature -19 being the average (-2 farenheit) and thats without windchill which usually pushes it to -23 to -27.( -9 to -17 farenheit) and thats not the worst of it. january being the coldest month here.

 

It always snows around here in the winter...so thats nothing new! But it it suppose to be drier here this winter...thank goodness...but not so good to keep the fires down.

 

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Surviving Winter Roads [/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center]To paraphrase Formula 1 World Champion and Indy winner Emerson Fittipaldi: on snowy and icy roads, bad drivers go too slow where the traction is good, and too fast where there's little grip. Here's the key on both the racetrack and winter roads: know where you MUST go slow and where you MAY go fast. [/align][align=center][/align][align=center]The first tip for safe winter driving: Traction is not the same everywhere. It changes dramatically both as you drive down the road and, often, laterally within the same lane. A heavily traveled highway may be almost clear, but the off-ramp could be glare ice. Snowy city streets offer a surprising amount of grip, but the area just before a stop sign will be polished as if a Zamboni machine were there before you. Similarly, "wagon-wheel" ruts on an interstate highway can offer grip levels rivaling damp pavement, but move 18 inches to the right or left and the traction drops precipitously. As Fittipaldi might say, go slow in the slow parts and appropriately quickly where it's safe to do so. [/align][align=center][/align][align=center]How do you know where the traction is high and where it is low? Start by looking. Slippery roads usually look slippery. Next, use your memory. If Fittipaldi could memorize the 180-something turns of the NĂĽrburgring's 14.5-mile Nordschleife circuit, you can remember the trouble spots on your regular routes. The place where water streamed across the road during that fall rainstorm is going to be a sheet of ice sometime this winter. How about the bridge where you skidded last February? It's going to be treacherous again this year. When facing a new route, read the road: ice hides in shadows of trees, buildings and hills. Damaged guardrail and marred concrete barriers show where others have had troubles and will again. [/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Especially in winter, tires can make a huge difference. An old Camaro on four new, top-quality winter tires will be safer and easily go more places in the snow than a newer four-wheel-drive SUV on half-worn all-season tires. If you will face serious snow, make sure your tires have the rubber industry's "snowflake-on-the-mountain" symbol, which indicates they surpass an industry standard reference tire for snow traction. Also make sure your tires are less than half-worn. If your choice is between new all-season tires or winter tires at 5/32-inch of tread, go with the new all-seasons. Know that tire pressure drops one psi for every 10-degree drop in air temperature. [/align][align=center][/align][align=center][b][color=#000099]Make sure you can see and be seen. Clear snow from the roof, hood and trunk lid, so the white stuff doesn't blow up or slide down onto the windshield. Remove snow blocking head and taillights. Burn your headlights any time conditions are not perfect and when driving on two-lane roads. Engage your air conditioner on "fresh," not recirculate, to prevent interior fogging. Fit n

 

definately good driving tips. i find when my front wheels break loose just letting off the gas pedal regains my traction. and tire tread is extremely important. as well knowing your route or routes in my case (i have tons of different ways to get to work if there is accidents etc.) and where the trouble spots are, especially bridges that cross water (black ice more likely to occur), tight turns and hidden driveways and rediculously placed stopsigns.

being prepared for the worst is also a good idea. i carry a blankey and candles in my car in the winter. blanket for warmth and candles for heat (as well it can melt snow for water)

had a battery quit on me one winter and had no cell phone and was unprepared. it was about 3am and i sat in my car on the side of the highway for what seemed like hours before i saw any traffic. ended up the 5th car i waved down was a police officer (and the only one to stop) if it wasn't for him i probably would have froze.

 

Well................. our luck ran out. We got (ugh) snow.

They say we're suppose to get some cold temps in the next couple days and some rain. So we will see?

Today I needed to rotate the tires on my '94 Shadow ES. Something that should have been done months ago. But you know how that goes. I pulled the '06 out of the barn long enough to move it to another spot. It got soaked in the minute or two it was outside. So afte I wiped and wiped (the car people) I got the work I needed done finished. Now there's a huge puddle of melted snow on the floor so I thought "Okay" I'll get the broom and push the water outside. All went well till the wind pushed snow off the roof and right on to the '06 making it soaked again.

So I got to wipe it down again.

 

We ALLWAYS get snow, We live on the west side of the state. We get what's called "lake effect" snow. The atmosphere picks up moisture from Lake Michigan and dumps it on us quite regularily. We've only had about a foot all together so far this year, so it's not too bad, YET!
And yes, I DO drive the Rock'nSS thru the winter. I bought it to drive, winter or summer. LUV the heated leather seats!

 

Same here. I'm basically on the other side of Michigan, bordering Detroit. We get the lake effect here too. But so far, it's been more cold and windy than snowy. We got about and inch and a half of snow total today. So, it's been really good so far. Temperature wise, it's been in the 20's overnight, and upper 20's/low30's during the day for the past week or two.

I agree with you on driving the car. I bought the car to drive. If I wanted to stare at it, I'd buy the scale model.