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Montgomery Blair High School's Online Student Newspaper
Tags: print
Jan. 13, 2004

snoWatch

by Branden Buehler, Page Editor and KC Costanzo, Page Editor
White gold, fake-me-out ice, nature’s confetti. Snow goes by many aliases, most used by snoWatch editors trying to think of something to write. Winter’s prodigal son is elusive and often causes false alarms. For instance, if what you see falling from the sky is white and in flake form, you’re more than likely safe. It’s probably just volcanic ash. If it’s wet, though, there’s a problem. What you’ve got now is either snow or an underwater volcano and both lead to treacherous road conditions. This week, the weather people aren’t predicting much volcanic activity in our immediate area, but they haven’t ruled out snow. Don’t sweat it though . . . because it’ll freeze to your face.

Here’s what Weather.com and the National Weather Service are predicting:

Wednesday night

» 70% chance of snow before 4 a.m.

» Possible accumulation: less than one inch to two inches.

» Low: 26°

» According to the people who know about this stuff: "It’s going to be one of those situations where everything that falls will stick." – Doug Hill, ABC 7 chief meteorologist

Chips' best guess: 55% chance of cancellation on Thursday; 60% chance of at least a two-hour delay. It all depends on what you're reading. One weather report says one thing, another weather report says another. Will the madness never end? If you believe weather.com, then the the roads will probably be in poor condition tomorrow morning. MCPS will also be wary of holding school following the dusting last week that got Fairfax in trouble with parents when traffic conditions took a turn for the worse. Add to that the recent issues MCPS schools have had with water pipes, and it remains possible students will be getting a little time off. However, this one is very much up in the air folks. It's true, Silver Chips Online has a pretty abysmal record for predicting this stuff, but you have to cut the snoWatch writers some slack. The weather team is doing the best it can with only minimal motivation.

Check the Silver Chips Online weather page for additional information, including a link to real-time weather conditions at Blair.

MCPS weather policies can be found on their emergency information page.

snoWatch discussion: Snow and plow. Two words in the English dictionary that, when joined, cooperate to communicate to the reader a large vehicle capable of pushing snow. How can two words that, to all outward appearances, are the best of friends not rhyme even though they end with the same two letters?

Discuss this Article

  • Well on January 13, 2004
    If snow and plow rhymed, then snow plow and snow blow would get confused constantly. Say it to yourself several times... plo... blow... plo... it just makes sense to pronounce one funnily. You wouldn't want to be the victim of snow plower and snow blower confusion, now would you?
  • Katie on January 13, 2004
    I hate snowplows, they ruin the fun!! and words that rhyme are fun, so snow not rhyming with plow emphasizes the true evil of the snow plow.
  • : on January 13, 2004
    are you meteorologists or comedians?

    you're hilarious!
  • Chris Mulligan (View Email) on January 14, 2004
    Where's the van? HUH?!
  • Whatever on January 14, 2004
    The snoWatch crew is always wrong! All there % chance estimations of school closing is 100% of the time inaccurate. For instance, it's probably more like a 50% chance of school closing, and a 70% chance of a 2 hour delay.

    At least try to get an accurate estimation for once, it seems like you guys just choose random numbers from your head without doing anything remotely close to thinking.
  • Anonymous on January 14, 2004
    If the article isn't in the humor section, you should put humor tags around the funny paragraphs. Or is that volcano real?

    The National Weather service is predicting snow for the night of Sunday 18 January, which will continue into Monday "until 7am"! Schools might close...
  • SnowFan on January 14, 2004
    You guys should be totally motivated because EVERYONE reads snow watch! Way to spice things up.
  • anna on January 14, 2004
    three cheers for kc and brandon.
    you guys rock my world. I would so much rather read you're guys' nonesense than the real weather reports
  • Noah on January 15, 2004
    Yay no school! *kirby dance ensues*

    (>")>

    (^"^)

    <("<)

    (^")>

    <("^)
  • snobud on January 15, 2004
    next time it snows, i am SO yelling "OH MY GOD, VOLCANIC ASH!!! RUNNNNNNN!!!" you guys are awesome, you're totally cheering up my all-nighter before review day.
  • Andrew T. on January 15, 2004
    woah...kudos to the whole honesty/comedy bit, that's awesome. no motivation indeed. also, i can't tell if Whatever is joking or not, but I'll assume he is...
  • senior on January 15, 2004
    to Anonymous, um it wouldnt be good for snow on sun night slash mon morning, SINCE WE ALREADY DONT HAVE SCHOOL ON MONDAY!

    we just wont be able to enjoy our free day!
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