A friend from the Berkshires in western Massachusetts emails me Sunday morning to say the snow is piling up outside and it’s sleeting sideways. I’m supposed to be en route to New York City but the biggest nor’easter in 20 years has cancelled 300 flights to the right coast. Guess I’m staying in California. I love big weather and it would be fun to be in this, but more than likely I’d be stuck in some airport for days. In New York, Mayor Bloomberg called a press conference Saturday to warn of the coming storm. Jesse Ferrell of AccuWeather points out this is a likely first for an “unnamed” storm except possibly major blizzards. Ferrell also points out that AccuWeather meteorologist Dale Mohler was quoted by Bloomberg.com as saying “The storm will really set in Sunday afternoon. By April 16, the system may be as strong as a Category 1 hurricane, with winds above 74 miles per hour and stretch from Maine to Florida and as far west as the Mississippi River.” Wow. A new species of storm. Who says all we’re doing is cause the sixth great extinction? We’re breeding new meteorological monsters. —Julia Whitty
