Winter Storm Warning for Raleigh.. and Stalking Stories & Manti Te'o

This is for real... Winter Weather Advisory has been hoisted for the Raleigh-Durham area and a whole lot of other areas for Ice, Snow, Sleet and whatever other forms of winter weather that includes.

No, I'm not really watching TWC just now.. but I did peek.

It's a "red flag" when you see it scrolling on TWC.

It's a bigger "RED FLAG" when you see it scrolling on a regular local channel like ABC.

Mind you they run that scroll so low that unless you have a really big TV screen (like in the other room) you can barely see what it's saying but the exclusive is not about the storm but about the strangest sports story of the year. Truth is it's not just a "sports story" but a story that happens often to many, but more on that later.

Back to the weather.............

Ye Olde Weather Radio says, "ice accumulation up to a tenth of an inch" (doesn't sound like much but what do I know I'm from Miami...) and "spotters should stay tuned and report any winter weather to the National Weather Service" . . .

So, game on... as some people love to say.

Official NWS Forecast:

• Snow, mainly after noon. High near 32. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Friday NightSnow, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 7pm, then a chance of freezing rain between 7pm and 11pm. Low around 27. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

The forecast is still reals sketchy if you ask me... I mean I'd like some more details, but I understand after spending part of the last few years here... nothing is normal when it comes to North Carolina weather. South Carolina is I may add a little more stable and predictable.

MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH RETREATING THE FREEZING
SFC WET-BULB ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ROCKINGHAM TO FAYETTEVILLE
TO GOLDSBORO. IT IS TO THE NORTH OF THIS LINE...WHERE WE EXPECT
THE MOST IMPACTS WITH A LIGHT COATING OF A SNOW/SLEET MIXTURE...WITH
A THIN LAYER OF ICE ACCRUAL ON TOP. SOUTH OF THE LINE...WHILE PRECIP
COULD START OUT AS WET SNOW/SLEET...IT WILL QUICKLY CHANGE-OVER TO
A COLD RAIN.

SNOW AND ICE AMOUNTS:
HAVE DECREASED SNOW AMOUNTS ACROSS THE AREA...WITH LESS THAN AN INCH
EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PIEDMONT AND COASTAL PLAINS
COUNTIES...HIGHEST ALONG THE ADJACENT VIRGINIA BORDERING COUNTIES
WHERE DEPTH OF COLD AIR IS GREATEST. THEN THE TRICKY IS PART IS
WHERE EXACTLY THE CORRIDOR OF ICE WILL LIE...POSSIBLY JUST
OVERLAPPING AND SOUTH OF THE BETTER SNOW ACCUMULATION LINE...WITH A
A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE POSSIBLE.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER THAT MAY ALTER ACCUMULATIONS ARE...1)TIME OF DAY
IS UNFAVORABLE WITH THE MAIN BAND PUSHING THROUGH THE AREA BETWEEN
20 TO 24Z...LIKELY LIMITING THE MAIN IMPACT TO HOW MUCH FREEZING
RAIN/DRIZZLE FALLS BEHIND THE MAIN BAND...2)FRESH DELIVERY OF ARCTIC
AIR TODAY AND TONIGHT(LOWS TONIGHT IN THE LOWER 20S) WILL MAKE SOIL
TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENTLY COLD (MID TO UPPER 30S) TO READILY
ACCUMULATION OF SNOW/SLEET.

FINALLY...STRONG CAA AND LATE CLEARING WITH ALLOW LOWS FRIDAY
NIGHT/SATURDAY MORNING TO FALL INTO THE LOWER TO MID 20S...ALLOW ANY
MOISTURE TO FREEZE WHILE KEEP SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS ADHERED TO
SURFACES...ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

Hard to say and stranger to say that we don't know for sure and there in lies the magic I suppose of waiting for it to snow and wishing for it to snow and never really never knowing until you see the first flakes fall.

This was put up by a group on Facebook, they really do nice work.

https://www.facebook.com/severeweather.easternnc?fref=ts

It illustrates well the extreme differences that exist between the models.

The satellite images show an intense storm in it's way.

It's snowing in Elizabeth City, NC and other areas close to the beach and that is from the first system that moving offshore will turn into one wild cyclonic system moving up the coast.

The next one is out there... funneling this way.



I'm not a soothsayer and as a weather forecaster all I can say is... go out tonight, shop, get what you need and hunker down for the next day or two. Looking forward personally to a picturesque Shabbos and hoping to get a nice kiss of winter weather.

Another view....



Wondering if TWC names this or if this is some no name storm :)

Since driving may be treacherous Friday Night and Saturday you may want to take a sort of "Sabbath" from driving around and going any where. Stay home, relax, read... reconnect with your family or just get under a bunch of covers and read whatever book you have been meaning to read with a cup of hot tea, coffee or whatever you like to drink!

As for the big story on Manti Te'o... I have a lot of deep thoughts and most I won't say as it really isn't that hard to be caught up in a game online.  Especially if you are an honest, caring, trusting person who believes in others easily. Again, after that happens... you don't trust and you don't believe easily.

There's a little square of paper cut out in my notebook I carry around old style... along with my Android phone that says the following "Being Stalked makes you live in fear"

It's there for a reason... and that is to remind me not to let anything that has happened in my past take away my spontaneity and friendliness as at times that has been the case as I have been overly cautious and for good reason.

Unless there is proof that Manti Te'o set this up as some sort of elaborate scam for publicity, which would take long term planning, what people do not seem to get here is that he was the focus of a Stalker... a Scam Artist and someone very smart who enjoyed their relationship and did everything possible to keep the game going on and on. And, possibly with a man who is spending most of his time focusing on his sport, his college career that will take him into the NFL he doesn't have the normal life a lot of other people have and is and was an easier target. Football players aren't like other people, they spend hours and hours of their lives practicing, working on perfecting their skills..much like a ballerina practices endlessly or an Olympic hopeful gymnast dedicates their time and life to that one chance to go for the gold. They are not like the slacker who has lots of time to hang out at a local bar and flirt with every girl or guy that passes by. It's possible. It's believable. Trust me from where I sit.. it's very possible.

Why do people stalk? Why do they pretend and use fake names? Why is a crooked letter and each person has their own reason.  Usually they feel they can't get close enough by using their own identity. Sometimes, often...they are married or there is some reason they can't physically talk to the person and often they are just too chicken shit to face them face to face. Sometimes, they like the game itself and the power it gives them that they can connect "get to" someone so deeply by just using their words that they are the most important person in that person's life. Sometimes they both become addicted to the relationship.

Hey it makes a funny movie...

It makes a funny novel...

It's not so funny when you realize the person you love is a person with a brilliant mind and a strong hold over you.

Manti Te'o said that he became close to "her" because they had so much in common.

Well, that my friend is the nature when you are the person stalked as the stalker studies the person well so that odd, funny coincidences draw you together and make it easier for you to start up a conversation and for it to keep going and going and going.

Sometimes, it's just about chemistry... a relationship develops and even if there is this little voice deep inside of you that says "this is not normal" you frankly don't care because you become close and you'd miss that closeness with that person if they were gone. And, seriously how do you explain anything to anyone without them thinking you're nuts.  What's worse? To be the victim of a stalking game or to go public on national TV and admit you were duped.  There's a funny line from What's Up Doc about that but I am digressing... I guess.......on purpose... of course.

Hey...ever walk with the devil in the pale moon light on a balmy beach and know deep down they are not who they say they are and yet... you don't really care because they are fun and funny and life would get much more difficult and insane if they were who they really are? (long story... lol) still even funny stories take their toll on your emotionally and that's why I keep the little paper in my notebook to remind me.

I do respect smart people who have their own crosses to bear and I respect funny people and I really respect great football players and he is a great football player and a great prospect for any NFL team looking for a bargain when his name comes up in the draft. And, unless he was part of the "game" he was staked and should not be penalized for that as being stalked is not walk in the park.. it takes a lot out of you.

"A stalker tries to control a person by keeping them or her in a state of constant fear" and that would include asking for prayers for sudden illnesses and a broken refrigerator that is running ...

Smiling. I obviously have a sick sense of humor and forgive way too easily. Forgiveness is a good trait to possess.

But, hey if someone comes up to be and they are a storm chasing, screen writer that likes astrology...forgive me if I run the other way and don't trust them too much ;)

As for Manti Te'o had he not been one heck of a football player worthy of being a finalist in the Heisman Trophy this would not be a big story. It would be just another story, a story like many that we never hear about of a neighbor talking to his hot neighbor online pretending to be a guy in Kansas City.

I only really care who drafts him and am curious what will happen to him and his career. Somewhere there's a team that will overlook the drama and go for the gold. Other teams... will look elsewhere and his status could easily, predictably drop. What a deal..

I so love football...

http://espn.go.com/blog/notre-dame-football/post/_/id/13708/manti-teo-was-talking-to-man


Anyway... I'll be back to cover the "winter storm" that is supposedly going to form according to Greg Fishel and it is the kind most difficult to predict as it's sort of like those stealth stalkers... they are out there hidden in the darkness... the models say they exist yet do they really?

Do you see it? The storm? I don't really see it when I look at the last good visible of the day. But it's out there....... and it's coming to the Triangle and other parts of the south on Friday.

Besos Bobbi............... wishing on a real winter weather before I head south again.