I see the station research department has come up with two file images. But neither are correct. A blizzard is the existential nullification of the external world.
Never mind stockpiling milk and bread, because if the People forget the true essentials — ham, tuna, kibble, kitty litter — it’s going to be a VERY long week indeed!
Oh no! Panic in the streets! Will the Blizzard cast evil weather spells or just dance around, wearing goofy hats?! Surely we are likely to have an unfortunate and inescapable outcome!
This is where I have a unique frame of reference, being – as Georgia is – from Rhode Island. In February 1978, a storm was forecast to drop 2-4 inches of snow over southern New England. Only problem was, the weather system stalled over the state and ended up dropping closer to 2-3 feet of snow, along with associated blizzard conditions. The state was almost literally completely shut down for the better part of a week. Ever since then, a forecast of “a few inches of snow” in Rhode Island is deemed a “history-making, once-in-a-lifetime event” t hat triggers a mad rush to the grocery store for bread and milk.
Footnote: there was a bit of a spike in births in Rhode Island in November 1978. My brother being one of the statistics.
Fun bit of reading: https://turnto10.com/weather/weather-blog/the-blizzard-of-78-40-years-later
The humans will take good care of you, kitties. Just think good thoughts toward the outside critters and get the humans to buy lots of extra bird seed. I saw a robin yesterday. That’s almost six weeks earlier than usual, but this has been a weird too warm and too wet winter.
Georgia and fam live here in the Seattle area now, and every snow prediction is treated like Ragnarok is on the way. There is some justification, the unusual topography here makes accurate forecasting nearly impossible.
Fun Fact: In the Nineteenth Century a “blizzard” was a light snowfall, and a “flurry” was a heavy one. That’s why a boxer may be said to land “a flurry of blows” or reporters ask a “flurry of questions.”h/t Bill Bryson
My childhood cat, Domino, would be able to tell them the worst part…we had to use the fireplace non-stop for the 11 days we were snowed in, and, not to put too fine a point on it, the fireplace was Domino’s indoor lavatory (for when we weren’t home or when the weather was foul…this worked surprisingly well, and he came up with it himself. Charcoal left by the logs deodorized, and the “leavings” went down through the ash trap and were cleaned out in the basement). He couldn’t go outside for the 3 days the wind blew, but after a while, the low roof and steep pitch of our Cape Cod-style roofline gave us a completely snowed in front porch, with a 4 foot area from the windows to the snowdrift. Domino popped out the window when we opened it, had his private time, buried it in loose snow, and popped back in. We did this a few times a day until we could get to the store and kitty litter for the duration (BTW, Domino was an indoor/outdoor cat (this was 42 years ago), and he didn’t have to wait the 3 days…we made a makeshift litter box out of a cardboard box and shredded paper, but he hated it and only used it when he had to). (This is what we lived through in 1977 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_of_1977)
OT: Whoever mentioned Agatha Raisin on yesterday’s strip- thanks for the tip, I’m reading the first book now.
Although I was only about a chapter in when I got the sinking feeling that I’m about 20 years from becoming Agatha myself- driven career type, not really making friends, and no real idea what to do with myself when it comes time to retire and I’ve bought a nice townhouse or something somewhere….
BillJackson2 over 4 years ago
Yeah, what is a blizzard?
ChristineFoxdale over 4 years ago
I’ll go with high-level spellcaster, with an insanely warped sense of humor.
Sue Ellen over 4 years ago
Look out Jim Cantore and Mike Bettes. You’ve got competition!
GreasyOldTam over 4 years ago
Around here, Blizzards come in a cup from Dairy Queen. I’m not sure you’d prepare frantically for one.
DennisinSeattle Premium Member over 4 years ago
I like the goofy reptile, guys, but really can’t you google “blizzard”?
Jungle Empress over 4 years ago
Hmm. As a Las Vegas resident I do not know what this “blizzard” would be either. Thank you, Professor Puck, for your knowledge and insight!
Queen of America over 4 years ago
Like GreasyOld Tam, the only blizzards here are from DQ. Haven’t these guys seen snow before? I was sure they had.
catmom1360 over 4 years ago
Elvis, a blizzard caused all that snow on the ground than Christmas season when Tommy rescued you. Remember?
Robin Harwood over 4 years ago
I see the station research department has come up with two file images. But neither are correct. A blizzard is the existential nullification of the external world.
Gent over 4 years ago
Puck! Stop this fake news broadcasting! Blizzard is a severe snowstorm with high winds.
Ruth Brown over 4 years ago
Love the head turn and staring into the camera, Elvis.
WelshRat Premium Member over 4 years ago
Oh, the boys are in for a shock.
And Lupin’s in for a playground of invisibility…
dmah Premium Member over 4 years ago
Never mind stockpiling milk and bread, because if the People forget the true essentials — ham, tuna, kibble, kitty litter — it’s going to be a VERY long week indeed!
jewlie over 4 years ago
It’s a Beatrice bringer.
shwhite369 over 4 years ago
Elvis looks quite dramatic in panel 3!
LarryWestby over 4 years ago
Who remembers Les Nessman’s report when the B wasn’t working on the teletype machine at WKRP in Cincinnati?
I AM CARTOON LADY! over 4 years ago
Oh no! Panic in the streets! Will the Blizzard cast evil weather spells or just dance around, wearing goofy hats?! Surely we are likely to have an unfortunate and inescapable outcome!
tatempleman over 4 years ago
Hmmm…when you think about it, a high-level spellcaster is not too far off the mark!
cat19632001 over 4 years ago
Is Burt just messing with the Boys with his chyron? I would think Baba Mouse would set Burt straight about what to expect.
cat19632001 over 4 years ago
Got to have the ingredients for milk sandwiches!
cat19632001 over 4 years ago
How different snowfall amounts affect different parts of the country
https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/5mrey1/how_different_snowfall_amounts_affect_different/
ladykat over 4 years ago
Time to stock up on all the essentials.
asrialfeeple over 4 years ago
Be safe, everyone!
skipper1992 over 4 years ago
This is where I have a unique frame of reference, being – as Georgia is – from Rhode Island. In February 1978, a storm was forecast to drop 2-4 inches of snow over southern New England. Only problem was, the weather system stalled over the state and ended up dropping closer to 2-3 feet of snow, along with associated blizzard conditions. The state was almost literally completely shut down for the better part of a week. Ever since then, a forecast of “a few inches of snow” in Rhode Island is deemed a “history-making, once-in-a-lifetime event” t hat triggers a mad rush to the grocery store for bread and milk.
Footnote: there was a bit of a spike in births in Rhode Island in November 1978. My brother being one of the statistics.
Fun bit of reading: https://turnto10.com/weather/weather-blog/the-blizzard-of-78-40-years-later
Colorado Expat over 4 years ago
The Boys are about to discover that a blizzard brings the Void – in this case, likely a mega-Void.
just another cat lover over 4 years ago
think face intensifies
anne o over 4 years ago
Love Elvis’ ear in panel 3! The skeptical ear is one of my favorite cat expressions. It would be so useful to have!
Kawasaki Cat over 4 years ago
A blizzard? go to Dairy Queen and get one.
Le'letha Premium Member over 4 years ago
I bet Goldie will be heaving a sigh of relief to be watching this particular weather event from the good side of the window!
drmickeyg over 4 years ago
Remember Puck saving us from the leaves in the Fall? My cat, Jilly, does that when it snows – I never knew she was trying to save us from Winter!
diskus Premium Member over 4 years ago
DQ
Code the Enforcer over 4 years ago
Oh, but Puck!! There’s the remote chance a ‘Blizzard’ is that little organ inside of chickens – which some folk fry up and eat! …
But, like very bad weather – I’ve never been fond of Gizzards!! :)
marilynnbyerly over 4 years ago
The humans will take good care of you, kitties. Just think good thoughts toward the outside critters and get the humans to buy lots of extra bird seed. I saw a robin yesterday. That’s almost six weeks earlier than usual, but this has been a weird too warm and too wet winter.
Hedgehog over 4 years ago
It precedes the void.
scaeva Premium Member over 4 years ago
Happy Chocolate Cake Day! So go get some chocolate cake to celebrate.
over 4 years ago
I vote for the high-level spellcaster!
AndrewSihler over 4 years ago
I think it has something to do with a chicken’s stomach.
Ricky Bennett over 4 years ago
Weeee’re off to see the blizzard
This wonderful blizzard of ours
We hear it is a blizz of a blizz
That ever a blizz there was
If ever oh ever a blizz there was
This blizzard of ours is one because
Because, because, because, because, becaaaaause
Because of the really deep snow it does
We’re off to see the blizzard
This wonderful blizzard of ours…
willie_mctell over 4 years ago
Once again, cat science tackles the tough questions.
ChristineL Premium Member over 4 years ago
There is a very colorful band called King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and we’re already 2/3’s of the way there!
https://youtu.be/xfftg-IFI4Q
knight1192a over 4 years ago
Goldie better head for an under the _________ when the blizzard starts and make sure Lupin can’t pull her out of there.
D.W.Drang over 4 years ago
Georgia and fam live here in the Seattle area now, and every snow prediction is treated like Ragnarok is on the way. There is some justification, the unusual topography here makes accurate forecasting nearly impossible.
Fun Fact: In the Nineteenth Century a “blizzard” was a light snowfall, and a “flurry” was a heavy one. That’s why a boxer may be said to land “a flurry of blows” or reporters ask a “flurry of questions.”h/t Bill Bryson
P.S.: I like the DQ Blizzards, too.
Brian Premium Member over 4 years ago
Over in Sally Forth they’re doing “six stages of blizzard madness”:
https://www.comicskingdom.com/sally-forth/2020-01-27
Daeder over 4 years ago
This just in: A new source claims that a blizzard is some kind of reptilian spell-caster who focuses primarily on cold spells.
rs0204 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Perhaps it is a desert from Dairy Queen.
BillJackson2 over 4 years ago
All this talk of lizards in hats and wizards has made me think… how many of you are naughty enough to remember Cheech Wizard?
Erin Pierce over 4 years ago
My childhood cat, Domino, would be able to tell them the worst part…we had to use the fireplace non-stop for the 11 days we were snowed in, and, not to put too fine a point on it, the fireplace was Domino’s indoor lavatory (for when we weren’t home or when the weather was foul…this worked surprisingly well, and he came up with it himself. Charcoal left by the logs deodorized, and the “leavings” went down through the ash trap and were cleaned out in the basement). He couldn’t go outside for the 3 days the wind blew, but after a while, the low roof and steep pitch of our Cape Cod-style roofline gave us a completely snowed in front porch, with a 4 foot area from the windows to the snowdrift. Domino popped out the window when we opened it, had his private time, buried it in loose snow, and popped back in. We did this a few times a day until we could get to the store and kitty litter for the duration (BTW, Domino was an indoor/outdoor cat (this was 42 years ago), and he didn’t have to wait the 3 days…we made a makeshift litter box out of a cardboard box and shredded paper, but he hated it and only used it when he had to). (This is what we lived through in 1977 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_of_1977)
Kit'n'Kaboodle over 4 years ago
OT: Whoever mentioned Agatha Raisin on yesterday’s strip- thanks for the tip, I’m reading the first book now.
Although I was only about a chapter in when I got the sinking feeling that I’m about 20 years from becoming Agatha myself- driven career type, not really making friends, and no real idea what to do with myself when it comes time to retire and I’ve bought a nice townhouse or something somewhere….
Lady Bri over 4 years ago
They’re forgetting the most important possible definition: A frozen ice-cream dessert shake from Dairy Queen (if my memory still serves me!) ;)