A Brutal Storm – The New York Times

A Brutal Storm – The New York Times

Rarely have I seen my fellow Chicagoans make much of a fuss over a blizzard. In this city, anything less than six inches is just dust, schools almost never close due to inclement weather, and kids fly in freezing cold and wind from sledding hills along Lake Michigan.

But this week, the storm sweeping across the country is testing the city’s mettle. For days I’ve been hearing about employees planning to work from home instead of the Loop, kindergartens and museums closing, and relatives from out of town deciding not to visit for Christmas after all.

It seems that caution is in order: this storm is a double whammy. It’s already brought snow, freezing temperatures, and dangerous ice and wind across the mountains to the west, midwest, and south, and it’s moving toward the east coast. And the timing is brutal, grunting flights and road trips right during the holiday season.

Meteorologists have predicted very unusual conditions. This morning, most of the eastern half of the US will be under a mass of Arctic air with even colder wind chills. If you live there and the cold hasn’t arrived yet, it will be knocking on your door soon, said my colleague Judson Jones, a meteorologist. More than 150 million people have received wind chill warnings or advisories, stretching from the US-Canada border to the Gulf of Mexico.

“This type of Arctic outbreak only happens every few years,” Judson said. “Even in the south, wind tremors around or below zero can occur.”

Today’s newsletter is a guide to navigating a winter storm that’s wreaking havoc, though that doesn’t mean the holiday season has to be miserable.

It’s not too late to prepare for the storm. Take some precautions at home. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets under sinks and let faucets drip slowly overnight to prevent pipes from freezing. Secure items outside your home, such as patio furniture that can topple over in high winds.

If you are driving, try to avoid leaving at busy times of the day. And keep a few items in your vehicle that can be lifesaving, such as a first aid kit, an ice scraper, snacks, water, jumper cables, extra hats and gloves, and hand warmers. I learned to drive a well-worn Jeep Wrangler that could handle anything, even my wintry commute to high school on rural Wisconsin roads. You may not have four-wheel drive, but the same rules for navigating a winter storm apply: Fill your gas tank, drive slowly, and avoid jerky, uncontrolled steering wheel movements when you’re out and about.

If you go to an airport today, brace yourself for a mess. Travel experts to advise calling the international airline hotlines for customer service, which may be less jammed than the US numbers. If your flight is canceled due to weather, you are entitled to a refund from the airline. Thousands of flights have already been delayed or canceled this week, some pre-emptively for today. (My colleague Maria Cramer has more hints for what to do if the storm disrupts your trip.)

So your carefully planned trip for Christmas got swept away in the blizzard. What now?

I called Keith Meacham, a shopkeeper, hostess and all-round expert in making a home comfortable and cozy. Keith lives with her family in Nashville, where her store, Reed Smythe & Company, was a frenzy of last-minute shoppers this week as Tennessee braced for bitter cold.

Keith had tips on how to prepare for an impromptu Christmas at home. She suggested stocking the fridge with carrots, mushrooms and a few pounds of pot roast so that a large pot of boeuf bourguignon could be made in no time for a restful supper.

Then try to make the best of it. Lay out a tablecloth, even on a simple kitchen table. Add a bunch of mismatched candles whatever you have around. Head into the woods – or your corner bodega – for some flowers or branches to make the spread look festive. Play Scrabble after dinner.

“Covid has taught us all that you can still be festive and cozy just with your family,” she said. “There is a simplification of life that can still be joyful and beautiful.”

Mystery: Dr. Marvin Moy faced federal prosecution and an acrimonious divorce. Then he disappeared at sea.

Tree times for Santa: Bookings and wages are way up this season.

Modern Love: The ringing of a doorbell brought hope to a grieving family.

Advice from Wirecutter: Tips for more sustainable shopping.

lives lived: Timpanist Elayne Jones joined the San Francisco Symphony in 1972 as probably the first black principal in a major American orchestra. She started a legal battle when she was denied a term of office. She died at the age of 94.

Suspension reduced: Trevor Bauer, a pitcher suspended after a sexual assault investigation, was reinstated in Major League Baseball after an arbitrator reduced his sentence.

Stream: YouTube reached a deal with the NFL to broadcast his broadcast Sunday Ticket subscription service next season.

Bench: The Jets lost 19-3 to the Jaguars last night. from New York quarterback of the third series starter Zach Wilson during the game.

spending rage: San Francisco made a risk-averse move when it let Carlos Correa escape. The giants could learn from Steve Cohenthe wealthiest owner in baseball, writes The Athletic.

Dolly Parton’s staff begin preparations for Christmas in the summer. As of June or July, they hang over six million lights in her namesake theme park in the Smoky Mountains. After Halloween they will add more than 650 evergreen trees.

Dollywood is transformed into one every year Christmas attraction to rival Radio City’s Rockettes – with less kicklines, but a lot more violins. “Christmas in the Smokies,” the signature show, has been running since 1990, featuring a live orchestra and Appalachian storytelling, a flat-footed dancer, and a violinist. In more than a dozen interviews at the park, Melena Ryzik of The Times heard one mantra from the boss over and over: “Dolly always says, ‘If someone doesn’t have a smile, give them yours.'”