The new Washington
Jump to CWG's
Outside now? Radar, temps
Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
Name Chicago's snowstorm
Hundreds of cars are stranded on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago on February 2. Kiichiro Sato / AP
Guess what? The Chicago Tribune is encouraging suggestions for naming the monumental storm that just buried Chicago with almost 2 feet of snow and 10 foot drifts. It suggests, but then dismisses as "too cutesy for a Chicago winter": Snow-nami and SnOMG!
Also mentioned are names brought up after the Washington storms: Snowtorious B.I.G., Snowtastrophe, and Snowvastation, for example.
The Tribune argues that "no one should get to claim more awesome blizzards or wilder winter weather than we do" (i.e. we in Chicago). In doing so, the Tribune acknowledges that Washington was buried by back-to-back blizzards last winter that were "impressive, even by Chicago standards".
It adds: "But even more impressive was the way the nation's capital embraced the megastorm -- owned it -- by branding it."
Indeed, one of the rather special aspects of the three massive snowstorms last winter in the Washington Metro region was the race to assign each of them with a unique name. For the latter two, the names were spurred largely by suggestions in CWG comments. And, so we now have for posterity the names, Snowpocalypse, Snowmaggedon and Snoverkill, forever etched in memory and the weather history of Washington's most memorable snowstorms.
In what I hope was proffered facetiously, the Tribune favors naming the remarkable thunder snowstorm after soon to be ex-mayor of Chicago as "The Honorable Richard M. Daley Blizzard of 2011". But it seems to seek suggestions.
The Chicago Sun Times is soliciting names as well.
As we Washingtonians are now pros at naming storms, let's give our Windy City neighbors some help. Provide some suggestions below. We'll email them to the Tribune and Chicago Sun Times...
By
Steve Tracton
| February 3, 2011; 10:30 AM ET
Categories:
Humor, Latest, U.S. Weather
Save & Share:
Previous: Forecast: Chilly but sun in abundance
Next: Queensland, Australia slammed by cyclone
Posted by: NoVAHoyaDan | February 3, 2011 10:43 AM | Report abuse
@NoVAHoyaDan
Those are great. Thanks.
Posted by: Jason-CapitalWeatherGang | February 3, 2011 10:46 AM | Report abuse
Blizzago.
Snowy City.
SnowSD.
Posted by: vnangia | February 3, 2011 10:48 AM | Report abuse
Da Blizzurd.
Posted by: mcaicedo | February 3, 2011 10:53 AM | Report abuse
Lake Shore No Go
Nightmare @ O'Hare
The Wacker Wrecker
Magnificent Mess of 2011
Snow Looped
Posted by: ftwash | February 3, 2011 11:04 AM | Report abuse
How about Bear Down!
Posted by: nani1978 | February 3, 2011 11:04 AM | Report abuse
Magnificent Mess is great
Posted by: lauracofer | February 3, 2011 11:09 AM | Report abuse
The Bliz City Blitz
Operation Snowverlord
Posted by: BTRWx | February 3, 2011 11:14 AM | Report abuse
The Super Bowl Shovel.
Posted by: diogenes_quixote | February 3, 2011 11:15 AM | Report abuse
@NoVAHoyaDan ("The 2011 Blizzard, City of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, Mayor")
+1
Snow Shore Drive
Posted by: ennepe68 | February 3, 2011 11:16 AM | Report abuse
As a former Chicagoan~
Chi-Town Shutdown
Posted by: mudbucket | February 3, 2011 11:20 AM | Report abuse
ChicaSNoW!!
lol
Posted by: Pat_E | February 3, 2011 11:22 AM | Report abuse
sn02-01-2011
windy city whiteout
Posted by: mudbucket | February 3, 2011 11:29 AM | Report abuse
Ferris Bueller's Snow Day Off
Posted by: marklandterrapins | February 3, 2011 11:32 AM | Report abuse
Alas, attempts to name the 2010 storm will forever be marred by inconsistent usages of the words "Snowpocalypse" and "Snowmageddon": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_North_American_blizzard_of_2010#Nicknames
I heard several people in the area using "Snowmageddon" to refer to last weeks's storm as well. The word Snowmageddon is rapidly becoming "Kleenex-ized", a unique trademark forever doomed to be used generically.
Posted by: stuckman | February 3, 2011 11:35 AM | Report abuse
"the chicago white sock" (of feb 1, 2011)
"the crappy storm that missed washington dc"
Posted by: walter-in-fallschurch | February 3, 2011 11:40 AM | Report abuse
"Snowprah Windfreeze" is the deservedly the consistent winner on other sites.
Posted by: awshux | February 3, 2011 11:40 AM | Report abuse
The Little Flurry of 2011
Posted by: dottie_b | February 3, 2011 11:52 AM | Report abuse
Another vote for "The 2011 Blizzard, City of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, Mayor".
And as someone who grew up in Northern Indiana, I have to say I'm grateful to see the other side of the lake get whacked by the lake effect, for once.
Posted by: lacantwell | February 3, 2011 11:55 AM | Report abuse
Well I think The SuperBowl Shovel is BRILLIANT.
Posted by: jjones4 | February 3, 2011 11:59 AM | Report abuse
How about whydidntdcgetsnowgeddon?
"Chicagogeddon" sounds nice
Posted by: BELLASNOWQUEEN | February 3, 2011 12:06 PM | Report abuse
How about whydidntdcgetsnowgeddon?
"Chicagogeddon" sounds nice
Posted by: BELLASNOWQUEEN | February 3, 2011 12:06 PM | Report abuse
That picture of all the cars frozen in time on the highway looks like something from an end of the world movie like "the day after tomorrow". I read the actual number of cars abandoned on that road was over 1200. And a bus driver was yelling to his passengers over and over "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!" Good way to keep your passengers calm dude. Melodramatic much?
Posted by: rwalker66 | February 3, 2011 12:09 PM | Report abuse
CHICAGOGEDDON
Posted by: BELLASNOWQUEEN | February 3, 2011 12:20 PM | Report abuse
Snowralysis.
Posted by: dixiechick1 | February 3, 2011 12:21 PM | Report abuse
How about the Hey I Thought You Were All Tough But You Abandoned Your Cars Too! storm.
Posted by: SPS1 | February 3, 2011 12:33 PM | Report abuse
"Strand and Deliver"
"Snoverdone"
Posted by: snowmoresnow | February 3, 2011 12:42 PM | Report abuse
@SPS1 - Exactly!
In the same vein as:
Not SNOW tough after all!
Posted by: Rcmorgan | February 3, 2011 12:49 PM | Report abuse
SNOPRAH
Posted by: kfnelson | February 3, 2011 12:56 PM | Report abuse
@diogenes_quixote, that name has a limited potential audience, but for that audience, there's none better.
Posted by: mmurphy70 | February 3, 2011 1:14 PM | Report abuse
The Alberta Cutler
Posted by: agunn3 | February 3, 2011 2:17 PM | Report abuse
The Alberta Cutler
Posted by: agunn3 | February 3, 2011 2:22 PM | Report abuse
These are great! I will aggregate and submit to the Tribune and Sun Times.
Posted by: Jason-CapitalWeatherGang | February 3, 2011 2:41 PM | Report abuse
I know a place where no cars go - Chicago
Super Snow XLV
SnoDitka
Posted by: matthewyoungblood | February 3, 2011 2:46 PM | Report abuse
Courtesy of a Chicago dweller, now a DC carpetbagger, named Obama:
Tough Flinty Chicago Fun
Posted by: citizenw | February 3, 2011 4:55 PM | Report abuse
Let's see...
The Big Lockdown
The Deep Freeze
Snow Day 2011
As a resident Chicagoan (currently snowed in for the 2nd day straight), I made a music video to commemorate this monumental storm...
Posted by: johnh96 | February 3, 2011 6:32 PM | Report abuse
Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard Groundhog Day Blizzard
Posted by: mjterp | February 3, 2011 6:36 PM | Report abuse
I'm surprised no one has come up with this yet. Rahm Emanuel's welcome home party.
Posted by: apkeaton | February 3, 2011 7:34 PM | Report abuse
Da' Storm
Posted by: Novice1 | February 3, 2011 7:46 PM | Report abuse
Obviously, like everything else,
It'snobama'sfault
Posted by: geerue | February 3, 2011 8:35 PM | Report abuse
The Great Groundhog Blizzard of 2011
Posted by: RedCherokee | February 4, 2011 12:31 AM | Report abuse
I've heard a few other people use it before, but I quite fancy "Blizzaster."
Posted by: warrenjwells | February 4, 2011 12:49 AM | Report abuse
The Great Lakes Howl storm
Posted by: RedCherokee | February 4, 2011 12:54 AM | Report abuse
Snowzilla!
Posted by: criley1 | February 4, 2011 11:38 AM | Report abuse
Not that I would ever want a repeat of last winter's storms, but are the names used to describe a snowstorm retired like the major huricanes? I think that both Snowpocalypse and Snowmaggedon were great names and would hate being unable to describe the next storm that drops a ton of snow on my driveway with those names.
But when it comes to Chicago, a foot of snow should be no big deal. They have a lot more equipment than we do. The idea they have to name a storm makes them look weak. They should wait for the storm that drops 36 inches of snow in one day before they worry about having to find a good name.
Posted by: mikebecvar | February 4, 2011 2:45 PM | Report abuse
Not that I would ever want a repeat of last winter's storms, but are the names used to describe a snowstorm retired like the major huricanes? I think that both Snowpocalypse and Snowmaggedon were great names and would hate being unable to describe the next storm that drops a ton of snow on my driveway with those names.
But when it comes to Chicago, a foot of snow should be no big deal. They have a lot more equipment than we do. The idea they have to name a storm makes them look weak. They should wait for the storm that drops 36 inches of snow in one day before they worry about having to find a good name.
Posted by: mikebecvar | February 4, 2011 2:48 PM | Report abuse
Not that I would ever want a repeat of last winter's storms, but are the names used to describe a snowstorm retired like the major huricanes? I think that both Snowpocalypse and Snowmaggedon were great names and would hate being unable to describe the next storm that drops a ton of snow on my driveway with those names.
But when it comes to Chicago, a foot of snow should be no big deal. They have a lot more equipment than we do. The idea they have to name a storm makes them look weak. They should wait for the storm that drops 36 inches of snow in one day before they worry about having to find a good name.
Posted by: mikebecvar | February 4, 2011 2:49 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
As a Chicagoan now living in Washington, I submit the following suggestions:
-BadLSDTrip
-Wrigley Ripper
-The Once-a-Decade Snow Day
-Blizzard with Lake Effect Sprinkles
-Daley's Last Wind
-The 2011 Blizzard, City of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, Mayor (anyone who knows Chicago signage and advertising will know this, since Hizzoner loves his name emblazoned to and fro)