I did not go out to buy milk the last time we had 20 inches of snow because stores would be crowded and did not enjoy my coffee for two days 

Even here where we regularly get snow.  If we get winter storm advisory, the shelves clear out.

Having spent a few years in grocery it always amazed the rush when a storm was predicted and then the grumbling if it did not come about!

Well not here but have a forecast of a hurricane and stand back.

Don't forget the toilet paper! VA/MD/DC have a run on these things when snow is forecast!!

They do it here in Colorado too!

There would be a rush for more than milk and bread if there was a forecast of snow in my area.   

Michael - We don't have to worry about this in Arizona.

Snow does not bother us at all, happens all the time and we try to be stocked up all the time too.

Everyone does that here in Denver too, but usually because we are expecting a foot or two.

It's a NY thing too and it cracks me up every time....!

If we ever get a forecast of snow, people will panic in Southwest Florida!

Yes, people do run out to get bread and milk. I'm glad I know how to make things with flour - if I ever really DID run out of bread and needed some, I'd just make it. 

Good morning Michael. It must be a Connecticut thing as well.

YES!! and Toilet paper and gas! I've never really understood the milk and bread. 

The shelves get cleared!

They do this everywhere, including here.

How funny!! You are right many people do this ..it must be universal!

Michael J. Perry I think it's universal - not only PA and MA, not only US or Canada - it's all over the world!

They call - being prepared for worst thing to come!

Michael, it's not just a PA thing!  Trader Joe's was a zoo!

In CO the only thing we rush for is the slopes. Powder mornings are awesome. 

Yes the same thing happens here when we have any bad weather threat.

In Oklahoma City if a heavy snow winter warning comes, and that is rare, they clean out all the shelves as if they were afraid they would become the Donner Party.

It's an IN thing too.  Especially in the northern part of the state where we have Lake Effect snow from Lake Michigan.

Few people ar ready for storms and the last minute rush is common

No we run outside to watch it fall 

Michael, that happens here all the time. Yes, it snows here in Arizona believe it or not..it seems that right before a forecast the grocery stores are suddenly packed as if it's a holiday or something. 

Probably:) Many of our supermarkets work 24/7.

I don't know.  We haven't had a forecast for snow as long as I've been here.  But, they go crazy down here for that and batteries, etc when hurricanes are coming.

I do not know if it is a PA thing.  We don't get forecasts of snow here in Sunny San Jose. But if I did, I would not be buying milk and bread ... neither are consumed by me.

I know DE is a neighboring state, but when I lived in the Philadelphia are and in DE, milk & bread were hot commodities when the weather turned snowy.

Michael J. Perry It happens here too.

The couple friends I have who live in snowy areas out here tend to run to the market for stuff.  Not sure what though.

No worries about snow but in the event of the threat of other severe weather, yep we see it. And it happened back in New England with snow storms, too. Those snow shovels always disappeared quickly

yes, the shelves are always bare the day before a predicted storm.... I think it's the result of what we went through with the blizzard of '78...people were shut in for days...could not get out of their homes... and if they did, the roadways had 4' of snow....they weren't going anywhere...

Michael J. Perry That must be an eastern PA thing.  The winter-ready western PA residents, especially the ones along Lake Erie don't panic until the forecast calls for two feet or more of snow.  

Some do. Even if they don't reaaly need anything, they have to get out on the road and get in the way of plowing, clearing, salting, etc.

Beer and chips for a hot day? Guilty!

Everywhere due to unpredicbility.... If it was me, I will rush to the snack dept getting stocked with junk food....

Not a PA thing, had the same thing happen in GA and here in KY too!

Florida is the same way.  

    They have all year to stock up on necessities.   But they wait until the day before a Hurricane arrives to race to the stores, strip the shelves bare of bottled water, canned food, and flashlight batteries.