Be careful driving out there.......

[Mind_your_head]

I'm in the midwest and 'dealing' with the first big SNOW/WEATHER event of the season. I told my kids and co-workers today that I would suspect that there are many drivers out there, due to the economy right now, are 'deferring' maintenance on their cars. That would include buying new tires. I would bet that there are a lot of peeps out there who are driving on slippery tires. They're going to drive slower (b/c they don't want to slide into anyone) and cause an "insurance event".

One of my co-workers had a 'knowing look' when I mentioned this....and when I probed further, he said, "that's me. I need new tires but can't afford them right now".

So, be careful out there and don't be so angry at the guy who is 'going slow'.....s/he many know better than you WHY s/he's going so slow and doesn't want to crash.

Peace,
M_Y_H

[EFerrari]

1. And don't forget all the parties and the drinking.

This is a good time to be careful.

[MercutioATC]

4. Tuesday night is a big party night?

Who knew?

[tuvor]

19. It's Christmas party season. n/t

[Dinger]

2. Just Got A Call That School Is Canceled Tomorrow

14+ inches and big wind predicted.

[hedgehog]

11. What? you have a school district that actually pays attention to the weather

report and cancels school while parents can still arrange child care? Incredible!

[Dinger]

12. Rural Area Here

If a school bus has problems in isolated areas, well, you get the idea. It's a little unusual that they let us know the night before, but this one looks bad,

[Stargazer09]

15. They called here last night

Before the weather system arrived in the area. The kids could have gone to school this morning (although there was already about 3"-4" of snow on the ground), but by this afternoon, it was much worse.

Our school district offers before and after school care on most snow days, but they cancelled it for tomorrow. We have probably 8" of snow on the ground right now, with more coming down as I type this. Plus, the wind is really starting to blow, and all that loose powder is drifting all over the place.

Some of our neighbors have been out with their snow blowers throughout the day, but with the constant snow and wind, they are fighting a losing battle. :scared:

[hedgehog]

16. I posted in the Lounge chiding people not to exaggerate every little storm

into a blizzard, but what you folks get out in the Midwest can get pretty dangerous!

[Stargazer09]

17. I grew up in Oregon

We had some pretty decent snow storms out there, but the mountains tended to keep the winds down.

Here, there's nothing stopping the wind, and I think that's what's causing the worst of the storm tonight. Snow is falling, AND the wind is blowing the powder all over the place. I can barely see the house across the street, even with all its Christmas lights.

It's a completely nasty night outside here.

[hedgehog]

18. The funny thing is, everyone refers to heavy snow as a blizzard.

It's not the snow that makes a blizzard; it's the high wind blowing to snow around to cut visibility that makes a blizzard! We've had literally 2' or more of snow overnight; not a blizzard. Out West, 2" of snow can make a pretty damn bad blizzard with the right wind speeds!

The problem is that if you think any snow is a blizzard, you might be too cavalier to take proper precautions when faced with an actual blizzard.

[dmr]

24. You're right & they're dangerous

a blizzard has snow, low visability, and sustained 25+ mph winds for 3 hours or more. It may feel like a blizzard, but it's probably not.

We're in the middle of the storm now, but big deal, well it is a big deal, but for us, the storm will pass and we'll still get the lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan - dumping more snow than the storm. And, it will go on like this all winter!

Note: TV weatherman just said we're now under both a winter storm & a blizzard warning. Oh, boy! It's thundering and lightening out there!

I'm just glad my son has the next two days off from work.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful ....

[MercutioATC]

3. 32 degrees and steady rain/slush mix falling here in the Cleveland area.

I just got to work for a midnight shift.

It's going to be an interesting drive home in the morning.

[amborin]

5. we had a harrowing experience

last night, in so cal, driving south on I-5.

I-5 was closed at the "grapevine," due to ice and snow.

we drove west on route 166, through a dense tule fog....we could barely see the tail lights of the car ahead of us, about 10 feet ahead, creeping along at 10 mph, for over 15 miles. there was no shoulder, so we were forced to continue, with a big rig in our tail (he backed off, thankfully). no cell phone coverage along here, either....absolutely harrowing

the fog finally cleared, and we came to the junction of 166 and route 33 south....we took 33, thinking it was the shorter route to 101

after 25 minutes on this winding mountain road, we hit snow and ice....people were stuck just short of the summit; a big rig was nearly on its side; several cars had skidded off the road, a woman's car had slid clear off the side embankment....it was now 9:30pm....no cell phone coverage, out in the boonies....

[TwilightGardener]

7. That is scary--glad you made it OK.

[amborin]

8. thanks! it was out scariest driving experience ever

[kestrel91316]

9. You couldn't pay me to drive I-5 through The Grapevine during one of

these winter storms. Too many lunatics driving like they're being chased by the devil, and too many fatal accidents.

Californians are famous for driving FASTER in bad conditions. I've been getting freaked out by it for 26 years.....

[amborin]

13. i agree

i don't even like to drive it in hot, sunny conditions!

I-5 was closed last night at the grapevine

we took a huge detour (along with many others), to 166, then 33, hoping to get to the 101

but 166 was super foggy, and 33 was icey and treacherous;
we wound up taking 166 to 101 to 5

all along 101 were 100s of big rigs, parked along the shoulder, too tired to continue

but, yes, californians drive too fast! at all times!

[gateley]

25. Where is the grapevine? nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. The Grapevine hill is at the southern end of the San Joaqin Valley (edited)

on Interstate 5.

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=34.9028267&lon=-118.9242554&z=12&l=0&m=b

It climbs Tejon Pass in the Tehachapi mountains, North of Los Angeles.

The downgrade is 6% for 5 miles, one of the steepest, longest grades in the interstate system. (but not THE longest or steepest)

[TwilightGardener]

6. It's starting to get blizzardy out there--we've already got what looks

like 8-9 inches on the ground (Nebraska) and the wind's picking up, temp's dropping, another snow day from school for my kids tomorrow (they were home today). My gas bill is going to blow chunks. x(

[Stargazer09]

14. I'm here with you

Near Omaha. The kids were excited to play in the snow throughout the day, and since they don't have school again tomorrow, I bought Polar Express through iTunes for them. They all sat in the living room, covered by quilts, happily watching the movie. All in all, a nice family night.

Thankfully, we don't have to go outside right now. It's the worst winter weather I've seen in my adult life. :scared:

[hedgehog]

10. 3" of wet snow here this morning, and the first SUV of the season

rolled onto its roof 1/2 mile down the road at the first curve.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

20. Bah! Here in Chicago it is only sleeting.

Not enough snow to cancel school, just enough to make the commute sucky tomorrow.

[dysfunctional press]

21. people who can't keep their car safe have no business driving it...

and if doing so endangers other drivers, it is extremely selfish and inconsiderate to do so.

[proteus_lives]

22. Yep- I got a "drive careful" call from my dad today.

It's one of the ways I know winter has truly begun.

[taterguy]

23. Nice post, mom

:eyes:

[Mind_your_head]

26. Yes, I AM a mom. So what's so wrong about hoping everyone will

be safe and to "watch out for the other guy/gal" :shrug:

What's wrong with that? (why the 'eyes'?)

Peace,
M_Y_H

on edit: 'taters' have lots of 'eyes', is that it? *wink* wink* (very lame joke, I know)