SNOW !!!!!!!!

[Ace-Garageguy]

I know a lot of y'all hate it, having to deal with a lot of it every winter, and that's understandable.

But having been a kid up in yankeeland, where there was no downside to it for me, I still love it...and we haven't had any here for the last few years.

So I got up well before dawn to watch it coming on the radar, and to look at livecam feeds from cities to my west. Both Birmingham and Huntsville are really pretty right now.

And it's just started here in earnest, already a couple inches in the yard.

Looks like most people took the warnings seriously this time, and nobody much is driving, but as fast as the ones who are are going, I wish them well, 'cause they have no clue.

It's been just below freezing all night, the roads are cold, and the snow falling now will turn to ice as it gets churned to slush and immediately re-freezes.

If the freezing rain in the forecast for later materializes, nobody is going anywhere this afternoon...including me.

I learned to drive in weather like this early on, to realistically evaluate whether my vehicle was equipped for the task, and I'm not going to even try my wimpy-but-quiet-on-the-highway "M&S" tires.

Last time it did this, what Atlanta still refers to as "snowmageddon", it started right at the peak of morning rush hour, much the same conditions we have right now.

I went to work and regretted it as soon as I hit the first patch of ice on an overpass.

By the time I tried to get home after noon, even though I was getting around fine with the aggressive M&S rubber I had on the Silverado, everywhere I went the streets and roads were clogged with abandoned vehicles...with no way through. I ended up driving over a curb to get my truck in a parking lot well off the road, locked her up, and walked home.

Not gonna do it today, thanks. And I really ought to bring in the last can of propane and the bag of cat-food that are in the Blazer before the doors freeze shut, and get on with my billing writeup while I still have power.

The way it's coming down...already 2 more inches since I started typing this...if we get freezing rain later, it's just a matter of time.

If it's snowing where you are, be smart, and stay safe.  

 

 

 

[LDO]

It’s cool to see a dog’s reaction to seeing snow for the first time. Lady (my Black Lab) was fascinated. 

[LennyB]

Having lived all my life in the northeast dealing with snow is second nature. Set of snows go on in November and handle the roads until March. For the most part the highway departments know how to prepare for it. Treating the road surface before the storm comes to minimize icing conditions. Although you can't prevent or foresee everything. Then of course you always get the drivers who should not be out on the roads in it as they create an obstacle themselves as these "white knuckle drivers" crawl down the road terrified.

[LennyB]

Just now, LDO said:

It’s cool to see a dog’s reaction to seeing snow for the first time. Lady (my Black Lab) was fascinated. 

My dogs love the snow, only bad part is they tend to bring some back inside with them.

[Ace-Garageguy]

5 hours ago, LDO said:

It’s cool to see a dog’s reaction to seeing snow for the first time. Lady (my Black Lab) was fascinated. 

Yup. Both my young, friendly outdoor feral cats have apparently decided to stay under the house so far, as they missed breakfast call this AM.

You'd think with sure-footed four-paw-drive and thick winter coats, they'd be right at home. 

EDIT 1/2 hour later: The older one, Tigger, came up on the porch just now for some chow and a head-scratch. Seemed to be pretty well adapted to the snow already, though he's never seen it before. 

EDIT 5 hours later: The younger one, Shi'thead, finally made it to the chow line. Seemed kinda perplexed by the whole thing, but let me pick her up the first time since she's been out of the cage I kept her in when she was still too small to be on her own, but eating solid food.

Edited January 10 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

8 hours ago, LennyB said:

Having lived all my life in the northeast dealing with snow is second nature. Set of snows go on in November and handle the roads until March. For the most part the highway departments know how to prepare for it. Treating the road surface before the storm comes to minimize icing conditions. Although you can't prevent or foresee everything. Then of course you always get the drivers who should not be out on the roads in it as they create an obstacle themselves as these "white knuckle drivers" crawl down the road terrified.

Yeah...Atlanta and environs gubmints have never been very prepared for frozen precip, and if anything they're even less so now. The native drivers are hopeless. Sad but kinda funny to see how many expensive 4WD vehicles usually appear upside-down in the ditches. All that electro-techie traction-control wizardry is just not enough to compensate for a certain degree of stupid.

On the other hand, my local electric co-op, a remarkably well-run organization, puts chains on their bucket trucks when the stuff starts falling...or at least have done so in the past.

Edited January 10 by Ace-Garageguy
TYPO

[Ace-Garageguy]

Snow's stopped, looks like about 3" total. Frozen mist now, temp hovering at 29F. Birds appreciating the hanging suet blocks, etc.

NWS radar shows another patch of snow heading this way.   

[Engine 51]

I would love to live in a place where I would never see snow again. Dealt with it all my life, and it seems my tolerance is getting less and less each year.

For those that don't see it that often, enjoy. How many days till spring?????

[JollySipper]

We're supposed to get an inch or two this afternoon............. I can't wait to see how Emmett reacts to it.

[stavanzer]

Enjoy the Snow, Ace.

[Ace-Garageguy]

49 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

Enjoy the Snow, Ace.

Looks like it'll be about gone by sunset Sunday. 

Edited January 10 by Ace-Garageguy

[Thedragsterdude]

It’s snowing hard down here 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Looking out the window, I'm seeing the first sign of icing on trees.

There are a couple of drops on a branch that are too long to be drops...unless they're frozen.

Temp right at 32F.

[Dave Van]

6 inches of snow, got a little warm......then -2 degrees....now we have 6 inches of rock hard ice......and snow coming in an hour......Only thing I hate in WV.......

[1930fordpickup]

Time to put in your favorite christmas movie, or an old western that has a snow storm in it.

[NYLIBUD]

So far only recorded about 3,4 inches of the stuff here on LI.Thats fine with me.Now watch,we are gonna get slammed till June.🙄🤣

[Keef]

Got about 3-3.5 inches here in Chattanooga Tennessee so far with more expected this evening. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Temperature dropped one degree, ice is starting to build noticeably on even the smallest branches.

Went outside just now to open the door on the Blazer and clear it to try to prevent freezing in case I need to charge my phone from it later.

As I was outside, two decent size limbs cracked and fell in the wooded strip just to my south.

Looked online at my electric co-op's outage map, currently about 2500 people fairly close by are in the dark.

It may still get interesting.

EDIT: Think I'll make a pot of coffee. Can always reheat it in a pan on the propane burner later, better than cowboy coffee full of grounds.  

Edited January 10 by Ace-Garageguy

[Joe Handley]

I’m thinking you have had a lot more snow than we got here in Northern Illinois so far, we had about an inch or so when I got home a little while ago, but it’s been under 30 degrees all day too.

[von Zipper]

[Xingu]

I am sure there is an imaginary line somewhere that designates the point where anyone South does not put snow removal in their budget.

We got 11" Monday and are expecting another 3" tonight. It is the melting and freezing after that causes issues here.

[Ace-Garageguy]

11 minutes ago, Xingu said:

I am sure there is an imaginary line somewhere there designates the point where anyone South does not put snow removal in their budget.

We used to get at least one or two snowfalls or ice storms every year, and the state and county DOTs had a few plow trucks and dumps with sand spreaders on the rear.

Past few years...no snow.

So I'm guessing some gubmint spenders figgered "climate change", so there wouldn't be any more snow, ever.

Surprise.  

 

[mk11]

We're catching a temporary break here: kinda like spring the last few days...

unfortunately, some freezing rain creating business for the bodyshops

Beats the heck out of last year at this time 

 

Seems as good a place as any for this old midas commercial  

 

Edited January 11 by mk11

[JollySipper]

11 hours ago, JollySipper said:

We're supposed to get an inch or two this afternoon............. I can't wait to see how Emmett reacts to it.

Well, it didn't snow, at least not exactly. We had a drizzle of a mix all afternoon....... It was 35F all day pretty much. Now, the temps have dropped below freezing, so all the slush that fell earlier will freeze now....

[slusher]

Here in west Tennessee, it was rare to get snow and when we do many things close schools even with an inch.  I don’t care for snow had enough in Chicago and 2 blizzards lost my grandmother in one. So I hope it does not stick around..