There's weather out there

[sraun]

There was maybe an inch of wet slushy snow on the roads when I was driving to work between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning. The lightly traveled roads. It was entirely too interesting a drive! It was slick under that snow everywhere except for three sets tire-tracks down I-35W, two sets on I-94, one set and I-394, and two sets on Highway 169. I had two different skid episodes - both when I was going 20-30mph on the side roads.

I'm hoping the trip home is better. I don't know if it will be - there's supposed to be the same wet, slushy snow coming down all day.

Comments

[fgherman.livejournal.com]

They *may* have plowed by then.

[pmrabble.livejournal.com]

The best part is listening to the loud thumps on the roof as the blobs of heavy wet snow come off the overhanging maple tree

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

It's funny to me how we refer to having "weather" when it gets exciting. I always have this image all the other times when the weather ceases to exist.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

But, but, but...

You're in Minnesota! Aren't you supposed to sneer at anything less than six feet of the white stuff?

Now, here near Seattle, the whole world comes to an end when we get over an inch, but that's because It's Not Supposed To Snow Here.

[sraun]

The problem wasn't the snow - it was the wet. And also the fact that it was the first storm of the season.

We sneer at dry snow - driving on dry snow is similar to driving on dry sand, only easier. Wet snow turns into ice - or something with very similar friction properties - and there's nothing as dangerous to drive on as wet ice! Talk about slip sliding away!

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Ah. Seattle cement, yes. Otherwise known as an ice sandwich. That's why, after two years in Colorado and six years in Ohio and Indiana, I still shudder when they predict snow here.

The predominant weather pattern that brings us snow starts out as rain, turns to freezing rain, then snow, then back to freezing rain, then back to rain. This whole process can take hours, or it can take days (in the latter case we usually get the cold snap from heck between bouts of snow). When it takes days it gets really, really ugly around here. Esp. as since it happens so seldom local government finds it uneconomic to keep adequate snow removal equipment on hand.

Google "Seattle snowpocalypse" for the reason Seattle got a new mayor this year [wry g].