Why the south is cancelled today

[mrsleeve]

No one but southerners live with ice like this. Most areas pre plan and are cold enough that snow dusts the roads. It doesn't hit a warm road, then freeze later on.

ummm yeah most of our roads (other than Federal and some state highways) all winter are hard pack snow, get a bit of of light rain on a warmer day, or just a couple of days close to freezing with the sun out = conditions much like that. I have been the entire length of I90 though Wyoming on a solid sheet of ice a couple of times. Studded snows and 4wd can be a life saver, though both those times though WY all I had on was AT's

Solid Ice is not fun no matter how much your used to driving on it especially when it gets a good polish on it My drive way at home is a true ice rink if it was just a little smoother you could skate on it all the way to the road and has been since new years,

[Farbin Kaiber]

^This.

The energy to keep focused on the road when driving in these conditions really drains ya, it's like an endurance race.

[GillesBigCowboy]

We live on a big steep hill, and from a couple of windows I cans see 10 cars sitting on the side of the road abandoned (one car obviously plowed into one of the others). The road is solid ice; I wouldn't even walk on it, but some kids are sledding on the road.

When I lived in Maryland, and I had my first e30, I would relish the opportunity to drive it on freshly fallen snow... It was OK fun in my GTI, but in the e30 it was on a different level. Using the LSD to drift on quiet roads with fresh powder was such a joy. With a few inches on the ground and more falling as I drove, it was some of the greatest automobile driving of my life. Snow is wondrous fun, but ice sux.

[S136A]

I definitely want to get out of Wisconsin ASAP and head south, but it's good to know I'll still get a taste of from home from time to time. Because of the sickening amount of salt they use here, I opt to park the e30 in the winter to try to cheat a rusty death as long as possible...

[TurboJake]

No one but southerners live with ice like this. Most areas pre plan and are cold enough that snow dusts the roads. It doesn't hit a warm road, then freeze later on.

Strongly beg to differ. Even when sub zero, the snow falls and turns into compacted ice, which is just as slick. Then your tires melt the surface because it's under pressure, and hoo boy.

Dunno what you guys are rabbling on about. Ice driving is easy, and a hoot! Do be safe when ice skating your vehicles.

[mrsleeve]

^

Us rural northerners understand this, and I totally understand why the fellers down south have such issues with that kinda weather. It takes YEARS of practice to even be comfortable enough to head out in that, let alone be proficient enough not to let it affect out day all that much .

The last 2 weeks down here in WV, where I am working, we have had a few inches of snow at night and the drive into work is painful. I am in the left lane running 55ish and everyone else is in the right lane with their flashers on doing about 22 scared to death with a death grip on the wheel and slamming on the brakes randomly. Slow and smooth driver inputs is all you need to remember.

[TurboJake]

^

Us rural northerners understand this, and I totally understand why the fellers down south have such issues with that kinda weather. It takes YEARS of practice to even be comfortable enough to head out in that, let alone be proficient enough not to let it affect out day all that much .

The last 2 weeks down here in WV, where I am working, we have had a few inches of snow at night and the drive into work is painful. I am in the left lane running 55ish and everyone else is in the right lane with their flashers on doing about 22 scared to death with a death grip on the wheel and slamming on the brakes randomly. Slow and smooth driver inputs is all you need to remember.

Totally understand. Was in PA during a snowstorm doing the same. Actually got pulled over for speeding when I was doing the speed limit (65). Cop came up saying "Why the hell are you going so fast, do you realize how unsafely you're driving?", My reply "Did you once, even for a second glance at my license plate?"

"No..."

"Well, here's my WISCONSIN license."

Tips the hat and walks back to his squad SUV. Was a good day.

[Farbin Kaiber]

No one but southerners live with ice like this. Most areas pre plan and are cold enough that snow dusts the roads. It doesn't hit a warm road, then freeze later on.

Come check out my lane, or the street in front of my property that never gets sun in the winter. I have to plan to stop extra early, or else I slide past my house. I own special ice cleats that go on my shoes so I don't go down getting the mail... I have an ice rink out front for at least 2-3 months, but the streets, if you are not on a main thoroughfare, you will have ice all season.

[TobyB]

We would occasionally get ice in Western NY. No, you really can't drive on it without
full studs, which are (wait for it) illegal in NY.

It's sheer hell on trees- sometimes whole sections of the woods would get stripped of
branches if the wind came up.

t

[csermonet47]

"Did you once, even for a second glance at my license plate?"

"No..."

"Well, here's my WISCONSIN license."

wow

[mrsleeve]

Totally understand. Was in PA during a snowstorm doing the same. Actually got pulled over for speeding when I was doing the speed limit (65). Cop came up saying "Why the hell are you going so fast, do you realize how unsafely you're driving?", My reply "Did you once, even for a second glance at my license plate?"

"No..."

"Well, here's my WISCONSIN license."

Tips the hat and walks back to his squad SUV. Was a good day.

lol yeah My Grandparents have wintered in Tuscon for many years, I think it was 94 me and grandpa were going out to get something in one of those rare 3-4 inch snows. Watched a cop try to pull out and go into the ditch. Gpa truns around to go see if said cop was ok. Guy come out screaming, till he sees the MI plates and Drivers license and walks back to his wadded up car.


We wanted to go skiing up on Mt Lemon one year down there. It was snowing about 1/2 way up the Mountain. I was driving, the County Mountie that was up there told us we had to have chains to go any further up the hill because it was snowing and some had accumulated on the road . I told him I will be fine this thing (my Gpas suburban) is 4wd I dont need chains. he again told me I had to have chains on to go any further. I then told him I live in Northern MT and drive up and down hills much worse than this with 10 times the snow on it all the time just did the week prior. Showed him my MT D/L with a ski resort town address on it even, and he still refused to let me pass, we said fuck it and didnt bother to go skiing that trip down there.

[TurboJake]

lol yeah My Grandparents have wintered in Tuscon for many years, I think it was 94 me and grandpa were going out to get something in one of those rare 3-4 inch snows. Watched a cop try to pull out and go into the ditch. Gpa truns around to go see if said cop was ok. Guy come out screaming, till he sees the MI plates and Drivers license and walks back to his wadded up car.


We wanted to go skiing up on Mt Lemon one year down there. It was snowing about 1/2 way up the Mountain. I was driving, the County Mountie that was up there told us we had to have chains to go any further up the hill because it was snowing and some had accumulated on the road . I told him I will be fine this thing (my Gpas suburban) is 4wd I dont need chains. he again told me I had to have chains on to go any further. I then told him I live in Northern MT and drive up and down hills much worse than this with 10 times the snow on it all the time just did the week prior. Showed him my MT D/L with a ski resort town address on it even, and he still refused to let me pass, we said fuck it and didnt bother to go skiing that trip down there.

Yup. It's that all too common moment where the "Shit, he knows what he's doing more than I do......" look that goes across their faces.

But, the mountie story. I ran into that once too but it wasn't snowing so they let us pass through (Wasn't staying. Driving through CO). It's a law meant for semis so they're not sliding back and causing all kinds of mayhem, but the law is the law and it does apply to passenger vehicles. But still. It's amazing how much worse we deal/dealt with daily and others just don't comprehend it. Sweltering heat for weeks? No prob. Ice? No prob. 2 feet of snow overnight? Lets have some fun!

In other news. Got 7 inches up here in calumet overnight last night. During a Gale Warning. This shit is like freaking concrete!

[mrsleeve]

yeah wind blown and packed snow might as well be cement, been there.

[delatlanta1281]

Strongly beg to differ. Even when sub zero, the snow falls and turns into compacted ice, which is just as slick. Then your tires melt the surface because it's under pressure, and hoo boy.

Dunno what you guys are rabbling on about. Ice driving is easy, and a hoot! Do be safe when ice skating your vehicles.

The difference is this, your tire patch/tracks form the ice. I get that, I grew up in the northeast, I get hard pack. What many people don't get is there is no hard packed snow in these situations here. It snows after a 55 degree day and the snow immediately melts when it hits the pavement. It does that for a couple hours, the temp then drops, and you have perfectly formed skating rinks for roads. There is no escaping packed tire track ice. You will hit a curb. There are no chains, studs, snow tires. The other thing is this. Down here when people are dropping dead in Chicago during the summer because they don't have air conditioning, we don't sit around and say "dumbasses don't know how to keep cool". It's easy to pick on what you don't understand and live in. Crossing the street down here last night was treacherous. Many people don't own snow boots, down coats, or even gloves. It's not our fault we deal with true winter chaos once every 5 to 10 years. It's not our fault they didn't utilize the salt trucks, it's not our fault some companies wouldn't let people leave until it was too late.
I would say to those who don't live here, you don't get it. Just like many of us don't get how you feel during a 98 degree day with 80% humidity. It happens. Try not to judge us as dumb or without skill behind the wheel.

[delatlanta1281]

Come check out my lane, or the street in front of my property that never gets sun in the winter. I have to plan to stop extra early, or else I slide past my house. I own special ice cleats that go on my shoes so I don't go down getting the mail... I have an ice rink out front for at least 2-3 months, but the streets, if you are not on a main thoroughfare, you will have ice all season.

Exactly. Your ENTIRE CITY isn't a sheet of ice though. And if it is, you have the means to get around. We don't, but unfortunately we live in a Capitol city that 1.8 million people commute to each day. What would you do? You would stay home. Many didn't have that option. Must be nice to deal with shit ice on a daily basis. We don't, but it's our fault that you can't buy studded shoes and tires in Atlanta for the one time it ices in 3 years. That's like saying someone in Alaska needs to have a full hvac system for that one day it gets hot. If they die its their fault...