The official IL weather thread (hotel, safety, cars)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Sweet- my work is sending us all home early!

Over this? Seriously? The owners must be southerners.

[paramour]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Over this? Seriously? The owners must be southerners.

Hey! I resemble that remark.

I was actually requested to close down the lab early on Tuesday night due to the alleged horrific winter weather. I drive further than everyone else who lives locally, so they assumed that I would jump at the chance. They assumed wrong. Of course, tonight would have been nice to leave early, as my car was buried by the time I got out and then I had the great pleasure of driving 2 hours on roads that no one bothers to take care of before I make my way down them. T'was sort of fun!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Over this? Seriously? The owners must be southerners.

Yeah, over this. Go take a look outside now.

I seriously can't remember the last time we got this much snow. Not in the sense of one single snowfall, but the frequency of snowstorms this year. It seems like it just keeps snowing, like, every other day. Just a couple inches here and there -- just enough to make you have to brush your car off every morning.

That should make for some good snow pack for the ice trials up in Wisconsin though. I hated it last year when the lake froze nice and thick but we got no snow, so we're out there trying to navigate a course on sheer ice. It was tedious creeping along at 8 miles an hour. A good snowpack usually means just enough grip to have some fun and hang it out sideways.

[mdz]

It's been a butt-kicker of a winter for sure. For all those wishing for a "real" Chicago winter, I think we've got one.

Skilling said that we've had 26 days of snow this winter.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

Yeah, over this. Go take a look outside now.

I seriously can't remember the last time we got this much snow. Not in the sense of one single snowfall, but the frequency of snowstorms this year. It seems like it just keeps snowing, like, every other day. Just a couple inches here and there -- just enough to make you have to brush your car off every morning.

That should make for some good snow pack for the ice trials up in Wisconsin though. I hated it last year when the lake froze nice and thick but we got no snow, so we're out there trying to navigate a course on sheer ice. It was tedious creeping along at 8 miles an hour. A good snowpack usually means just enough grip to have some fun and hang it out sideways.

No doubt we've had more snow than average this winter, but I dont think its been horribly bad, really. Last night/this morning was the first time Ive had to drive really slow due to conditions, but its understandable that IDOT cant keep up with the snow. It normally takes me 25 minutes to get from Warrenville to St. Charles every morning. Last night took me 45 minutes to get home and equal time to get to work this morning. Its not horrible, IMO. Hey, we could live in Buffalo.

Are you heading up to WI to rally? I spent some extra time on the way home drifting on some side streets. Shhhh, dont tell the wife. Ive already got two bent rims/tie rods from my last drift session. LOL

[desert student]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

No doubt we've had more snow than average this winter, but I dont think its been horribly bad, really.

Are you kidding yourself!? I called my parents last night and they couldn't even see the trees in their backyard it was so bad!! The trees are about fifteen feet away mind you. Then come to hear, it was a THREE!!!!!!! hour trip from dowtown to O'Hare!!!! If I worked in downtown Chicago, and lived in Aurora, I woulnd't even bother coming home! You would get there and have to go right back to your office. "I don't think it is horribly bad, really."
Nope, just that huge blue "blob" on the radar that swallowed Illinois from top to bottom last night , and closed down even the major highways is not "bad". Tell that to the people that are in the ER right now because of the that "great" weather.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by desert student

Are you kidding yourself!? I called my parents last night and they couldn't even see the trees in their backyard it was so bad!! The trees are about fifteen feet away mind you. Then come to hear, it was a THREE!!!!!!! hour trip from dowtown to O'Hare!!!! If I worked in downtown Chicago, and lived in Aurora, I woulnd't even bother coming home! You would get there and have to go right back to your office. "I don't think it is horribly bad, really."
Nope, just that huge blue "blob" on the radar that swallowed Illinois from top to bottom last night , and closed down even the major highways is not "bad". Tell that to the people that are in the ER right now because of the that "great" weather.

No comments from the Peanut Gallery.

And FYI, the roads are perfectly fine (just wet). I just got back from Office Max and the city has once again done an amazing job clearing the streets. And how could your parents not see their trees 15 ft away? lol Thats what happens when you forget to turn the outside lights on. Visibility was not hardly bad at all, even in the heaviest snowfall last night.

[desert student]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

No comments from the Peanut Gallery.

And FYI, the roads are perfectly fine (just wet). I just got back from Office Max and the city has once again done an amazing job clearing the streets. And how could your parents not see their trees 15 ft away? lol Thats what happens when you forget to turn the outside lights on. Visibility was not hardly bad at all, even in the heaviest snowfall last night.

Well young Steve. See in nature there is this crazy feature called wind, and drifting. Sometimes, when there is lots of snow and lots of wind, it can cause blackout conditions. Meaning you can not see things even if, yes, they fifteen feet away. From what I can tell you live in Warrneville, which is not really close to Lake Barrington, so I'm sure your understanding of what happens up there would be "limited.". Also, you must realize that the Barringtons have people, how do I say this nicely, "spread out." In Warrennaperauroraplainfieldbolingbrookjolietshorew oodville, there are hundreds of thousands of people that are all squished together into a matchbox. Yes, believe it or not it is true my friend. The road crews have no choice but make sure the roads stay good. In places where people like to, I don't know, LIVE, sometimes the roads aren't taken care of a quickly because other places demand the more immediate attention based on population.

[Drover]

Where's our fly swatter?

[fisher37]

Just curious, my house guests are trying to get home to Paw Paw, IL. Anybody out west? I suspect they should just stay put since its out in the country with lots of drifting.