Travel through SLC on I-80 in November thru Wyoming? (Salt Lake City: how much, law)

[pjshockley]

I am thinking about driving from Oregon to Ohio starting on November 1st. I'm wondering how much snow and bad weather I can expect through SLC and into Wyoming? I could leave the last week of October, but would that make any difference? Does anyone have an opinion about the best route to take?

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by pjshockley

I am thinking about driving from Oregon to Ohio starting on November 1st. I'm wondering how much snow and bad weather I can expect through SLC and into Wyoming? I could leave the last week of October, but would that make any difference? Does anyone have an opinion about the best route to take?

It could be iffy, but right now it's kind of too early to say. While you probably won't encounter snow in Salt Lake City that early, there's a possibility that you could somewhere along I-80 in Wyoming.

[irman]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

It could be iffy, but right now it's kind of too early to say. While you probably won't encounter snow in Salt Lake City that early, there's a possibility that you could somewhere along I-80 in Wyoming.

If that happens, you could be in for a nasty surprise !
Winds can be absolutely nasty along I-80.
Roads are often closed for quite a while, when a bad snow fall has happened.
Sadly, Mother Nature still does not like telling us what she will do next ... !

But ... , as Katz states, Too early to say !

You could take I-70, but then you will have ride where the only scenery that changes is the yellow line in the mouiddle of the road ... !

Last but not least, you could check here at least a few days ahead.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/riw/

Poke in the city to get more accurate prediction.

[pjshockley]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking about I-70 through Colorado, but I was thinking that driving through Colorado passes would be worse than I-80. If I head any further south it will add days to my trip and all the extra expense. The earliest I could leave would be the last week of October.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by pjshockley

The earliest I could leave would be the last week of October.

Unless you have to finalize your route earlier than that, I'd suggest you just wait until you can get a seven-day forecast and take it from there. You might end up being just fine; you just never know this far in advance.

[pjshockley]

Commuter Forecast - weather.com This looks like a pretty good site to see the weather on a specific route.

[skibarbie]

Skip the I70 idea, it takes forever. I have made the I 80 trip more times than I can count and several times in Nov and Dec.
It is so heavily travelled that the plows are out whenever necessary. I think that WDOT has an app that you will find very useful too and Nebraska does too.
Don't worry about the weather, just enjoy the trip.

[hilgi]

I like I 80 vs. 70 going to Denver but I look at the forecasts the night before to see which way looks best.

I have driven to Denver and back on the 80 in the middle of winter, I have not had any issues.

[nyllie]

You'll probably be fine as far as weather, and I-80 is an extremely well-traveled route. Just re-check the weather once you're around Ogden or Evanston, WY so you know whether things look good before driving further, as it gets a bit desolate after Evanston. The only issue I've had on this route was wind that blew snow all over the place and created horrible visibility, and it's a little unnerving to have so many miles between exits in Wyoming.

[oldtrader]

The major thing is, you need the right type of tires to make sure you get through. Preferred are studded snow tires. Snow tires to get through the snow. Studs to move, keep control, or stop on ice.

Also carry chains, as you may find the chain law in effect for some areas. Chains are only good for short distances, as they often break if one tries to use them for long distances, and can raise havoc to your car and that can be costly. Chain law, says put on chains or have studded snow tires if 4x4. Worst I ever got caught it on I-80 was going from Cheyenne Wyoming to Portland Oregon, with packed snow and ice from Cheyenne to about 30 miles outside Portland in the gorge about the time frame you want to go. I mean I never saw clear pavement till 30 miles outside Portland. I saw a lot of cars off the road, and wrecks everywhere as the people were not prepared for the road conditions.

I was driving a new 1979 all wheel drive Suburban with studded snow tires, and got through very well but saw hundreds that could not say the same.

Either have proper tires for bad conditions if they happen, or stay off I-80 in the winter.