Chaska, MN Winters, Drivers, etc. (Minnetonka, Annandale: schools, living in, move)

[lpcxa0]

Hey All,

I'm considering relocating to Chaska, MN - working in Minnetonka, MN but have not formally accepted the offer. I have spent some time in the MN region, but not in the dead of winter when it's at the worst (spent about a week in February 2010). I was hoping that someone/people could share their experiences or opinions on Minnesota drivers, weather, etc during the winter. It's not the cold I"m worried about as much as the drivers, avg snowfall, and how the snowfalls are handled by MDOT. I know in any state there are always the people that have 4 wheel drive that do 60 in a blizzard, but I'm wondering about the vast majority of drivers; do things generally slow down, close, or remain the same? Any other advice on the weather or general advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[golfgal]

Most people know how to drive in snow but yes, you the the occasional idiot going way too fast and then you pass them a mile down the road in a ditch. MNDOT does a great job getting the roads cleared. It is rare to have a snow day in the Twin Cities Metro area as a result. We had a stretch in Jan 2009 where we had about 3 snowfalls that hit right before rush hour and that made for a sticky week of commuting. We didn't get all that much snow-probably about 4" each time, but the timing of the snow is what makes the difference. Last winter was pretty good as far as how snow falls were timed. Not too many traffic snarls (but enough). MN is probably the best equipped state to remove snow that I have ever been to or lived in. Most roads are cleared within hours. The worst I can ever remember was after a large snowfall-probably 18+" and HIGH winds and it took a day and a half for our road to get plowed but that was in rural MN.

[mmhl]

You won't get many places that handle snow better than Minnesota. It's amazing actually. I think most people drive carefully, with the exception of the people in big 4 wheel drive SUV's or trucks that think they are invincible. Life rarely comes to a stop due to the weather. Our kids didn't have one snow day this year.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by mmhl

You won't get many places that handle snow better than Minnesota. It's amazing actually. I think most people drive carefully, with the exception of the people in big 4 wheel drive SUV's or trucks that think they are invincible. Life rarely comes to a stop due to the weather. Our kids didn't have one snow day this year.

We have had one snow day in 4 years--kind of sad actually, there is nothing more fun in the winter when you are a kid then a snow day.

[Radical_Car]

Originally Posted by golfgal

We have had one snow day in 4 years--kind of sad actually, there is nothing more fun in the winter when you are a kid then a snow day.

Until you have to make the day up in June

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Radical_Car

Until you have to make the day up in June

I have never had to do a make up day in all my years living in MN. Most schools build in a few snow days.

[ColdRedRain]

Originally Posted by golfgal

We have had one snow day in 4 years--kind of sad actually, there is nothing more fun in the winter when you are a kid then a snow day.

A snow day is much more fun than it's more bitter cousin, the Subzero Cold day. At least with a snow day, you can go outside and have fun. A Subzero Cold Day, you could really do nothing except study, play video games or watch TV.

[mmhl]

So true on the Subzero Cold Day- yuck! This is the first day my kids didn't have days added in June to make up for a snow day or two. I think budgets are so tight the don't build in days for snow anymore.

[Radical_Car]

Originally Posted by golfgal

I have never had to do a make up day in all my years living in MN. Most schools build in a few snow days.

Well there was maybe 1 or 2 I can think of I didn't have to make up, but in Annandale when I was there Kindergarten-9th grade we always had to make them up. Lucky