The Coldest Air in Years Will Hit Western Washington (Tacoma: houses, car)

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Baldy

10 years or so ago, we got hit by a major blizzard in Bellingham. The whole area was paralyzed for over 7 days. The city council had sold the snow plows the year before to buy heroin, so the roads weren't plowed for weeks.

The thing I remember most, though? The pharmacy parking lot had 4" of ice (literally) and they weren't smart enough to salt it or physically break it up.

Wow, I wonder how many wipeouts they had as people attempted to walk from the car to the store? When we lived in CO we learned fast not to make 'any sudden moves' while traversing the ice. But without a lot of exposure to it, those lessons come quickly when least expecting it. Surprise!... Bam!

Our driveway was on a slope which would literally turn to ice overnight. So we had lots of opportunities to 'slip and side' as did our neighbors.









Derek

[dav51lin]

Originally Posted by happygrrrl

White Christmas in 2018. Beautiful. My first one, ever. That’s enough, never need that again.

agree 100%

[CrazyDonkey]

"The Detailed Snow Forecast for Sunday and Monday":

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/...or-sunday.html

[MtnSurfer]

Did anyone get snow around there house yet? Looks like a number of towns got some initial snowfall in the "Puget Sound region, including in Shoreline, Lynnwood, Redmond, Maltby, Everett, and Bothell."

Snow blankets north Puget Sound region

Derek

[Hemlock140]

It started here about 9:30 last night, with about 6'' this morning here at 600' in Sammamish. I'm going to work from home, since they are not likely to plow any time soon (schools are closed).

[pnwguy2]

The “heat island” apparently was at work with this event dispersing the snow from the urban core and south sound.

[Hemlock140]

We got another 1-2" overnight on top of the slush that froze hard, currently 26F.

[notnamed]

Got some fluffy wet snow here in Vancouver which is melting on contact with the ground.

[arleigh]

Living in the mountains of Big Bear Lake Califonia we had the good sense to have tire chains and us them.
Though I do not live in the mountains now, I still have chains and repair kits for them in the event it becomes necessary.
Also a 20 LB bag of sand and tarp and a shovel and emergency winter survival gear in the event of being stranded.
All of came into play every winter and rarely did I need to use in for my self, but others without skill or forethought.
Chains work, cables do not, studded tires are ok on ice but not snow, and 4 wheel drive is good on snow but not ice. also if you lock up the wheels on a skid you have no control pressing on the brakes harder does nothing for you but make it worse.
Find a vacant parking lot "without obstructions" and practice getting in and out of a skid.
There are other traction systems, but they are more expensive but worth it.
During the winter I had a separate set of wheels and tires for my vehicles so I could switch off as needed.
Anyone that skiis, knows that the longer the ski the faster you go, more support on a greater surface area. Same goes with tires, the fatter the tire the more slide you get,, the narrower and aggressive the tire the better bite in the snow and ice, like an ice skate.
Spinning one's tires on the ice and snow dulls the edge of the tread and does less to get you moving than slowly moving NOT spinning the tires.
I learned to cover my truck at night at home and while parked at work thereby saving a lot of problems of ice and snow and being able to leave while everyone else is still scraping off the ice from their windshields. I closed the tarp in the door jambs to keep from losing it. Also if it extends to the ground it retains heat longer.

[dav51lin]

hurry up spring