55 Fargo Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 Hey yall, just when things have been warming a little, and the snow was melting, we are in the middle of a Blizzard, with white outs, 2 -4 inches of snow, winds to 50 mph, and nasty. Now 2-4 inches of snow not much, unless the wind and cold make it into a Blizzard, then real nasty, right now it is just incredibly miserable just outside my front door. I have the old John Deere ready to blow snow in the morning, and hopefully, it won't be too bad. Anyone else in the lower 48 having lousy weather tonight..... Quote
Young Ed Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 Not yet but it sounds like we'll get some nasty stuff this weekend. Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Posted February 18, 2011 It tapered off over night, some highways to the west of Winnipeg are closed. It did not snow that much at all, but drifted all over. I have to clear my driveway this morning, but we avoided a major snow fall that is for sure, one of the benefits of having a major sized lake that is frozen over, no lake effect.... Quote
PatS.... Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 We went from the high 40's to bloody cold and snow overnight No blizzard though, just a bone chilling north wind I hate winter Quote
thrashingcows Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 Just woke up here on the left coast....and it's a around freezing, but clear and sunny...Beautiful day!! Wish I had the Desoto running, nice day for a drive. Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Posted February 18, 2011 Sunny here now too, but very windy, temp about 5f, and a -20f wind chill, if there was no wind, I would go for a ride, cuz the gravel road is dry and frozen again... Quote
TodFitch Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 Raining and 46F here now. Just watching the road and weather reports to see if I-5 over "the Grapevine" will stay open tonight... After that the question is will Kern county have enough resources to plow the road to Mt. Pinos before tomorrow morning since the snow level is supposed to be low enough that the local communities in the area will be getting between 5 and 13 inches of snow today and tonight. Quote
Don Coatney Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 Raining and 46F here now. Just watching the road and weather reports to see if I-5 over "the Grapevine" will stay open tonight...After that the question is will Kern county have enough resources to plow the road to Mt. Pinos before tomorrow morning since the snow level is supposed to be low enough that the local communities in the area will be getting between 5 and 13 inches of snow today and tonight. On my last trip driving to California there were warning signs in Reno indication tire chains were required to cross Donner Pass so I stopped and bought chains. Sure enough as soon as I neared the top traffic came to a halt. Nothing could pass that point without chains installed. There were what seemed like 100 young guys who would install your chains for fifty or so bucks and they were all busy. I installed my chains and was allowed to continue. About another mile up the hill I did run into snow. About 4" worth. The road had been traveled and the snow ruts were in my opinion very minor. Keep in mind that I was living in Buffalo, NY at the time where a heavy snowfall was three feet or more so this 4" snow seemed very minor to me. Once I was over the hump one of my chains came off. So I pulled over and removed the other chain. I continued on with no chains and no problem driving. This was my first experiance with the crazy California tire chain requirement. Quote
TodFitch Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 On my last trip driving to California there were warning signs in Reno indication tire chains were required to cross Donner Pass so I stopped and bought chains. Sure enough as soon as I neared the top traffic came to a halt. Nothing could pass that point without chains installed. There were what seemed like 100 young guys who would install your chains for fifty or so bucks and they were all busy. I installed my chains and was allowed to continue. About another mile up the hill I did run into snow. About 4" worth. The road had been traveled and the snow ruts were in my opinion very minor. Keep in mind that I was living in Buffalo, NY at the time where a heavy snowfall was three feet or more so this 4" snow seemed very minor to me. Once I was over the hump one of my chains came off. So I pulled over and removed the other chain. I continued on with no chains and no problem driving. This was my first experiance with the crazy California tire chain requirement. The vast majority of drivers in California have no experience with driving in snow so the CHP is usually very quick to implement "chain control". At least they try to keep I-80 across the Sierra Nevada moving. The situation is even worse in Southern California where they simply close I-5 over The Grapevine rather than allow chains. Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) The vast majority of drivers in California have no experience with driving in snow so the CHP is usually very quick to implement "chain control". At least they try to keep I-80 across the Sierra Nevada moving. The situation is even worse in Southern California where they simply close I-5 over The Grapevine rather than allow chains. If you are from out of state, and happen to have winter tires on, do you still need to have chains to go through? Anything over 2-4 inches (5-10 cm)on a highway makes it very dicey, add traffic, hills and poor visibility, equals a dangerous situation, add The amount of snow mentioned in this thread is significant 5-13 inches,and worse if traffic is heavy, there is black ice, or blowing snow. In those situations, any snow is dangerous.... Edited February 18, 2011 by Rockwood Quote
Don Coatney Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 If you are from out of state, and happen to have winter tires on, do you still need to have chains to go through?The amount of snow mentioned in this thread is not that bad, if traffic is not too heavy, there is no black ice, or blowing snow. In those situations, any snow is dangerous.... I was from out of state and I had winter tires on my truck. I still had to chain up. They would let 4 wheel drive vehicles pass. Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Posted February 18, 2011 I was from out of state and I had winter tires on my truck. I still had to chain up. They would let 4 wheel drive vehicles pass. Okay, guess that is the State policy, up here snow tires are not even mandatory, except for Quebec The French province, where all passenger vehicles must have snow tires in winter. Manitoba allows studded snow tires in winter, don't think you have to have chains anywhere, maybe parts of BC in the Rocky Mountains.... Quote
TodFitch Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 If you are from out of state, and happen to have winter tires on, do you still need to have chains to go through?Anything over 2-4 inches (5-10 cm)on a highway makes it very dicey, add traffic, hills and poor visibility, equals a dangerous situation, add The amount of snow mentioned in this thread is significant 5-13 inches,and worse if traffic is heavy, there is black ice, or blowing snow. In those situations, any snow is dangerous.... Today's posting on the CalTrans highway information page for I-80: CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOWTIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM NYACK (PLACER CO) TO 11 MI WEST OF THE NEVADA STATE LINE EASTBOUND TRUCKS ARE BEING SCREENED AT APPLEGATE (PLACER CO) - DRIVERS MUST HAVE MAXIMUM CHAINS IN THEIR POSSESSION IN ORDER TO PROCEED - PERMIT LOADS ARE PROHIBITED The Boreal Ski Area, near the summit on I-80 claims 5 to 8 feet of fresh snow from the storm system that is passing through. So far, the road I'll be on later today is open. Here is the current posting for I-5: A HIGH WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 126/AT LAKE HUGHES ROAD/ (LOS ANGELES CO) TO THE LOS ANGELES/KERN CO LINE /THE GRAPEVINE/ - TRAVEL IS PROHIBITED FOR CAMPERS, TRAILERS OR PERMIT LOADS Quote
thrashingcows Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 Okay, guess that is the State policy, up here snow tires are not even mandatory, except for Quebec The French province, where all passenger vehicles must have snow tires in winter.Manitoba allows studded snow tires in winter, don't think you have to have chains anywhere, maybe parts of BC in the Rocky Mountains.... No where in BC is it mandatory to have chains on your personal vehicle while crossing the mountains. Although there are very big signs that tell you "Severe winter conditions, winter tires and chains required" but you can still go, no one there to say otherwise. Now commercial vehicles..which I drive...If the chain up light is on, you chain up!! If you don't and spin out on the hill you can be fined several thousand dollars, plus a $400-800 tow bill etc. I know in Sweden you have to have properly rated winter tires. If you try and cross into Sweden from Denmark, or Norway, they will deny you entry and turn you around if your tires are not up to spec. Quote
PatS.... Posted February 18, 2011 Report Posted February 18, 2011 I don't think chains are required on private passenger vehicles in the Rogers Pass in BC, just commercial trucks and it's a bear in the winter. I guess we are just used to it and the gov't knows that... Lots of avalanche closures and delays near Golden BC this winter as well. One closure lasted about 6 days. Here in Calgary, sunny and cold...outdoor NHL hockey game on Sunday. Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Posted February 18, 2011 Hey all, snow cleared my driveway, with my trusty 1973 John Deere 726, She is on auto-pilot in 1 pic. Also is my front of house, lots of big drifts of snow, she is sunny and cold today, wind is finally settling down.....can hardly wait for warm spring weather Quote
Greenbomb Posted February 19, 2011 Report Posted February 19, 2011 Is it just me, or has it been winter for about the last three years?!?! I'm ready for some sunshine and warmth!!!! Quote
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