OK, me and hubby just drove 15 miles in a blizzard!

[GenDem]

We had to go to the store to get super bowl food, and the sun was shining when we left. It took us almost an hour to get home.

:scared: Here's the radar -- see that flume of white?...That's what we just drove through.

[BlueStorm]

1. Where do you live?

I just drove all over today. First I had to go to Hobby Lobby and get some beads. Then I went to KFC to get me and my mom some food. Then my mom told me to go home because of the weather.

The roads are nothing but snow. And whiteouts galore, I couldn't see a damn thing.

They closed all of the malls here in Grand Rapids, including Woodland and Rivertown Crossings. A couple of companies have closed down as well.

Blue

[GenDem]

3. Western NY between Buffalo and Rochester.

We're used to snow, but I have to say that I haven't seen a white out like that since the Blizzard of '77. The wind is blowing the snow into a frenzy.

[BlueStorm]

7. That and lake effect snow....

It's probably not as bad there as it is here.

Blue

[Cabcere]

2. Oh wow!

:scared: That's really scary. I'm glad you and your hubby made it home okay! :hug:

[GenDem]

4. We thought about going to SIL's and waiting it out

but we have our pets at home. Couldn't leave them, and MIL who lives in our neighborhood said that the electric was going on and off.

We will be staying home, now.

Thanks!!!!:hi:

[rockymountaindem]

5. I was home from college for break during the Colorado blizzards

I have this friend, we'll call him Jim. Jim is a car fanatic, and he's got this great old car that he's souped up into quite the beast. We've been all over the state in that little thing. Now, Jim and his car are like one entity. Furthermore, Jim is always optimistic about everything, never casting anything in a bad light. So...

He calls me up the worst night of the blizzard. "Want to go to the movies?" he says. I replied, "The city (Colorado Springs) just told everybody not to go out". Jim replied "Rocky, we all know they're cowards. I just got back from the store. Let's pick up Nick (home from Iraq) and hit the streets". So, against my mother's wishes, we all went out. Things were pretty bad out there, but everything turned out well. It reminded me of two good times though...

The first one was of a total white-out two years previous, in which we were all on the same road in the same car with a couple extra friends. Now, this was after Jim had already skidded onto the sidewalk in a residential neighborhood. We were on our way to the movies, and Jim, never one to be down said in his most chipper voice, "You know, Rocky, if it weren't for the cars coming the other way with their headlights on, we'd be completely unable to see anything!" Yeah, that's just what you want the driver to say. Also it reminded me of the time we were doing 90 mph on the interstate, Jim was pointing at the tachometer saying "see... 3000 RPMs... just like the owner's manual advises". Yeah, and doing 90 was no problem :eyes:. I've been in some pretty hairy driving situations with that dude, but I wouldn't put my life into anybody else's hands like that.

[GenDem]

10. About four miles outside of the city where we had been shopping

we hit a total and complete white out. Could not see ANYTHING. It had to be snowing an inch every 10 minutes, and I even saw a strike of lightning. Road had at least 4 - 5 inches of snow piling up. So much heavy snow that first the passenger (my side) windshield wiper went askew (snow and ice buildup)...two minutes later the drivers side went. We had to take a chance and pull off to the side of the road and pop them back on, or we would have been stuck. The snow was piling up that fast.

We were traveling Rte 5 (major route) and we ended up in a caravan of 30 or more cars, bumper to bumper, going about 8 miles an hour with everyones 4-ways flashing. It really was harrowing.

Reminded me of the Blizzard of '77 Mr Gen did an excellent job driving. There were many that pulled off and were waiting if out.

[BlueStorm]

6. Our radar...

[GenDem]

8. Better stay in, Bluestorm.

I saw that you were under blizzard warnings in Michigan. We only had lake effect warnings. Those lake bands can be tricky...you just never know where they will set up. Could be a white out in just a 5 mile wide band. We just got lucky. I guess.

Stay safe!

[BlueStorm]

9. Actually I went out today..

Took some pics.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=6141940&mesg_id=6141940

But I am home now and safe.

Blue

[knitter4democracy]

11. It's been bad here in B.C., and we're not in that.

My best friend almost got in an accident in K'Zoo today, and my mom and her hubby took an hour and a half to get from Battle Creek to north of Plainwell today. It's darn cold, too. House is cold, but I'm not turning up the heat. I just hope we don't lose power.

[Wcross]

12. I grew up in Monroe county. I don't miss that stuff!

In general I love the area, the four seasons and all that. Winter could get rough though.

[GenDem]

15. I'm over in Genesee -- 1/4 mile from the Monroe line.

We have barely had to shovel this winter. :shrug: I guess it is a typical el nino with a little climate change sprinkled in.

It is still squalling out. I've been watching the cars drive by flashing their 4-ways. Glad to be in the warm house.

I like the seasons, too!:hi:

[Wcross]

20. I grew up in Fairport. Parents still live there.

Dad was worried he went to all the trouble to put the snow blower on and had no snow to blow!
There are so many things in New York I miss, snow isn't one of them.

[GenDem]

22. Fairport is a great village.

Do you know Don Santini, the retired Fairport football coach?

[Wcross]

28. Oh yes, he was my gym teacher in highschool.

Seemed like a good guy.

BTW- If you want the BEST pizza you will ever have, go to T.K.'s in Fairport.

[GenDem]

29. Mine, too

He was vice-principal, phys ed teacher, and football coach extraordinaire at LeRoy before he went to Fairport. My husband played for him in the early 70's and they are still close to this day.

Thanks for the pizza tip!:hi:

[u4ic]

13. I've driven in too many to count

they can be terrifying to drive in, especially white outs.

When you can't even see the hood of your car...:scared:


Glad you're both safe! :hi:

[hedgehog]

16. Come to Oswego County and drive 481 in a white out for a real

good time! The road has sharp falloffs on either side and the median is aboout 15' below road level, so if you go off the shoulder, you're done! It's a wonderful road because it has all these wide sweeping curves. People think they are following the cars up ahead, but those cars have actually gone around the curve and the following driver very carefully steers off the road.

[GenDem]

18. My son went to school up there.

Now, you guys really get the snow!!!!! Oswego, Wayne, and the Tug Hill Plateau. Now, that is snow country in New York!

[hedgehog]

30. I accidently posted this in the Lounge, but I meant to post it here.

Anybody living in the shadow of the Great Lakes will love these photos:

http://www.buffalorising.com/city/archives/2007/01/snow_storm_a_gords_eye_vi.php#more

[GenDem]

32. That is amazing!

[hedgehog]

14. I have to chime it with my pet peeve: according to Environment Canada;

a blizzard conditions are met when

wind speeds are greater than 25 MPH

visibility below 1/4 Mile from falling or blowing snow

wind chill of -13F or below

for 3 or more hours..

From what I can make out, these Lake effect storms hitting Michigan, Ohio and Western New York either are blizzards are darn close. I'm sitting in Central New York waiting for the storm to come in overnight.

I saw the photos on the other thread. It is hard to convey the effect of the storm from a still photo.Take it from me though, that's a bad storm!

[GenDem]

17. Winds are blowing at around 35 to 40 mph, temp is 10 &

snow has been coming down in the squall we have been sitting under for about 2 1/2 hours.


You guys will be getting it off of Lake Ontario, I presume.
:hi: Stay safe!

[MichiganVote]

19. Oh believe me..in SW Michigan its a blizzard..no question

[GenDem]

21. Stay warm and safe!

The snow squall over us is now moving, ever so slowly, to the south. Our snow has gone from heavy to moderate, and from the looks of the radar -- the people living to our south will be under the gun soon, and we will have a break with the snow. It will still blow around, but at least none will be falling from the sky.

I'm thinking about you folks in Michigan!:hi:

[BlueStorm]

23. It's slowed down some but they are saying it's going to pick up

again tomorrow and last thru Monday.

I'm just sitting at home wrapped in a fleece blanket. My dad has the inside temp at 62 degrees. When I told my mom that she said that it was ridiculous that he has it that low.

Blue

[GenDem]

25. Our snow has stopped -- wind is still whipping it around.

They are saying the lake snow squalls will be meandering, so we will probably have this on and off for the next few days.

We have "no unnecessary travel" for our county and many roads are now closed. A lot of church services canceled for tomorrow, too.

I'm just going to stay planted till I have to go back to work on Monday.

I usually keep our heat down, but I have it up to 68.

[BlueStorm]

27. We have the "no travel" thing too.

I got to take my sister grocery shopping tommorrow, weather be damned. She has no food in the house and is unable to drive due to a suspended liscene.

Blue

[BarenakedLady]

24. Aha!

See that second big finger lake from the left where there is no white stuff (which is a lie atm). A bit north of there. It is snowing.

[GenDem]

26. I was thinking about you!

I think your neck of the woods is going to get blasted by a squall coming down off Lake Ontario. Our electric went off twice -- but came right back on.

I am such a weather geek.:boring:

[skygazer]

31. Best friend and I once drove from Vermont to NYC in a blizzard

What's usually about a 4 hour ride took us close to twice that. Nuts. We had a function to attend in NY and since we knew the blizzard was coming decided to start early. So we left at about 1 am and drove all night - just us and the plow trucks on the road.

Had a blast actually, though in retrospect it was a crazy thing to do. But we've always been crazy. :)