"Winter" in Alabama

[Monkeyleg]

As I mentioned in another thread, last week we got 6" of snow here, and the city was pretty much shut down for two days. We didn't even get mail.

This morning there was 1/2" or less of snow with some freezing rain. The roads are icy, and there's been no traffic. The post office is closed again (I'm waiting for a certified letter).

I was supposed to go to Atlanta today, but I wouldn't want to be on the interstate with people who don't know how to drive on slippery roads.

It was funny last week. Now it's getting to be irritating. We need Al Gore.

[Angel Eyes]

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

...unless we get 1/2" of snow, then we're taking the day off.

[brimic]

I was supposed to go to Atlanta today, but I wouldn't want to be on the interstate with people who don't know how to drive on slippery roads.

It was funny last week. Now it's getting to be irritating. We need Al Gore.

We got about 1" of snow coming down on Milwaukee Tuesday morning during morning commute. It took me 1hr40min to drive my 26 miles to work (down I43 to the East Side), several accidents along the way. You aren't missing much.

[Monkeyleg]

We got about 1" of snow coming down on Milwaukee Tuesday morning during morning commute. It took me 1hr40min to drive my 26 miles to work (down I43 to the East Side), several accidents along the way. You aren't missing much.

Huh? That amount has always been just about an everyday thing.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Snow in the south is different than snow in the north.  I would never have guessed it, and it makes no sense, but I've seen it too often to doubt it.

[brimic]

Huh? That amount has always been just about an everyday thing.

Not this year.
If people go a week without snow, they forget how to drive in it.

[Monkeyleg]

Snow in the south is different than snow in the north.  I would never have guessed it, and it makes no sense, but I've seen it too often to doubt it.

This is the first time in four years or so that I've seen any snow here that didn't melt by noon. Usually it melts within an hour. There were two years where we got no snow at all.

[Boomhauer]

We got about 1" of snow coming down on Milwaukee Tuesday morning during morning commute. It took me 1hr40min to drive my 26 miles to work (down I43 to the East Side), several accidents along the way. You aren't missing much.

The video of the 193 car pileup in Michigan is my answer to those who sneer at us here in the South for not caring to tangle with the snow/ice we get. People drive stupid everywhere, and it has consequences. 

The reason we shut down is it's easier and safer to close stuff up for a few days each year rather than deal with it as is done in the North. We don't have a large number of plow trucks, we don't have salt to put down on the roads (and we don't want it at all!) and so on.



 

[Perd Hapley]

The reason we shut down is it's easier and safer to close stuff up for a few days each year rather than deal with it as is done in the North. We don't have a large number of plow trucks, we don't have salt to put down on the roads (and we don't want it at all!) and so on.

This makes sense to me. If you only get snow/ice three times a year, closing everything down is not so bad. If you get it constantly, then you have to cope with it, so you don't spend half the winter snowed in.

[lupinus]

Having lived both, I've come to find that there are just an many accidents and just as many fools who have no idea how to drive in it. The only real difference is the areas where snow is more frequent and sticks around you have the equipment to make it more manageable.

[BlueStarLizzard]

I just deleted a rant about northerners being jerks about winter weather in the south.

what boomhauer and lupinus said.

We don't live in a place that spends half the year imitating an ice berg, so don't expect us to act like it.

[Monkeyleg]

I just deleted a rant about northerners being jerks about winter weather in the south.

what boomhauer and lupinus said.

We don't live in a place that spends half the year imitating an ice berg, so don't expect us to act like it.

What part of the south are you in?

[never_retreat]

Wow what a horrific snow storm you had.
We just pilled about 9 more inched on the the heap today. I stayed home as to not deal with all the idiots on the road.
I cleared my driveway and 2 others. Went out a little while ago to clean up and the dam chute blew off the snow blower. 2 for the low tonight then 45 by Saturday.

I don't know if its true or not but if a mail man gets the mail truck stuck in the snow they have to pay for the tow.

[makattak]

What part of the south are you in?

Virginia.  We get more snow than the deep south, but much less than when I lived in the Midwest. MUCH less.

[Jamisjockey]

I saw some epic bad winter driving in Utah.  Speeding usually being the culprit, with following too closely being a close second.

Most of the south rarely experiences real winter events.  When they do, it's short lived.  Therefore, the snow removal equipment is expensive and unnecessary.  But then, when there is a full blown winter storm, they're screwed without plows and salt/sand spreaders.

That said, so many northerners talk so much *expletive deleted*it about southerners in the snow.  Yet again, I've seen some really dumb stuff north of the Mason Dixon during winter storms.

[TommyGunn]

I saw some epic bad winter driving in Utah.  Speeding usually being the culprit, with following too closely being a close second.

Most of the south rarely experiences real winter events.  When they do, it's short lived.  Therefore, the snow removal equipment is expensive and unnecessary.  But then, when there is a full blown winter storm, they're screwed without plows and salt/sand spreaders.

That said, so many northerners talk so much *expletive deleted*it about southerners in the snow.  Yet again, I've seen some really dumb stuff north of the Mason Dixon during winter storms.

Having lived through winters in both Connecticut and Alabama the only difference I see between Yanks driving in snow and Rebs driving in snow is that Yanks think they can drive in snow intelligently, but can't, and Rebs wonder if they can, try and find out they can't.   


In other words, six of one, half dozen the other. 

[Perd Hapley]

Last Saturday, I got to see a car fly off the highway, doing a 180 in fresh powder. He started to lose control as he approached us in the oncoming lane, and then swung around behind us. We went back to check on him, and I was surprised that no one else stopped. The thing was, he was at the bottom of the embankment, and the 6' high weeds had totally swallowed the car. Or maybe the others passers-by just thought he got what he deserved.

Sorry, though, it was not an SUV, and did not "turtle." Just a young guy without much sense.

[RoadKingLarry]

For the northerners that like to abuse us in the south about how we handle winter weather.
I'll offer you a trade, we'll take an extra week of your winter crap if you'll take one our "110° every day for a week" weeks.
:)

[Monkeyleg]

For the northerners that like to abuse us in the south about how we handle winter weather.
I'll offer you a trade, we'll take an extra week of your winter crap if you'll take one our "110° every day for a week" weeks.
:)

I'm not complaining about the handling of the snow. It's only the second time in four or so years. I came down here to escape the 6 months of frozen tundra.

I also don't complain about the heat. The locals do, but I never do.

BTW, Virginia is about the same latitude as lower Illinois. Is that really south?

[mtnbkr]

For the northerners that like to abuse us in the south about how we handle winter weather.
I'll offer you a trade, we'll take an extra week of your winter crap if you'll take one our "110° every day for a week" weeks.
:)

Here in Northern VA, near DC, our yearly temps swing from lows in single digits this time of year to highs in the triple digits come August.  The latter also occurring with upwards of 100% humidity.  So, no, we don't need your stinkin' badges heat.

A couple summers ago, daily highs ran in the very high 90s to low 100s with 90%+ humidity for a few weeks.  Even at night, it never got below the mid 80s. 

Chris

[RoadKingLarry]

We call that summer around here.

[roo_ster]

North texas has gotton more ice and snow later in the season than i have ever experienced around here.  It is the same thing every time.  Ice followed by more ice or ice followed by snow.

[mtnbkr]

We call that summer around here.

That's not overly unusual for us either.  The last couple summers have been unusually cool.

Chris

[Ben]

You all could join us in CA. It's gonna be in the high 70s today.

[makattak]

We had 8-12 inches of snow on the ground here last week. Temperatures just shot up this week and all that snow (aside from the plowed piles) was gone by Thursday...

At which point we got 3 inches of snow on a frozen ground. Which, looking at the forecast will likely be gone by Sunday.

This has been an odd winter.