Atlanta cold snap

[tlintx]

Growing up just south of Canada, and also getting my driver's training and license over the winter, I just always accepted that sometimes you spin out, so go slow enough that it's a ding and not a dent. And never park your car on the street if snow's in the forecast.

My favorite were the salt and dust storms in early spring. I remember having to pull over and wait one out one time, because the dust was so thick I couldn't see!

[ScottinAtlanta]

When you get this kind of ice sheet, even the truckers can't stay on the roads. Trucks litter the Interstates all around Atlanta today - they are everywhere. UPDATE: The mayor has banned trucks from entering Atlanta today.

[Sun City Linda]

Originally Posted by b54red

Most of us in the deep south are out of our element in icy conditions. Was in southern California about 30 years ago on business during a huge rain storm and got to see how people who rarely see rain drive. It was eerily similar to southerners on icy roads, only with more cars and bigger pile-ups.

Bill

I think we have had an inch of rain so far, and our "wet" season is usually Nov-Feb, sometimes March.

[macbettz]

I would think tires are another variable that compound the number of accidents down south. I know i would run my tires down to barely any tread if all I had to deal with was rain 98% of the time. I would never do that in the Northeast.

[ScottinAtlanta]

This was more than a little snow in Atlanta - it was a SNAFU of great proportions that led to that dreaded sheet of ice.

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-a...traffic-2014-1

[Labradors2]

Wow! That's very interesting Scott!

In Eastern NC they were much more proactive, announcing the day before the storm that the schools would be closed!

We always get a chuckle when they close the schools when the first snowflake falls, but this time they called it right.

The weather forecasters are amazing these days!

Linda

[Fusion_power]

I've driven in deep snow and I've driven in the deep south. I'd rather drive in deep snow than on the inch of ice parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina got. I can drive on snow, but on ice, there is no control and no steering and no braking, you go wherever you are pointed. Even 4 wheel drive vehicles with chains are risky on ice.

Once in my life, I tried to drive on an ice sheet. Fortunately, I slid downhill to the edge of the parking lot I was in and stopped. Two days later, the ice melted and I chipped huge chunks of it out until I was able to drive the car out. This time around, I was not in an area with ice so no issues, but since it is pretty cold, I've been keeping the heater stoked up and staying inside where it is snug and warm.

[matilda'skid]

One time we were following the MODOT truck that was spreading gravel or sand or what ever on the icy road. He turned just before my big hill so we followed him and flashed the lights. When he tried to stop, he skidded and when I got out to beg him to go down my hill, we couldn't stand up on the road. He was out of stuff to spread so I parked and walked home through the woods. Ice can be too slick for anyone to drive on. It is worse when it is warmish in my opinion. The smart thing to do is stay home not to find someone who has skill to drive on ice because a big truck can squash you flat. If you live in the north you get out because they clear the roads and also you can't stay home all winter.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by gssgarden

Do the people up North really think they would be able to drive on our roads? With a inch of ice? No salt? Sand? or salt Spray? and no plows??

DON'T THINK SO!! ICE IS ICE!!

Yes, actually we are, quite well. LOL.

Speaking from one of the states with no money, roads that are clear are slim pickings after storms--sometimes taking days to clear. We have had a great deal of experience this winter driving in ice/snow/black ice/massive drifts across roadways with winds of 40- mph etc.

My GPS with the traffic alerts has been invaluable because each time a semi runs over a car that was driving slow on the black ice, the GPS alerts so I can avoid the mess (usually) and not sit in traffic when it is -20 F.

This winter has been a winter to avoid the highways completely after each of our storms (1-2 a week). I'm a good driver in snow/ice but there have been way too many massive pile ups related to the semi's plowing over the top of cars. No way to protect yourself from that.

Stacy

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by tlintx

Growing up just south of Canada, and also getting my driver's training and license over the winter, I just always accepted that sometimes you spin out, so go slow enough that it's a ding and not a dent. And never park your car on the street if snow's in the forecast.

My favorite were the salt and dust storms in early spring. I remember having to pull over and wait one out one time, because the dust was so thick I couldn't see!

Yeah my daughter has been scheduling each of her driving lessons when snow is forecast. It was my idea. I want her to get the early experience with someone else, and a person that has control over the brakes!

[tlintx]

I hate to say it, since I was being lighthearted before, but I would actually recommend against learning to drive in bad weather. It might just be me, but I felt like I spent more time trying to survive than getting comfortable handling a car. To this day I find driving nerve-wracking. I can do it, but it greatly stresses me out.

I know people can't stay home all winter, and that economics make it hard for some people to stay at home at all (I personally was once fired from a job four days after a hurricane, still no power, because my boss felt I hadn't been diligent enough about calling him). But I think it's best if everyone who can stay home does.

And here's hoping all our friends and family in Atlanta are staying warm and safe and make it home!

[meatburner]

The people in Atlanta and area did a great job of taking care of each other with this very rare and dangerous event. The schools, businesses, emergency people, and volunteers did a tremendous amount to keep the situation from being worse that is was. Our prayers to all.

[ljp]

Ignore the Northern know it alls. There was a 70 car/truck pile up on one of our major highways (401?). Heavy snow and freezing rain does in everyone.

[b54red]

Happy days. The latest disastrous cold snap is supposedly over and I hope we don't have another like it this year. They are predicting low 50s today and tonight no freeze so that is a nice change of pace. Of course down here things have to go a bit too far with 70s in a few days and rain. At least it should be warm enough to get some seed to germinate in my unheated greenhouse. This weather has really put me behind on my tomato and pepper starting.

Bill

[Doug9345]

Originally Posted by ljp

Ignore the Northern know it alls. There was a 70 car/truck pile up on one of our major highways (401?). Heavy snow and freezing rain does in everyone.

There is a huge difference between snow and ice. About 1990 was driving across Ontario from Fort Erie(Buffalo) to Sarnia with expedited parts bound to the bus and truck plant in Pontiac. It was early evening, it had been raining and the roads where wet. I was pushing to get as far as I could before the temperature dropped below freezing and watching the spray of the wheels of the cars ahead for signs of freezing. I crested a small hill and it was freezing on the other side. I was in the center lane three when I realize there's a car spinning in front of me. I moved to left lane and the guy in that lane went onto the shoulder. I'd rather put someone into the median instead of hittung a car with a truck. The car next to me kept going and I got out to help who I could. After the OPP showed up I departed and I crawled at 15 mph for the next three hours until I started to get out of it. At 300 cars off the road I gave up counting.