Official Winter Storm Thread for 12/21 - 12/26

[cyclonedave25]

I'm ******, I'm supposed to be driving home to Newton from Chicago on Thursday for Christmas. However, it looks as though it might be a little hard. If it's going to be really bad Thursday, I can drive home late Wednesday night after work. But, It sounds like it might be bad both of those days. I hope I don't have to spend Christmas all by my lonesome at my apt, unable to make it home...

[cytech]

I'm ******, I'm supposed to be driving home to Newton from Chicago on Thursday for Christmas. However, it looks as though it might be a little hard. If it's going to be really bad Thursday, I can drive home late Wednesday night after work. But, It sounds like it might be bad both of those days. I hope I don't have to spend Christmas all by my lonesome at my apt, unable to make it home...

Sounds like if you wait to leave till Christmas day it might be ok to drive. Not ideal but may still work out.

[cyclonedave25]

Sounds like if you wait to leave till Christmas day it might be ok to drive. Not ideal but may still work out.

Yeah, I might be having to do that. I guess I'll just wait and see Wednesday morning to see what the weather is going to do. Hopefully something happens and the storm heads farther south or something.

[FDWxMan]

Hopefully something happens and the storm heads farther south or something.

Really doesn't look like that's going to happen. Pretty good chance this is going to take Iowa head on.

The one potential out here is if this thing can pull the warm air in strong enough and far enough to change a lot of this to rain. Of course, this opens the door to frz rain too, but the best case here may be a ton of rain...

[cyclonedave25]

Really doesn't look like that's going to happen. Pretty good chance this is going to take Iowa head on.

The one potential out here is if this thing can pull the warm air in strong enough and far enough to change a lot of this to rain. Of course, this opens the door to frz rain too, but the best case here may be a ton of rain...

Well darn...
Now, saying I had to travel to get home and the roads were "driveable" when would be the best time to tackle I-80 from Chicago to central Iowa? Late Wednesday night or Thursday morning?

[cytech]

Really doesn't look like that's going to happen. Pretty good chance this is going to take Iowa head on.

The one potential out here is if this thing can pull the warm air in strong enough and far enough to change a lot of this to rain. Of course, this opens the door to frz rain too, but the best case here may be a ton of rain...

I will take any amount of snow over freezing rain any day.

[cytech]

Well darn...
Now, saying I had to travel to get home and the roads were "driveable" when would be the best time to tackle I-80 from Chicago to central Iowa? Late Wednesday night or Thursday morning?

I imagine if there is a time period where there is less than 1" of snow a hour the interstates will stay somewhat clear. Those usually have priority over other roads. If there is alot of wind and blowing snow it may not matter when you leave.

[cyclonedave25]

I will take any amount of snow over freezing rain any day.

How true.
I was walking out of work tonight and apparently there was a tiny tiny bit of freezing rain, covered my a nice layer of fresh snow and I damn near fell flat on my face. Kinda funny after the fact because I could just picture the look on my face when it happened, but scared the crap outta me.

[cyclonedave25]

I imagine if there is a time period where there is less than 1" of snow a hour the interstates will stay somewhat clear. Those usually have priority over other roads. If there is alot of wind and blowing snow it may not matter when you leave.

Is this system supposed to be windy like the last one?

[alarson]

I will take any amount of snow over freezing rain any day.

Agreed. Id rather have another foot and a half of snow than any ice\freezing rain.

[mred]

I heard it could be windy, but the snow will likely be fairly wet which will cut down on blowing snow.

[cyclonedave25]

I heard it could be windy, but the snow will likely be fairly wet which will cut down on blowing snow.

True. Good to know!
What a crappy time for another storm to hit the midwest...

[simply1]

Wind apparently from what I just saw, expecting blowing snow and possible problems with freezing rain icing up and the wind knocking down. :/

[simply1]

Speed it up, I want to work from home another day, hah.

[mred]

Wind apparently from what I just saw, expecting blowing snow and possible problems with freezing rain icing up and the wind knocking down. :/

Yeah. Blowing snow won't likely be a big issue, but frz rain + wind is a very bad combo.