The Coldest Air in Years Will Hit Western Washington (Seattle: Valentine's day, insurance)

[MtnSurfer]

Are you ready for this?

The Coldest Air in Years Will Hit Western Washington

It looks like some of you have been getting the beginnings of it with some early snow. I've heard parts of Seattle shuts down during snow with icy streets.




Derek

[dav51lin]

hills everywhere slick messy

[notnamed]

Have a flight out of PDX on Wed afternoon. I already have doubts about whether I'll make it given how everything shuts down.

[StealthRabbit]

Seems it was only 2 yrs ago in Nov 2017 when we got snow / cold from Thanksgiving - Valentine's Day (snow / ice stayed on the ground at 1200' elevation). That was cold.

We seem to book our trips and air travel on the worse days for departure. Had to use Drag Chains on the trailer to get down to 500' last trip we hauled heavy stuff to TX. It was the only day that yr with ice. Last yr had to use the Subie (studs x4) to get to the airport.

Wed 15 Jan 2020 looks coldest, but only for one day.

As long as it is cold and snowy, the flights don't have much trouble. Just getting to airport is the issue.
Freezing rain is another problem for aircraft icing. Usually this is only at the transition of the weather fronts.

[leastprime]

I remember in '84 or '85. when I was out Walker way in Beaverton, when it iced up a good .33 inch by 3pm. I had chains and studs. I always carried chains in the winter. I was trying to get home to Salem (no ice south of Canby exit). I traveled all the side roads, and I got to Tualitan and could go no further. I could see that 217 and I-5 was moving but I couldn't bypass the cars stuck on the ramps onto the main highways. So I backtracked and attempted to enter 217 but again the ramps were just jammed. Ticked me off that stupids would even try the climb on ice with highway or truck tires. I think I end up at a motel dump on Meridan Road. I was prepared.
Warning, Studded tires may not be enough when freezing water is on ice. If you drive a SUV or pickup, carry 4 bags of crushed rock, minus 1/4. Better yet, stay home and avoid a collision that will raise your auto insurance premium.

[happygrrrl]

White Christmas in 2018. Beautiful. My first one, ever. That’s enough, never need that again.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by happygrrrl

White Christmas in 2018. Beautiful. My first one, ever. That’s enough, never need that again.

lol

One time is all that is needed, first and (maybe) last.

Derek

[mayfair]

This area will never be ready for snow! Each time it happens, it's as if snow has never been seen before and chaos ensues.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by mayfair

This area will never be ready for snow! Each time it happens, it's as if snow has never been seen before and chaos ensues.

Yeah, its kinda funny if you've ever lived in places with regular, annual snowfall. There's no 'Snow-Mageddons' or 'Snowpocalypses.' It just plain old winter or a prolonged snow season in places like CO where it can literally snow anywhere from September through May. lol

Derek

[Baldy]

10 years or so ago, we got hit by a major blizzard in Bellingham. The whole area was paralyzed for over 7 days. The city council had sold the snow plows the year before to buy heroin, so the roads weren't plowed for weeks.

The thing I remember most, though? The pharmacy parking lot had 4" of ice (literally) and they weren't smart enough to salt it or physically break it up.