White Christmas in Texas

[JC-jetro]

We're covered with snow as well here in Kansas. All we got to do is hibernation. Plenty of white Christmas is what we got and that ain't too bad.

JC,

 

[EddieWalker]

Bet you never thought you'd want a snow shovel for Christmas!!!!

Great pictures, it's beautiful there with all that snow.

Eddie

 

[Lloyd_E]

See you got what you wished for...

Be honest... you were humming something about a 'white' xmas and dreaming...

Won't do that again will ya!

Have a merry xmas.

Best wishes.

Lloyd

 

[Egon]

Think maybe them fellas should come up for a real Nor Easter Lloyd??

 

[jinman]

Lloyd and Egon, the trouble here is that nobody believes it is going to be this bad and they go out and get caught in it. The next part of that is there are few if any snowplows or emergency vehicles to clear highways, so they turn into snow drifted parking lots with people stranded. If we had weather like this more often, we'd all be better prepared. The best solution we currently have is to stay home unless it's an emergency. Our Christmas plans changed drastically today, but we are safe and warm. We'll just celebrate a day or two late and nobody will get hurt or have damaged property. For us, that's what works.

...but we sure do gain a healthy respect for all of you that deal with this for several months out of the year.

 

[Egon]

The next part of that is there are few if any snowplows or emergency vehicles to clear highways, so they turn into snow drifted parking lots with people stranded.

In places where the snow is rare it makes sense to not have all the snow equipment as it would just sit most of the time.

We also have times when the Equipment does not get out in time. Makes a mess for us too. Last year there were vehicles stranded for up to 12 hours on the major highway to/from our province as the equipment was not ordered out in time.

Bird: I can recall one morning many years ago going down the highway in six inches of slush doing multiple 360's on a busy highway. It was a strange feeling being beside a car going in the same direction but facing the other way. A couple of the spins were initiated by myself to keep the car on the road and seemed to work as I momentarily had regained control till the ridge of slush on the side caught me again. This time I drove into the ditch and out the other side onto an access road alongside.

I had Goodyear GT tires on the car and interesting enough was just on the way to the tire shop to get something a little better for wet, icy snowy roads. The Gt's never made it back on the car despite having about 50 % thread left.

 

[froggy]

The road in front of our place had four foot drifts on it for two miles. One of the neighbors bulldozed a single lane the length of it so everyone could get out if needed.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Yes jinman,

Play it safe - stay home. Common sense - that most people lack. I rarely go out in a storm. I commuted 3 hours a day for almost 24 years in all kinds of weather. Longest day was about a 4 hour drive which normally takes 1.5 hours.

As I got older I realized it was not worth the risk to me or others on the highways - especially the route I commuted.

Stay warm and safe during your festive travels.

Egon - that must have been a nightmare for those folks. But during my commuting years I always carried a winter sleeping bag, candle & matches, water & chocolate, and a few nut bars along with first aid kit, axe, bucksaw and flashlights and other stuff in a big container in my car - small station wagon.

I knew I could always hunker down if need be and wait out a storm on a side road. But you're correct - they were caught off guard.

regards,

Lloyd

 

[Egon]

Come winter Lloyd I usually have some nice warm clothes in the truck and the wife has some in the car.

Course right n ow the camper is still on so there is a second home!

We are fortunate here in that it doesn't seem to get that cold when the storms come thru. Out west it was quite common to have it at -20C or less with a nice wind blowing. It made for solid drifts and little visibility.

 

[_RaT_]

It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. These are pictures of the peak of the storm on Christmas Eve. This morning the skies are clear and it's a beautiful White Christmas.

Note: In the pictures below, the last picture is looking out onto my yard where I have failed to take down my cooling water misters from this last Summer. It seems ironic that the mister is hanging there in the middle of this snow picture.

Very COOL Jim, hows that joyful joystick? Did anyone post the link to Harv's tractor Merry Christmas video from 2002? Can we say Merry Christmas here?