It is a hot mess right now. The airport is currently closed to incoming/outgoing air traffic. Snow expected to hang around until 4 p.m. People trying to pick up their children. I-65 looks like a parking lot.
And this is just an inch or so of snow. Problem is before the snow, it was sleeting rain which froze to the ground on instant contact because it was below freezing from last night. Then add the inch of snow on top of the ice and you have the perfect scenario for a mess. Be careful people.
It was -8 (that's a negative sign) on my way to work this morning
The snow falling out here in Cropwell is very fine grain so it is not sitting on top of the grass, but settling all the way to the ground under it and filling from there. Ground warmth may be compromised so the snow may hold on far longer than usual and facilitate icing conditions.
Good luck to all and to all a good night. Stay warm.
Montgomery is just as big of Charlie Foxtrot. I made home just ahead of the closed roads.
I left work at 11:20. Got about 2 miles, parked my truck, and hiked back. I'm now making overnight plans at work.
Currently trapped at work and facing the possibility of having to stay here overnight, I'm stuck here and that is not a good thing.
Looking out a window and witnessing a ridiculous display of gridlock and cluster**** on 5th Avenue South between 18th and 19th street, traffic at a virtual standstill in all directions.
Looks like a scene from "The Walking Dead" out there. My home is 23 miles away from here, with only a quarter tank of gas and $5.50 in my pocket.
Hoping to figure out an escape plan before quitting time at 3. If this was a city like Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Madison, Milwaukee, Columbus, Chicago, St. Louis, or Boston, they wouldn't miss a beat in weather like this.
Don't get me wrong, I actually love the snow, it just that it only takes half an inch to paralyze this town and turn its local TV weather forecasters into drama queens. You're right, Birmingham simply isn't equipped to handle even a routine level of snowfall, let alone a real blizzard. Never has been, really.
I'm at the airport so I am good to go!
Down in Fairhope, we're getting freezing rain with a threat of snow tonight. Not holding my breath, though.
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It isn't supposed to get above 34 degrees in Bham tomorrow.
(01-28-2014 02:55 PM)Matrix Wrote: [ -> ]Currently trapped at work and facing the possibility of having to stay here overnight, I'm stuck here and that is not a good thing.
Looking out a window and witnessing a ridiculous display of gridlock and cluster**** on 5th Avenue South between 18th and 19th street, traffic at a virtual standstill in all directions.
Looks like a scene from "The Walking Dead" out there. My home is 23 miles away from here, with only a quarter tank of gas and $5.50 in my pocket.
Hoping to figure out an escape plan before quitting time at 3. If this was a city like Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Madison, Milwaukee, Columbus, Chicago, St. Louis, or Boston, they wouldn't miss a beat in weather like this.
Don't get me wrong, I actually love the snow, it just that it only takes half an inch to paralyze this town and turn its local TV weather forecasters into drama queens. You're right, Birmingham simply isn't equipped to handle even a routine level of snowfall, let alone a real blizzard. Never has been, really.
That's because cities in Alabama can't justify the purchase of equipment that those other cities have just for the once in a decade snowfall we get. So we wait it out for 24 hours and go about as if nothing happened.
People talk about not having salt/sand or plows, which I get. But really, it has more to do with people being moronic.
I routinely drive in that much snow, well before the snow trucks get out...and we do just fine
The key is you routinely do it, while the people here don't. Sure, they should know to slow down to 15 or 20 mph, but they don't understand how a car is going to react on snow and ice. It's an especially big problem for people in pick up trucks who don't realize that the light rear ends put them at a severe disadvantage
They teach it in drivers ed.
It took me 12 seconds to figure out once I moved up here...and my pickup does great with no additional weight in the back (granted, it would be awful if 2WD)
Teaching and doing are two different things.
(01-28-2014 03:03 PM)BlazeNBham Wrote: [ -> ]It isn't supposed to get above 34 degrees in Bham tomorrow.
Which means another day and night of dealing with ice. Thursday it should all start to melt.
(01-28-2014 02:31 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote: [ -> ]It is a hot mess right now. The airport is currently closed to incoming/outgoing air traffic. Snow expected to hang around until 4 p.m. People trying to pick up their children. I-65 looks like a parking lot.
And this is just an inch or so of snow. Problem is icing is forming under the snow because it is so cold. Be careful people.
Atlanta is a mess as usual. World's Busiest Airport has more cancelled flights than actual operations. Cars in ditched or on side of road out of gas. People taking 2.5 hours to take their usual 30 minute drive home. Every interstate is backed up. If you have come here you know how many that is. Snow and the south do not mix.
In Birmingham, the forecast called for snow, but little accumulation. Everybody went to work. Snow started here around 10 am. With the temperature at 20 degrees and the fact it has been cold all month, road temperatures were just too cold to handle even the light to moderate intensity of snow. Then...........most everybody closed down their offices and headed home..........all at once! What a mess!
My wife left from work five hours ago, and she is still not even halfway home. Typically her commute takes less than 30 minutes.
We are not in Iowa!
Finally made it home here.
Left a little bit later because I thought it would clear up.
Anyway, drove about 2 1/2 hours up 31 towards Morris.
Had to get a guy on a 4 wheeler to help get my 2 kids at school.
My brother-n-law from Alabama Power just showed me some backroads to help me get home.
Whether in Iowa or Birmingham, it is stupid for everyone to release at the same time. If everyone tried to go home at the same time on a sunny day, it would be a mess. The small amount of snow and the fact that everyone panicked makes it worst.