Weather at Christmas time....? (car, metro area, winter)

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by nakadinhi

Thank you everyone for your detailed responses ! I now have such a clear idea as to what the weather and conditions will be, you all might have saved me some plane tickets and hotel accomodations....LOL !!!
I really appreciate your willingness to inform others who are seeking answers to all the questions people like myself have. This forum has been especially helpful to us !

One question I have is how would you know the road is icy.... would you have to come upon it or are there weather warnings that would inform people ? I just have this picture in my mind of driving and all of a sudden losing all grip to the road and sliding everywhere... obviously I would hate to come upon that situation, but that's what I think of when I hear of "icy roads."

Do you just wait out the situation or do you need chains on the tires to drive the car.... which would be a "rental car" for us? (Gasp.... I would hate that to happen for sure)

Thank you all again for all of your help ! Truly grateful !

You would know by looking at the thermometer. If it's 40 degrees, it's obviously not icy. You almost never need chains in the cities. Chains are for snow, not ice.

[nakadinhi]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

You would know by looking at the thermometer. If it's 40 degrees, it's obviously not icy. You almost never need chains in the cities. Chains are for snow, not ice.

Thank you for that Botev1912.... that provides a simple gauge for me which fits perfect !

[silibran]

We drove into Portland on Christmas Day 2017, I think. The side roads were solid sheets. WA interstates were plowed, OR interstates had not been plowed. DH grew up in cold and wintery IN and knows how to drive in bad conditions.

A light snow would not be awful here, but more than that would keep you indoors,

In 2008 or 2009, we flew in and descended in the Gorge through horizontal freezing rain.

But most Christmases I’ve experienced here have simply been dull and gray.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

You would know by looking at the thermometer. If it's 40 degrees, it's obviously not icy. You almost never need chains in the cities. Chains are for snow, not ice.

Chains are the ONLY thing that will get you anywhere safely in an ice storm. My wife is in the medical field and her employer requires her to check into the hotel across from her clinic if there is a chance that inclement weather will prevent her from making it to work the next day. She absolutely refuses to do this any time there is snow or ice in the forecast so I have to make sure she can always get to work.

We have an AWD Highlander and I keep Bridgestone Blizzak tires on it during the winter which work fine in all snow conditions. But when we had the big ice storm a couple of years ago the snow tires were pretty useless on our hill in Camas. When I started to pull the car out of the garage it actually started to slide sideways on our drive as we are on a hill and our driveway is slanted left to right. I chained up all 4 wheels with regular tire chains and was able to get her to work no problem on the worst of the ice.

Chains, or perhaps metal studded snow tires are the ONLY thing that will work on ice.

But if you are vacationing with a rental car, just stay put in an ice storm.

[Mossa]

If one is visiting and staying around Vancouver area, what is the best way to find out whether the Gorge is iced up or not?

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by Mossa

If one is visiting and staying around Vancouver area, what is the best way to find out whether the Gorge is iced up or not?

It will be on the news. the State DOT also has a web site with road conditions around the state. I'm too lazy to google it up for you but it is easy to find.

[nakadinhi]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Chains are the ONLY thing that will get you anywhere safely in an ice storm. My wife is in the medical field and her employer requires her to check into the hotel across from her clinic if there is a chance that inclement weather will prevent her from making it to work the next day. She absolutely refuses to do this any time there is snow or ice in the forecast so I have to make sure she can always get to work.

We have an AWD Highlander and I keep Bridgestone Blizzak tires on it during the winter which work fine in all snow conditions. But when we had the big ice storm a couple of years ago the snow tires were pretty useless on our hill in Camas. When I started to pull the car out of the garage it actually started to slide sideways on our drive as we are on a hill and our driveway is slanted left to right. I chained up all 4 wheels with regular tire chains and was able to get her to work no problem on the worst of the ice.

Chains, or perhaps metal studded snow tires are the ONLY thing that will work on ice.

But if you are vacationing with a rental car, just stay put in an ice storm.

Absolutely.... I'm convinced ! Thanks texasdiver as always !

[nakadinhi]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

It will be on the news. the State DOT also has a web site with road conditions around the state. I'm too lazy to google it up for you but it is easy to find.

Great to know ! Thanks !

[nakadinhi]

Originally Posted by silibran

We drove into Portland on Christmas Day 2017, I think. The side roads were solid sheets. WA interstates were plowed, OR interstates had not been plowed. DH grew up in cold and wintery IN and knows how to drive in bad conditions.

A light snow would not be awful here, but more than that would keep you indoors,

In 2008 or 2009, we flew in and descended in the Gorge through horizontal freezing rain.

But most Christmases I’ve experienced here have simply been dull and gray.

Let's maintain the status quo then... I'm ok with dull, maybe an upgrade to the gray color...rainbow ?

[Mossa]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

It will be on the news. the State DOT also has a web site with road conditions around the state. I'm too lazy to google it up for you but it is easy to find.

Thank you.