Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Knyvet

I'm in Alaska and the most surprising thing I learned about cars in the winter is that in Fairbanks, for example, where it gets around 40 below (not unusual/very common in the winter) your tires end up flat. Block heaters and chains on tires I know - not being able to keep your tires inflated because it is too cold was a new one for me.

As for Seattle - kinda tough to deal with a snow storm when the city doesn't have plows.

Oh, this is intresting, do you use reguler Air in the Tires?
Here Nitrogen Gas is most usual.

Several years ago, I was on a ship that brought a USMC Aviation Support Battalion to Bodo, Norway, in March. As we unloaded our cargo of Hummers and tactical vehicles, the Marines were having great difficulty keeping these EXPENSIVE, supposedly all-terrain vehicles from sliding around and into snow banks. Our agent took me into town for some errands, and we blithely passed stuck Hummers in his Volvo station wagon, fitted with studded snow tires. Once again, the US military proving that it can throw money at problems and still come up with something that doesn't do what it was designed to do!

Bill

Here in Illinois it is currently illegal to use either chains or studded tires but we have plenty of snow removal equipment. The biggest problem now is money to pay for the salt to keep the roads clean. Aside from states located in the northern rockies, only states near the Great Lakes get a regular winter punishment and are prepared to deal with it.

ORIGINAL: 5thGuardsTankArmy

Question, Im qurius to know how the situation regarding driving ect is over there,
Do those locations you mention who get some light  winter conditions  have laws forcing them to use Winter Tires  from X date to X date?  



Here its law saying you must use it from latest 1 November to earliest 15 April or big big fine for you!
It does help alot though, especially on Ice. There are different types of winter tires, both with sharp metal and without.
Point is it can't be the hard rubber used for Sommer tires, but must be a far softer type of rubber.





In Norway Trucks are required to bring with them this steel wires (don't know name on english) and its required for them by law to have acces to
for each truck / trailer and X amount for them to put on when neccesary.







How is it in the US on this area? [:)][:)]

Many US states DO have laws regarding snow tires, and when they may be on or off. We have 50 states (all the US Territories (except the District of Columbia) are in warm weather climates so they don't have such issues.

I've travelled in and lived in Scandanavian countries (for up to six months at a time) and must say that many of the Northern US states are equal to Scandanavian weather).

ORIGINAL: sventhebold

Yes she told me she lives up on a hill and getting around has been tough. They have been invited to stay at another house that has a fireplace.

I'm glad she's safe! [&o]

It's been -30ish Celsius (-22f I think) where I live for the past week, but no ice or snow. Alas my furnace gave out during the worst of it heh, I'm told I have to change those filters once in a while *shrug*. So I was left with 2 little electric heaters to keep the place warm for 4 days while I put off calling the furnace guy and diddled with the thermostat hoping it would start working again. Kept the temperature at around 10c (50f) fairly well. Finally gave the furnace guy a call and he said they had been running steady doing furnace repairs for the whole week of cold weather. Poor guy looked exhausted.

900 dollars later I've decided that I'll be changing the dust filter in the furnace regularly like I'm supposed to [:D]

I remember as a kid staying home from school during -40c days, but cars still run. Last year was record snow and there were all sorts of recriminations with the city snow removal service. This year snow is back to normal amounts. Cars run ok in the cold, you just need to have them plugged in. It'd be nice if the car designers at any of the major brands had cold weather in mind when they designed their vehicles, but alas they all seem to not care since their major customer source just doesn't get really cold weather. So it's hit or miss whether you get a car that defrosts well or not, and the battery is always just barely enough and ends up struggling in the cold.

We always laugh at the people in victoria and vancouver when they get a rare snowfall and act like it's the apocalypse, but really it's all in what you're used to. The first snowfall where I live always results in countless cars in the ditch as well. Our houses are insulated for this weather, we plug our cars in, use winter tires, keep our antifreeze properly mixed. Our municipal services include adequate snow removal services (for teh most part), and we have the clothing and experience to deal with it.

ORIGINAL: 5thGuardsTankArmy

ORIGINAL: sventhebold

Just heard from my daughter in Kent WA. The power is out till Saturday. It is too icy to walk. They are moving their cars as trees are snapping off randomly because of the ice storm.

Any of our forum members in that area have anything to report????
Worried Father.

As I live in the Scandinavien part of the world I have seen alot of winterstorms, A Lot of them but never experienced to much Ice for you to be able to walk...
I understand they can move their cars arround there in Seattle so thats a good sign. If you can open the front door of your house without digging your way out its actually pretty good conditions and no reason to complain.

Try Scandinavia..


  

Finally they start claring the track, has been stuck for 49 Hrs!








Summerski Center (to much snow in winter, so this ski senter is open Summers ONLY.








A Hot day in July ... The snow has melted at road but still 2 months untill snowalls are reduced... and in 3 months the winter starts over agian..











27th September - E16 High Way









March 19th in a warmer part of the country (a lot less snow).






Mountens..

Seattle, like most of the Northern West coast , is on VERY hilly terrain. Not a problem usually in dry , warm weather. But Ice makes them extremely treacherous. YOU might never have seen ice that prevented you from walking , but I have. Take those same nasty scandavian roads, then put them on 40 degree incline!

As usual , you don't know what you are talking about and only want to bring pain an discomfort. You take a concerned fathers worries about his daughter and slime it. TROLL!!!![:-]

Blame Nikademus. He wished for snow or the weather that shall not be named, hereafter TWTSNBN. And I placed a curse on Washington.

I have been through just about every kind of weather there is and learned a BIG grain of caution is called for as
you watch the other IDIOTS drive on blythley like nothing can happen to them.

For instance a driver on I-29 south of Fargo ND went off the road in a storm and in bad conditions last year called and begged for help. He insisted they come and get him but they wanted to wait till morning. BUT then he told them he was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt in -40 WEATHER!!!!! I personally would have left his butt there.

ORIGINAL: Schanilec

Blame Nikademus. He wished for snow or the weather that shall not be named, hereafter TWTSNBN. And I placed a curse on Washington.

I hope you are referring to Washington state. Many would argue that Washington DC has enough curses! (And is the root cause of many, many more!) [:D]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
Seattle, like most of the Northern West coast , is on VERY hilly terrain. Not a problem usually in dry , warm weather. But Ice makes them extremely treacherous. YOU might never have seen ice that prevented you from walking , but I have. Take those same nasty scandavian roads, then put them on 40 degree incline!

You forgot to add millions of trees that don't do well in a cold snap. The most dangerous part of all this is hundreds/thousands of trees snapping off and falling randomly and destroying/killing anything they land on. The Pacific Northwest is carpeted with huge trees. Any non-winterized trees died long ago in Scandinavian regions or other regions that get lots of snow.

I don’t think 5thGuardsTankArmy was trolling, just showing off a bit. But I think you should cut him some slack, those who live in cold climates like his rarely have anything to brag about weather wise lol, so though a little impolitic given the concerns of sventhebold for his daughter, his post can be forgiven.

Jim

Marc- Speaking of Nik.. haven't seen him in a while

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
Seattle, like most of the Northern West coast , is on VERY hilly terrain. Not a problem usually in dry , warm weather. But Ice makes them extremely treacherous. YOU might never have seen ice that prevented you from walking , but I have. Take those same nasty scandavian roads, then put them on 40 degree incline!

You forgot to add millions of trees that don't do well in a cold snap. The most dangerous part of all this is hundreds/thousands of trees snapping off and falling randomly and destroying/killing anything they land on. The Pacific Northwest is carpeted with huge trees. Any non-winterized trees died long ago in Scandinavian regions or other regions that get lots of snow.

I don’t think 5thGuardsTankArmy was trolling, just showing off a bit. But I think you should cut him some slack, those who live in cold climates like his rarely have anything to brag about weather wise lol, so though a little impolitic given the concerns of sventhebold for his daughter, his post can be forgiven.

Jim

5th Guardswhatever lives in Belgium, which is not Scandinavia.

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

Marc- Speaking of Nik.. haven't seen him in a while

And you probably won't. He's on a very looooong hiatus from this place.

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
Seattle, like most of the Northern West coast , is on VERY hilly terrain. Not a problem usually in dry , warm weather. But Ice makes them extremely treacherous. YOU might never have seen ice that prevented you from walking , but I have. Take those same nasty scandavian roads, then put them on 40 degree incline!

You forgot to add millions of trees that don't do well in a cold snap. The most dangerous part of all this is hundreds/thousands of trees snapping off and falling randomly and destroying/killing anything they land on. The Pacific Northwest is carpeted with huge trees. Any non-winterized trees died long ago in Scandinavian regions or other regions that get lots of snow.

I don’t think 5thGuardsTankArmy was trolling, just showing off a bit. But I think you should cut him some slack, those who live in cold climates like his rarely have anything to brag about weather wise lol, so though a little impolitic given the concerns of sventhebold for his daughter, his post can be forgiven.

Jim

You might want to check some of this "person's" posts. You will find multiple personalities,inflamatory remarks and even one post glorying in a Forumites death. Jim I don't think I've ever seen this "worthy" NOT troll. Please humor me and do your research. I don't think you will then feel that I've "misjudged him". But if you actually do , I'll consider an apology. [:(]


And you are absolutely right, I'd forgotten the trees. But not the drivers! They are incompetant enough in rain....ice? OMG!!!!!![:D]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
Seattle, like most of the Northern West coast , is on VERY hilly terrain. Not a problem usually in dry , warm weather. But Ice makes them extremely treacherous. YOU might never have seen ice that prevented you from walking , but I have. Take those same nasty scandavian roads, then put them on 40 degree incline!

You forgot to add millions of trees that don't do well in a cold snap. The most dangerous part of all this is hundreds/thousands of trees snapping off and falling randomly and destroying/killing anything they land on. The Pacific Northwest is carpeted with huge trees. Any non-winterized trees died long ago in Scandinavian regions or other regions that get lots of snow.

I don’t think 5thGuardsTankArmy was trolling, just showing off a bit. But I think you should cut him some slack, those who live in cold climates like his rarely have anything to brag about weather wise lol, so though a little impolitic given the concerns of sventhebold for his daughter, his post can be forgiven.

Jim

5th Guardswhatever lives in Belgium, which is not Scandinavia.

His latest quote refers to his being a Scandanavian. As I didn't know which of his many personalities I was addressing at the time, I humored him. As a child I was always taught to be polite and humor "The village idiot". He's ours. [:D]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

Marc- Speaking of Nik.. haven't seen him in a while

And you probably won't. He's on a very looooong hiatus from this place.

As he lives somewhat east of Seattle, near the area that normally gets the greatest amount of snow normally , he's probably one of those without power.....and internet. [:(]

One of the nice things about living in Texas is that even when we do get snow and ice, it generally lasts 3 days at most and doesn't accumulate enough to cause power outages. On the flip side, its hot enough in the summer that it literally melts the tar on the roads, but that is the price you pay for mild winters.

I feel bad for those that do have such harsh winter conditions though, hot is one thing, but cold can be downright deadly. Especially considering you can be stuck in your home for days or even weeks on end, possibly with no power or source of heat. I've never been stranded because its too hot outside.

Of course, it goes without saying we have no mandatory snow chain or winter tire laws, we simply don't have enough winter to need them. I've never even seen a snow tire for sale in my part of the country.

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

ORIGINAL: Schanilec

Blame Nikademus. He wished for snow or the weather that shall not be named, hereafter TWTSNBN. And I placed a curse on Washington.

I hope you are referring to Washington state. Many would argue that Washington DC has enough curses! (And is the root cause of many, many more!) [:D]

Yes the State. I say curse words for the other.[;)]

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

Marc- Speaking of Nik.. haven't seen him in a while

He's probably out pricing snow blowers. Now he's probably trying to push his car out of a snow bank.[:'(]