Tuesday, December 16, 2008 , Updated
Yes, North Texas (and Virginia), it’s freezing
When you wake up and hear from the TxDOT folks that "almost every major interchange and bridge has or has had ice on it," you might want to think twice about heading out for that morning Starbucks. (Or equivalent.)
In fact, there is a thin coating of ice on untreated raised surfaces (which include bridges and overpasses) and we are expecting scattered patches of freezing drizzle and/or mist to continue through the morning. As a result of all this frozen stuff with which we southern folk are typically unfamiliar, Dallas police have worked over 100 traffic accidents between midnight and 5 a.m.
This morning, there are sure to be idiots galore in large trucks and SUVs trying to pass you as you carefully navigate the streets in your Honda Civic, so probably best to just stay off them until conditions improve. If you can.
The forecast for today, Tuesday Dec. 16, says "areas of freezing drizzle. Cloudy, with a high near 32." And etc., but that pretty much says it all, doesn't it?
posted by JM
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Scott Doyle, says:
I left at 7:45 and had absolutely no issues - people slowed to a crawl at every overpass, which was annoying, but I'd rather peeps play it safe than sorry.
What's worse is listening to the ladies in my office talk about the weather for an hour after everyone here knows exactly what's going on b/c we just drove to work...in the weather. And now that we're here, WE HAVE WINDOWS PEOPLE!
Verified
11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Doyle is in the middle of a hen party! Why does this bring me such joy?
Anonymous
11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
What's happening now that wasn't happening 5 mins ago? How many different school districts are closing? When's the next wave coming? How many sand trucks were deployed? Omg did you hear about the ones that overturned?! Wow, the roads in Plano were worse than the ones in Richardson, right? Man, this idiot was just barreling through everyone and I secretly hoped he'd fly off an overpass after his car caught on fire! But I don't have road rage, lol. Ooh, has there been an update since I started this comment? Hmm - kinda hungry, might go downstairs to get some breakf- OMG WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE NOW?@$@!!@$e$#
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11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
James Scott, says:
lol, yeah, office severe weather chat is pretty much a beating.
Leaving @ 6:00 from East Dallas to Addison this morning I saw nothing on the roads, even though they seemed to be somewhat damp. No ice though - I was surprised.
Oh, wait, I just contributed to web severe weather chat, which may be even worse than office severe weather chat.
I'm gonna go slide my SUV off an overpass...cya later!
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11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
John Meyer, says:
<p>Here's something else for your office ladies to talk about, Doyle: a couple quick snaps taken outside the Meyer "home office."</p>
<p><img src="http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2008/12/16/driveway_ice.jpg"></p>
<p><img src="http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2008/12/16/fountain_ice.jpg"></p>
<p>As you can see, the back porch fountain is having icing issues. Imagine this as your carburetor without anti-freeze.</p>
<p><img src="http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2008/12/16/fountain_ice_closeup.jpg"></p>
Staff
11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Didn't see any ice on the roads during my half-mile commute, but saw plenty in parking lots.
In other news, biking on ice is fun!
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11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Luckily, most cars these days are equipped with this "anti-freeze" you speak of.
Web chat is tolerable since I can overlook it at will. Unless I go postal...not much to be done about the absolute stoppage of time this weather has brought upon my office.
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11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
There was a patch of ice on Alpha! I slid for like a quarter of a second. It was very scary!
Anonymous
11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
John McClelland, says:
Left the house at 7:30. I live on 380 and there was nothing but a sheet of ice along the highway in front of Savannah. So we did the 5mph crawl. They were also staring at what was left of the two cars who hit each other and caught fire.
Tollway was fine southbound until you got to Bush Tpk where everyone did the same 5mph crawl. Sometimes so slow it didn't even register on my speedometer, even though the Tollway itself had no ice. So I got off at Frankford and drove the icy access road which was actually moving faster. Made it in to work at 8:45. So wasn't much more of a delay for me than normal.
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chasd00, says:
I make the Oak Cliff to SW Arlington commute every day (30 to 820 South). I was busy making fun of some of the other drivers when my truck slid out from underneath me while going over one of those small bridges. Nothing gets your attention like feeling you're not in control of your car heh. Luckily, I made it to the other side before I slid out of my lane.
I saw plenty of accidents, one was a flipped 18 wheeler at 30 and 820 that looked like it had been thrown off the overpass (it hadn't).
Anonymous
11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Just ventured out for lunch. Roads up hiyah in Richardson are just fine.
In fact, I'm diggin it. Knew there wouldn't be a lot of peeps out, so I figured I could get in and out of <a href="http://www.greatoutdoorsubs.com/">The Great Outdoors</a> with ease even at 12:30 (double meat #10, unf). So tasty.
I highly encourage all of you to stay indoors until notified otherwise.
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11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Just tested this, and it's not iced-over enough to take a sled onto a parking garage ramp.
DAMN YOU, WEATHER! WHY DO YOU TEASE ME SO!?
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Jason Rice, says:
Cowering at home today, thank you very much. Sadly, I'm fully equipped to work here.
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Billusa99, says:
Carburetor?
Esteemed movie reviewer: Antifreeze goes in the radiator bone, which is connected to the engine cooling hoses bone, which is connected to the engine block bone, to keep it from freezing and cracking open, which can never happen here with these balmy temps.
Gas line antifreeze goes in the gas tank bone, which is connected to a thin fuel line bone, which keeps small amounts of water in the fuel line bone from freezing and stopping the flow, before it ever reaches the carburetor bone.
If your still driving a car old enough to still have a carburetor!
...Someone who used to walk to school in 30 below weather every winter, uphill both ways.
Anonymous
11 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
John Meyer, says:
DAMMIT! No wonder my car won't start.
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