If the snow is gone, why are the cars stranded?

Ice on the roads and roads closed. And snow on the ground, just stopped snowing.

People had to abandon their cars.

My son was one that had to do that.

Son used his 4 wheeler to go get dinner :o) Said he'll get a friend to take him, tomorrow to get his truck.

Many roads closed, many!

All schools closed, and there are children overnighting in the schools, because of the road conditions. Of course with teachers.

And roads will be worse tomorrow with the refreezing.

This post was edited by glenda_al on Tue, Jan 28, 14 at 20:22

This is the same area, taken during the day!

Where the red truck is, that's the lane I use to get to my place. It looks stalled and the cars are going around it. Lots had get out of their cars and be pushed up the little hill, and some just left their cars and walked.

{{gwi:1548436}}

But more importantly...what about your cruise?

That's Saturday! Will be in the 50's Friday and Saturday. In B'ham.

I'm used to the snow and cold but I know you are not. Hope it melts fast for you all.

linda, that's a beautifiul picture!

Cute that Glenda is so excited about her snow. Only in the south! Really, it is NUTS to deal with snow and ice and frigid temperatures this far south. Our schools have been closing or opening late because they cannot heat some of them properly.

It does seem like B'ham was ill prepared for something that the authorities should have planned for. That area was clearly in the warning area.

The ice that became a problem in that area formed quickly.....and snow covered the ice. Deadly for roads that have not been sanded and for people that have not been warned.

I pray for all of those still stranded on the roads, probably unprepared for something like that.

It reminds me of that thread I started a few weeks ago about what we should carry in our cars for emergencies. Dear old Dad would have been perfectly fine stranded for several hours. :-)

I hope things are back to normal tomorrow, Glenda.

We live on top of a hill that is now a sheet of ice. We won't be going anywhere tomorrow and will be delayed Thursday. DH left work at 10:30 and it took him an hour to get home. Normally this is a 20-25 minute drive. He was smart and left early otherwise he may not have made it home.

Even the NWS blew the forecast. We were supposed to get maybe a light dusting of snow, but ended up with 1.5-2" of snow...

rhizo, I certainly was NOt excited over the UNEXPECTED snow even. today. Not cute at all! Beautifuil to look at, though.

It was not expected. and I do not believe it was ill prepared for something that the authorities shoul have planned for. We were not in the warning area, but only a dusting of snow, expected.

Souh of B'ham was supposed to get the "big" event.

I woke up at 7, looked out, and it was cloudy, and went back to bed and SURPRISE!

Winter Storm 2014

January 28th, 2014 - Birmingham, AL and surrounding areas received unexpected snowfalls that lead to major traffic delays.

We in B"ham just thought it would be a light dusting as meterologist said, but it happened. Surprise! They were surprised as well.

I enjoyed the day IN, and cooked up some good fixings and did cruise planning Most enjoyoable day at home. Warm and cozy.

Son did not fare so well, as he had to abandon his truck, but had his 4 wheeler, to get dinner and head in for a warm nite.

So many kids are spending the night at school, others at their work places.

Freak of nature here in B'ham.

Tomorrow afternoon, will be able to get out and about. Just not the mornng.

rhizo, you missed the bullet :o)

This post was edited by glenda_al on Tue, Jan 28, 14 at 23:18

Same mess here in Georgia, Glenda and lots of irate parents over schools not being closed, thus risking the lives of the children, teachers, bus drivers, etc. Kids still stranded in schools. Cars on Interstate just being abandoned as people are walking trying to find some place of shelter. Roads are solid ice. Winter warning still in effect for tomorrow due to low temps. Schools ARE closed here tomorrow.

Tomorrow afternoon, I hope to get out and about.

Enjoyed the day home! Warm and cozy.

Just to be clear about this snow/ice, Birmingham was not in the winter storm watch or warning. We had a hard freeze warning. The storm took an unexpected turn. It was not doing anything this morning. I went to take a quick shower and by the time I was dressed the street was covered in snow. That was no more than 15 or 20 minutes.

I meant that your natural enjoyment of an unusual event is cute. Watching the snow blow around, taking pictures of something you don't get to see very often. I do exactly the same thing. Winter storms are a bit exciting around here.

Its funny (peculiar). While watching the early local news and weather yesterday morning, I mentioned to Robert that it looked like B'ham might be in big trouble with ice and snow. I noticed because Robert has someone working for him who travels from just north of your city to and from work everyday.

Robert suggested that he turn around and go home as soon as he saw him at 6:45 yesterday morning. The employee was surprised but did go home and was grateful he did. The talk around here yesterday when we saw how what a mess the roads were was why hadn't schools closed, why didn't people stay home, etc.

I guess the answer is that we got different information than you all did. It was all over our news in the very early morning where icy roads and snow was likely to be an issue. It seemed obvious that you were under threat.

I hope that everyone eventually got to a safe and warm place....it has to be terrifying to be stranded.

I'll take our snowflakes over an ice storm any day.

It's a mess all over. I know it's harder for some of you then me here in Dover, DE.

We got another 5.5 inches of the white stuff. At least this time it's light and fluffy and not that wet heavy stuff. Had a heck of a time with the snow blower last time.

Still hard to get around though as the temp is below freezing and not suppose to get much above it.

Can't wait for the spring and summer.

Our news was all agog this morning still talking about Atlantans who ended up sleeping in grocery stores, etc. or who spent so long in their cars, some are turning around and headed back to work!

Ice is not the same as snow. And this far south, we get ice. The kind that no one can drive on. It can also rip down power lines and trees with their weight. It's not a pretty thing.

Glenda, that first picture is beautiful. Know it isn't fun for the people who have to get out in it so I hope everyone is home safe and warm. I feel for the truck drivers!

Looked out my front dining room window and the roads are ice!

News just said kids in my county, St County, are still at school, and may be until tomorrow. BUT they are being well taken care of. Happy? Well, that's probably another thing parents and kids.

No way! I'm in for one more day!

The sun is out, blue skies, but it's 14 at 8:30 am.

Anyone got milk? :o)

It's at times like this that we're grateful for easy communication via phones and computers! Those poor little kindergartners. I can see this was a huge surprise to everyone--weather surprises do happen from time to time. Enjoy another indoor day, (packing?) Glenda!

Thought about you Glenda We didn't get any snow up here in NE Tx

Glad tou and yours are safe and sound Minnie

I will take snow over ice any day. Ice is dangerous. The ER here keeps busy on icy days with all the broken wrists.

Same here on the NC coast. We got sleet from the storm topped by just a little snow, and by this morning there was a layer of ice on the roads. Schools and a lot of other places are closed again tomorrow. I just got an email that our office is closed. The roads are really dangerous here right now. They don't expect significant thawing until mid-day Friday.

I certainly agree. I will take snow any day over ice. I have been walking the dogs in the snow for a few weeks now. It's still powdery and not slippery. When the temps rise and melting occurs, then it will be dangerous.

It's finally thawing here in Panama City, Fl., but the kids got the day off because all the bridges are still closed. Hathaway bridge, the one over into the city, has one lane open going each way and the speed limit is 25 m.p.h. Almost all my neighbors are still house-bound.