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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Great Snow Storm of Austin, TX 2011
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Showing posts 1 - 25 of 32, (reverse)
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 02/08/2011 11:55:33 AM · #1
What do you all think. It made the news and flickr explore?

//www.flickr.com/photos/darktiger/5415395457/

02/08/2011 12:25:23 PM · #2
The rest of the country must think those of us in Texas are total wimps when it comes to weather.
 02/08/2011 03:50:58 PM · #3
hehe... you guys are as bad as Virginia. They actually closed schools here for a day because there was a possibility of snow. (no, it didn't snow that day.) That was a couple of years ago.

But then again, I'm originally from Minnesota -- so 95% of the country could be considered winter wimps.

Message edited by author 2011-02-08 15:51:35.
 02/08/2011 03:57:14 PM · #4
Originally posted by vawendy:
But then again, I'm originally from Minnesota -- so 95% of the country could be considered winter wimps.


I hope northern Maine makes your other 5%...

and yes we think you texans are wimps!
 02/08/2011 04:03:06 PM · #5
Originally posted by apercep:
Originally posted by vawendy:
But then again, I'm originally from Minnesota -- so 95% of the country could be considered winter wimps.


I hope northern Maine makes your other 5%...

and yes we think you texans are wimps!


yup. Northern Maine and North Dakota are pretty much the only ones who qualify. ;)
 02/08/2011 04:26:50 PM · #6
it hasn't been too bad up here this winter.. Balancing 10 inch storms with -20 temps....
 02/08/2011 05:05:23 PM · #7
After living in Dallas and Austin I would agree that Texas winter storms are pretty lame. Growing up in Dallas schools would typically close for ice or a few inches of snow. Here in Indiana, you are lucky to get a two hour delay for that and of course no business will close for that small of an amount. No shutdowns here until there is at least 5 inches of snow and if the wind is blowing hard enough possibly the shutdown of all roads. It is nice to see that Texas got some snow again though. I remember the iced roads there and those are horrible!!! The photos from Austin look good as well, like the processing.
 02/08/2011 07:35:44 PM · #8
Originally posted by kleski:
Here in Indiana, you are lucky to get a two hour delay for that and of course no business will close for that small of an amount. No shutdowns here until there is at least 5 inches of snow...


Cripes, here in WI we don't shut down even for a foot of snow. Most businesses shut down one day last week, when we got 18 inches with 50mph winds pushing it into 6-foot drifts (blizzard conditions). I know y'all got the icy part of that storm, and I bet that wasn't fun either!
 02/08/2011 07:48:51 PM · #9
Originally posted by stanmoore:
What do you all think. It made the news and flickr explore?


//www.flickr.com/photos/darktiger/5415395457/

Message edited by author 2011-02-08 19:50:26.
 02/08/2011 08:04:09 PM · #10
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by kleski:
Here in Indiana, you are lucky to get a two hour delay for that and of course no business will close for that small of an amount. No shutdowns here until there is at least 5 inches of snow...


Cripes, here in WI we don't shut down even for a foot of snow. Most businesses shut down one day last week, when we got 18 inches with 50mph winds pushing it into 6-foot drifts (blizzard conditions). I know y'all got the icy part of that storm, and I bet that wasn't fun either!


*sputtering beer over keyboard in disbelief* It only takes 5 inches of snow to shut down Indiana?!

Yea gads during the big snow day, schools were still open (though schoolbuses not running) and businesses were still open though very few bothered to get in to work. I stayed home mostly due to the fact that although I might have been able to get out of my driveway, the road hadn't been plowed, nor could I even see the road for the whiteout conditions/drifting snow. Temperature wasn't too bad, only about -30 (with wind chill).
 02/08/2011 08:07:35 PM · #11
Minnesota would rarely close schools. Usually not for snow. When you'd get the -20 with -60 wind chills, they would occasionally close. Usually because we had some kids out in the rural areas that would have to wait too long outside for the bus.
 02/08/2011 10:03:39 PM · #12
The great "2011 Snowmageddon" was a total bust as far as I'm concerned. We got maybe 12-15" of snow overnight. It was a good snowstorm, but certainly not "one for the record books". Schools were closed because the roads weren't clear and the buses couldn't run. Businesses were open, I didn't go to work because my driveway didn't get plowed until later, but the roads were clear by noon.
 02/09/2011 09:39:08 PM · #13
Snowmageddon?! They actually called it that? BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA

Sure, it was a big ol winter storm with blowing/drifting snow and some low temps that really put a damper on things, but hardly worth the 'mageddon' suffix. I saw far worse storms during my childhood in Ottawa. Guess some meteorologist had too much time on their hands :-)
 02/09/2011 09:50:47 PM · #14
Originally posted by vawendy:
Minnesota would rarely close schools. Usually not for snow. When you'd get the -20 with -60 wind chills, they would occasionally close. Usually because we had some kids out in the rural areas that would have to wait too long outside for the bus.


Yeah but around these parts (east cost where me and you are) there is alot more traffic for the busses to go through. You let up once and kids die, No one would ever forgive the school system, bus company, government. Not sure about snow deaths but a tractor trailor on the shore cut a school bus of kids in half one year in the fog. Kids were fine, truck driver died of a heart attack. Now they have fog days lol.
 02/09/2011 10:01:49 PM · #15
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
Originally posted by vawendy:
Minnesota would rarely close schools. Usually not for snow. When you'd get the -20 with -60 wind chills, they would occasionally close. Usually because we had some kids out in the rural areas that would have to wait too long outside for the bus.


Yeah but around these parts (east cost where me and you are) there is alot more traffic for the busses to go through. You let up once and kids die, No one would ever forgive the school system, bus company, government. Not sure about snow deaths but a tractor trailor on the shore cut a school bus of kids in half one year in the fog. Kids were fine, truck driver died of a heart attack. Now they have fog days lol.


Actually, I'm in a small tourist town in Virginia. I was in the suburbs of St. Paul in Minnesota. So actually, there's more traffic there... :)

The biggest issue is that they have absolutely no equipment here, and the people don't know how to drive in the snow. That's why the close things. It's just not safe on the roads because the roads aren't plowed and the majority of people are really scary drivers because they don't have the experience.
 02/10/2011 03:49:15 AM · #16
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
The rest of the country must think those of us in Texas are total wimps when it comes to weather.


Pretty much...... I think you might even be safe going a bit further than "wimps".... ;)
 02/10/2011 03:52:22 AM · #17
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by apercep:
Originally posted by vawendy:
But then again, I'm originally from Minnesota -- so 95% of the country could be considered winter wimps.


I hope northern Maine makes your other 5%...

and yes we think you texans are wimps!


yup. Northern Maine and North Dakota are pretty much the only ones who qualify. ;)


Meh, icy roads are icy road, no matter if there is 1/4" or 20' of snow..

As a matter of a fact, just to be fair, ice is at it's very slickest when it's near the melting point, so in actuality, in terms of road conditions (everything else is another story), Texas really did get it pretty bad, and the colder states should generally have much better road conditions, despite the fact that the roads may be snow packed.. I can attest to this, as there were so many overturned semi's heading into Dallas the other day that I lost count somewhere after 20, it was incredible, thank goodness I own a Subaru AWD.

Message edited by author 2011-02-10 03:53:38.
 02/10/2011 09:10:54 AM · #18
Congrats, Stan. Very good photo.
 02/10/2011 09:17:15 AM · #19
Last Friday Ellen and I headed out to take some photos in the afternoon since things had cleared up a bit. On the way home at about dusk, we passed at least 7 accidents plus one very near miss on the icy roads (SUV spun out 50 yards ahead of us, almost hit the concrete median, then slid back over all 4 lanes before finally recovering control). This was over a mere 10 miles between downtown and home.
 02/10/2011 09:59:24 AM · #20
Originally posted by vawendy:
absolutely no equipment here, and the people don't know how to drive in the snow. That's why the close things. It's just not safe on the roads because the roads aren't plowed and the majority of people are really scary drivers because they don't have the experience.


Same problem I had when living near Raleigh, NC. .5 inches of ice pellets closed the schools in session one afternoon. Grid lock resulted in 2 hours inside I540. People slept in their cars that night. But your comment about not knowing how to drive tickles me. :) When I moved to Raleigh in '77 it was probably 85 percent native drivers, 15 percent out of towners. (yankees) When I left Raleigh it was probably 15 percent native and 85 percent out of towners. (yankees with 50 percent from New Jersey) Driving didn't get any better. :)
So maybe the "driving in Snow" skill is perishable. :)
 02/10/2011 11:47:09 AM · #21
I like to use the handbrake to go around corners. Wheeeee!
 02/10/2011 12:20:24 PM · #22
Dare I confess it in this thread?! Yes, it's true...I have never EVER driven in snow. Nope, not once...;-)

In such weather, I'd have to hang a sign outside my door..."Wake me when it's SPRING!"
 02/10/2011 12:33:44 PM · #23
Originally posted by coryboehne:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
The rest of the country must think those of us in Texas are total wimps when it comes to weather.


Pretty much...... I think you might even be safe going a bit further than "wimps".... ;)


Take a hurricane head on and get back to me.
 02/10/2011 12:46:41 PM · #24
Originally posted by coryboehne:
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by apercep:
Originally posted by vawendy:
But then again, I'm originally from Minnesota -- so 95% of the country could be considered winter wimps.


I hope northern Maine makes your other 5%...

and yes we think you texans are wimps!


yup. Northern Maine and North Dakota are pretty much the only ones who qualify. ;)


Meh, icy roads are icy road, no matter if there is 1/4" or 20' of snow..

As a matter of a fact, just to be fair, ice is at it's very slickest when it's near the melting point, so in actuality, in terms of road conditions (everything else is another story), Texas really did get it pretty bad, and the colder states should generally have much better road conditions, despite the fact that the roads may be snow packed.. I can attest to this, as there were so many overturned semi's heading into Dallas the other day that I lost count somewhere after 20, it was incredible, thank goodness I own a Subaru AWD.


First, AWD and 4wd are absolutely worthless when you are smashing the brakes and/or avoiding an accident. I see far more 4wd's off the road than any other vehicle. Having the proper SNOW tires is much more important. (all season tires are not all-season in northern climates.) Tires that are for snow have a snowflake in a mountain icon on the sidewall.

Second, your statement about ice is partially true, but I can tell you've not had much experience in driving in deep snow. Deep, slushy, frozen slush, powdery, wet, gritty, all different types of snow, with different driving style and skill requirements.
 02/10/2011 12:48:22 PM · #25
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I like to use the handbrake to go around corners. Wheeeee!


You want a LOT more fun??? Get a rear wheel drive vehicle and learn to drift with the throttle.. WAY more fun!!!!
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