# Is it Too Risky to Travel for Christmas with Blizzard and Very Cold Weather? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802 "2022-12-19T19:30:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/21 "2022-12-21T17:46:51Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Depending on where you’re going, you may consider taking a different route to avoid the bad weather. Instead of going the direct route which may become impassable due to ice and snow, take a route that goes around that area. In these parts (US Northwest), there is typically no driving to avoid bad roads. When I-90 is impassable with the fleets of snowplows thrown at it, everything else is typically going to be in worse shape. > [@filmore](#): > > There’s a great how-to video which covers the best way to travel to your destination during severe weather. It will answer all your questions. Check it out: [Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093748/) Now this is good advice! _You’re going the wrong way!_ ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/22 "2022-12-21T18:03:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > There’s a third issue (at least): other drivers who drive like maniacs in really bad weather. Yes. You can be the most conscientious driver on the road and creep along safely but if someone else is in an accident ahead of you, you are suddenly at a standstill with extended arrival times for emergency vehicles hoping you don’t run out of gas. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/23 "2022-12-21T18:11:36Z")
I was thinking of driving from (basically) La Crosse to (basically) Madison on Friday., mostly on I90/94 Most of the snow will happen on Thursday. If I don’t go then I head to (basically) Appleton on Saturday, on highway 21 (which is genrally not as well plowed as the interstate). I’ll make my decision Thursday night or Friday morning, checking out 511 > **[511WI](https://511wi.gov/map)** > > Provides up to the minute traffic information for Wisconsin. View the real time traffic map with travel times, traffic accident details, traffic cameras and other road conditions. Plan your trip and get the fastest route taking into account current... Brian ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/24 "2022-12-21T19:34:07Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I was thinking of driving from (basically) La Crosse to (basically) Madison on Friday., mostly on I90/94 Most of the snow will happen on Thursday. Be careful: even if the snow has stopped falling, if it’s blowing enough, that could seriously affect visibility and road conditions. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/25 "2022-12-21T19:39:03Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > > [@Folacin](#): > > > > The accidents aren’t all caused by morons (although that is the way to bet). > > I was thinking of the drivers who think “I have 4WD/AWD - I can go anywhere!!” because, yanno, the laws of physics don’t apply to 4WD/AWD… What I always think is funny is that every car on the road is all-wheel stop. The only thing AWD/4WD gives you is more-wheel-go. Inability at _go_ usually isn’t the cause of snow/ice accidents; they’re almost all inability at _stop_. Plus a few failure to _steer_ accidents that AWD/4WD might help sometimes in deep soft snow, but not at all on ice. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/26 "2022-12-21T19:48:28Z")
Yes, considering the temps Thursday the snow will be light and fluffy, perfect for being blown around on Friday. I will monitor the conditions and adjust accordingly. One year I made it Tomah and gave up (my sister was living there at the time) Christmas Day looks OK, backup plan is leave early that day. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/27 "2022-12-21T20:01:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The only thing AWD/4WD gives you is more-wheel-go. My farmer classmates in high school explained how 4WD tractors mostly were a way to get stuck in even deeper mud. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/28 "2022-12-21T20:12:13Z")
Yeah. I’m going to be home tomorrow (bomb cyclone), contemplating the best recipe for boozy pancakes. A little over a month ago, I hit black ice and spun into the center divider ‘cable barrier.’ I was followed immediately by a handful of other cars, all of whom came within a few feet of hitting me and each other. I was fine. Car: not quite so much. If conditions are right for that kind of black ice, I’d avoid driving unless it was absolutely essential. Good luck to all who are about to get (meteorologically) spanked! ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/29 "2022-12-21T22:29:49Z")
-20F now, but the sun is peeking out. Tough conditions for the new slick-coat dog. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/30 "2022-12-21T22:31:37Z")
Should have put the tractor in the garage (which would have been kind of a big deal). Not even thinking of starting. I packed down the snow in the driveway in hope we’ll get our presents. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/31 "2022-12-21T22:31:55Z")
I love the family holidays but I think most of us are sensible and wouldn’t risk life and limb for them. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/32 "2022-12-21T23:19:52Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > what I was interested in was to what extent Dopers are changing their travel plans Ah. I wasn’t planning to travel anyway. I have family members who were planning to travel to another family member’s place; they’re going to wait if necessary until the road conditions are decent, therefore possibly arriving a day or more later than originally planned. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/33 "2022-12-21T23:24:50Z")
Our son is taking the bus down from Ithaca to DC on Friday. It looks like it’ll be ok; I’m assuming they’ll just cancel if it gets worse than expected. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/34 "2022-12-22T00:20:27Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > The accidents aren’t all caused by morons (although that is the way to bet). I was once driving at what seemed a safe speed in fair-to-iffy conditions, hit a patch of ice on a slight curve and spun my way to the opposite shoulder. Fortunately no one was coming the other way, and I could sit there shaking for couple of minutes before continuing on my way. That reminds me of one evening several years ago. It was snowing, but in the location where I was, the streets were still clear. I tested my brakes, and the streets were simply wet. And then I crossed a micro-climate boundary, and the streets were suddenly slick. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/35 "2022-12-22T03:53:01Z")
> [@scareyfaerie](#): > > Look at it this way - whatever you’re travelling to/for, is it worth your life? Or the life of the person who gets called out to rescue you from whatever happens? Great user post combo. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/36 "2022-12-22T14:33:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What I always think is funny is that every car on the road is all-wheel stop. The only thing AWD/4WD gives you is more-wheel-go. One tip i got in drivers ed years ago: “When you’re driving in icy conditions, drive as if you don’t have any brakes. Because you don’t.” > [@](#): > > Plus a few failure to _steer_ accidents that AWD/4WD might help sometimes in deep soft snow, but not at all on ice. I really like my AWD in winter because it is very good in snow. Agree not much help in ice. Anecdote time: I was once in a group of guys in the hills of Connecticut, driving back from watching Superbowl at one of their parents’ place. Big heavy snow was coming down. As we went to the car to leave, I noticed that the driver was looking very nervously at the weather, and I suddenly remembered he was a Texan. I took him aside. “Ever driven in heavy snow on winding hill roads before?” I asked. He shook his head. I volunteered to ride shotgun and to coach him. Three tips were: 1. you don’t have brakes (see above); 2. go slowly, no sudden turns; 3. if you feel you’re skidding, don’t brake (see above) and loosen your grip on the steering wheel so the wheels don’t lock in an angle. I said it’s like letting go of the tiller if you feel a sailboat getting away from you. He was familiar with the concept, having done some sailing. We got down safe and sound and he thanked me for the coaching. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/37 "2022-12-22T16:41:40Z")
I shoveled the drive, the sidewalk, and the sidewalks of both of my neighbors before sunrise. Wind chill about -30F (-34C). While you lazy suckers were snuggled safe and warm in your beds 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/38 "2022-12-22T17:00:38Z")
And since you are not lazy surely you used a shovel instead of a snow blower or plow? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/39 "2022-12-22T17:02:56Z")
There was basically zero moisture. I probably could have used a leaf blower. Instead, I used this: > **[30SNC - Snowcaster](https://www.thesnowcaster.com/product/complete-30snc/)** > > The Snowcaster 30SNC is a dependable wheeled snow shovel that will last several seasons. It has proven home and commercial application. If there’s less than ~6" of snow, and if it isn’t really wet and heavy, this is the greatest thing since peanut butter. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802/40 "2022-12-22T18:53:12Z")
Still monitoring the conditions – most roads have “slippery stretches”, looking at the cameras, visibility doesn’t look too bad --We will see what tomorrow brings. (I had an offer to travel today but that doesn’t work for various reasons) I’m mainly worried about white-out and zero visibility… Brian ETA: event on Friday has ben cancelled. Definitely not travelling then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-risky-to-travel-for-christmas-with-blizzard-and-very-cold-weather/976802.md?page=3)