Winter Storm Coverage: I-77 shut down, I-81 traffic not moving in some areas

wsls.com ^ | 12/19/09 | WSLS

[Cvengr]

Obama returns from a Global Warming Summit Conference and then God lets loose a blizzard on him.

I love God and how He lets things play out.

[Riley]

I saw that same stuff in the road yesterday on my way up 123. About six or eight pale white lines on the road with turn-around marks where they turned around to go do the lanes in the other direction? That’s what I thought it was, too.

[Riley]

No idea. Still getting hammered here.

I may get hammered myself and go out to fool around with a foam sled that I bought for the occasion.

[Redleg Duke]

It is starting to cloud up a bit here in Amherst, NH. We are under a storm watch starting this evening.

Time to get the snow gauge installed where the dog and his line won't snag it.

[Rebelbase]

Took me an hour to go 20 miles in N central NC last night. Wrecks, detour and cars spun into ditches and folks driving 5-10 mph.

[mware]

It has been snowing for about 6 hours here in Hammonton, (Atlantic County, NJ.) We have about half a foot already. They are not predicting the heavy stuff to hit until around 10 tonight. The last prediction I saw had us getting 21 inches of snow (not counting the drifts we are going to be seeing. I got a feeling we may not be returning to school until Christmas Break is over.

[Riley]

I went just outside the back door just now and did two preliminary measurements with a steel ruler, but they’re in the lee of the house, so it’ll be more. I came up with a ten inch average, and it’s still snowing heavily.

Not even the neighborhood kids are out in it.

[Vinnie]

Is that the Kanawha River? Nitro in the background? :)

[WVKayaker]

MoBay

[WVKayaker]

I was watching ch9 DC and they were saying that on 485, on one hill, the VDOT people were pushing people up the hill, then going back for another... one car at a time on 495???

Usually, in that particular area, traffic is usually 5-6 wide @ 60-75mph! They're saying 15-25+ in my area. Already more than 14...

[WVKayaker]

495 495 495 near where the GW parkway comes in...

Niew of the American Legion Bridge.495 Beltway, DC..

[WVKayaker]

Niew VIEW of the American Legion Bridge. 495 Beltway, DC..

Damn thumbs...

[WVKayaker]

I-81/I-66 VDOT Live Cam

[WVKayaker]

I-81/I-64 VDOT Live Cam

[bert]

I was supposed to drive north to Roanoke yesterday on I 81 but did not. I’m damn glad I didn’t

[RegulatorCountry]

I saw that same stuff in the road yesterday on my way up 123. About six or eight pale white lines on the road with turn-around marks where they turned around to go do the lanes in the other direction?

It's a brine mixture, coming from a sprayer with 6 -8 heads, hence the lines you saw on the roadway, with the sprayer fed by a large tank, either from a purpose-built truck with a very large tank, or a smaller tank installed into the dump bed of the truck.

Uses much less salt, adheres to the road surface much better than rock salt with a broadcast spreader, and lasts longer, so it can be applied well ahead of the storm. Been using it here in NC for close to a decade. Very effective in preventing ice, if the temps aren't too low.

[Riley]

My cul-de-sac isn’t plowed yet, and I’m not about to shovel the driveway. Guess I’m housebound.

Kittycat got out for a few minutes accidentally- he normally goes out for short periods, but I have been keeping him in with a plastic lampshade thing on him while an infected bite heals. He had to bunnyhop to get anywhere in the snow before I went out and scooped him up to bring him back in.

[Riley]

I had no idea what it consisted of, but figured it was dispensed as you describe, and for that purpose.

[Darnright]

Local television stations reporting 1000 people stranded on I-81 (the trucks have jackknifed).

[Darnright]

Link to local video:

http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/local/article/winter_storm_on_the_way_for_friday/69189/