This is basically what I think of every time it snows in Portland https://youtu.be/EaksWCnHaDM
Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
11–20 of 126 posts
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#12I’m currently in Ashland, and was planning to drive up to Portland today. With strong snow all along the 5 [1], I’m thinking it’s better to bunker down for a few days before doing the trip. It’s normally a 4.5 hour drive, but with snow chains and delays I could see it being closer to 10. [1] https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditio...
Completely random question: Are you from California? The reason I ask is that you said "The 5". Edit: To those who said that's a SoCal thing: I Know. I got razzed endlessly when I moved to Reno from the Palm Springs area for saying "The 395, The 80", which are the only two freeways in the region lol.
It would have to be southern Cal. We here in northern cal refer to highways as "5" or "101".
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#13Overconfident Midwesterners have to learn the hard way about hills and Cascade concrete.
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#14I’m currently in Ashland, and was planning to drive up to Portland today. With strong snow all along the 5 [1], I’m thinking it’s better to bunker down for a few days before doing the trip. It’s normally a 4.5 hour drive, but with snow chains and delays I could see it being closer to 10. [1] https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditio...
Completely random question: Are you from California? The reason I ask is that you said "The 5". Edit: To those who said that's a SoCal thing: I Know. I got razzed endlessly when I moved to Reno from the Palm Springs area for saying "The 395, The 80", which are the only two freeways in the region lol.
That would be specifically a SoCal (southern California) linguistic register. Many Californians would simply refer to I-5 (U.S. Interstate Highway 5)
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#15I’m currently in Ashland, and was planning to drive up to Portland today. With strong snow all along the 5 [1], I’m thinking it’s better to bunker down for a few days before doing the trip. It’s normally a 4.5 hour drive, but with snow chains and delays I could see it being closer to 10. [1] https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditio...
Completely random question: Are you from California? The reason I ask is that you said "The 5". Edit: To those who said that's a SoCal thing: I Know. I got razzed endlessly when I moved to Reno from the Palm Springs area for saying "The 395, The 80", which are the only two freeways in the region lol.
This is something that really grinds my gears with the movie "Baby Driver".
Edgar Wright went to incredible trouble to set the film in Atlanta. It features Atlanta landmarks, culture, food, and dialect. It feels quintessentially Atlantan.
Despite that effort, they're constantly referring to highways and interstates with the definite article. "The 75", "the 85", "The Buford Highway". We don't do that here, and it sounds a bit like nails on a chalkboard.
It's hard to fault the film for this trivial issue, but it is amusing.
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#16There should be a similar isitraininginla.com
From the sounds of it Portland is to snow as L.A. is to rain. Any sign of the slightest of moisture in the air and Angelenos lose their shit and drive like dummies.
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#17This is basically what I think of every time it snows in Portland https://youtu.be/EaksWCnHaDM
This is what I think of:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UPTt6MgsOt8
Skip to 1m20s to save time.
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#18There should be a similar isitraininginla.com From the sounds of it Portland is to snow as L.A. is to rain. Any sign of the slightest of moisture in the air and Angelenos lose their shit and drive like dummies.
I have lived in both cities. This is accurate.
In LA, I think the issue is that people drive the exact same in the rain. There are no adjustments made to speed or space for braking.
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#19While it might not be super accurate, this simple site captures the way people panic in the PNW when it snows. It’s not uncommon to see cars abandoned on the side of roads (SR-520 in Washington, for example). Thanks for making me smile this morning.
Well...certain areas. I myself get excited when it is snowing and I get to drive.
Seattle tends to lose it's mind when there is barely any snow...but as soon as you get past Issaquah people start driving like they have been in snow before.
I remember one trip coming over the pass maintaining 50-60mph with a ton of snow...but as soon as I got down the hill everyone was driving 25mph on the freeway.
Mostly the PNW communities inland have it together when it comes to snow. Aside from certain areas such as Tri-Cities south to Umatilla, Columbia river gorge and the mountain passes you can typically expect to at least be able to get to your destination without issues. Central Oregon (HWY97) uses what appears to be crushed lava rock on the highway...which is quite nice.
From what I have seen though...the coastal areas (or any area which doesn't regularly get snow) people, cars and road crews are not prepared for what happens when it falls.
I live and grew up in North Idaho...outside Spokane. Snow driving is just something you accept and learn to prepare for. If I lived in Portland though I would likely stay home. It isn't "my" driving I am worried about. It is the person who has near 0 snow driving experience, and/or in a car without proper tires and maintenance that is going to be the issues.
At night you should never outdrive your headlights...in winter you should never outdrive a reasonable stopping distance. If you are not prepared or comfortable operating a vehicle in the snow...don't drive for a few hours or even days.
Re: Is It Snowing in Portland, Oregon?
#20While it might not be super accurate, this simple site captures the way people panic in the PNW when it snows. It’s not uncommon to see cars abandoned on the side of roads (SR-520 in Washington, for example). Thanks for making me smile this morning.
Having grown up in the midwest and moved to the PNW as an adult, the PNW does not manage snowfall in populated areas. This is not a fault of the people but rather the infrastructure--there just aren't enough plows, de-icing agents, etc. In Ohio for example when winter storm warnings occur there will be armies of plow drivers mobilized and removing snow almost the minute it hits. They realize the sooner you can get it off the road the easier it will be in the long run to keep everything clear. In Seattle unfortunately it will snow on the roads, stay there and get compacted, icy, hard, etc. and be much harder to remove (and much, much more dangerous to drive on especially with the hills in the city).