It never hurts commuters to be prepared for snowfall
Amanda Mottola knew the snow was coming.
She heard the forecast in the morning, so stocked up on snacks and water. She threw a blanket in the car. She packed a phone charger.
"I was prepared," Mottola said. "I filled up with gas before I left work for home."
That little bit of preparation turned a marathon commute into something bearable for Mottola and her husband, Paolo. The two were stuck in their car for 10 ½ hours on Nov. 22, 2010, as they drove from Seattle to Tacoma.
The Mottolas played games, made videos, listened to NPR and composed rap songs as they inched along Interstate 5 in their Mazda 3 hatchback. They tweeted their experience.
They had been married six months.
"We had a lot of fun," said Amanda, 30, who lives in Tacoma and works as a caregiver in Seattle. "I got to know my husband."
Other drivers ran out of gas and had to abandon their cars.
The Mottolas' preparation is something to consider as an early snowfall is potentially just weeks away. Weather experts predict we're in for a second straight La Niña winter, which brings wetter and colder weather to the Pacific Northwest. Last year's November snowfall was the earliest since 1996.
"The most important thing is vehicle maintenance," said Aaron Jordan, a 13-year-veteran of the Pierce County search-and-rescue 4X4 unit.
Tires should be properly inflated — they can lose a pound of air pressure for every 10-degree drop in temperature — and should have good treads.
Drivers should have chains in the car and know how to use them.
Studded tires are OK for compact snow and ice but won't be much help in deep snow, Jordan says.
Other useful items include jumper cables, kitty litter (to spread for traction), gloves, road flares, emergency blankets, and extra shoes or boots.
If you've got children, consider packing toys or coloring books (and diapers) to keep them busy if you get stuck in the car.
Sliding Cars in Seattle Snow on 11/22/10 | Alexbar Site
@MrGlenn7788 It’s because in Seattle our snow doesn’t last long at all. The snow you’re seeing in the video was gone by morning. People here don’t bother with snow tires like that because we don’t get very much snow. And honestly it’s the ice more than the snow. It melts during the day and then freezes at night. They are literally driving down a hill that is pure ice.
The only car that might have some kind of winter tires is the white SUV in the beginning of the video. Do you see any difference in car behavior between that car and all the rest? To buy proper winter tires is well spend money. On winter roads, the difference between summer tires (and “all seasnon” tires) and proper winter tires is like night and day. Yes I have tried….
This is what driving with summer tires during winter seson looks like. WHY does all these people try to drive when the summer tires is still on the car? This doesnt look like any “extreme” winter conditions, just some snow and ice on the roads? Whith proper winter tires this would not be a big problem. It should not be leagal to drive with summer tires in these conditions. And roadsalt will only make it worse when the wet salted roads re-freeze! Use proper/ real winter tires and heated sand!