Worst Case Scenario-Snow In TN

[lugnut33]

So, we are supposed to be driving down (From Wisconsin) beginning Christmas Day and one thing I've always worried about is a snow storm disrupting the plans. Well, it looks like the worst case scenario for a snow storm is going to take place beginning Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day because it's happening in Tennessee.

Here in Wisconsin we can handle snow, it's no big deal. But in TN they panic. People don't know how to drive. I'm not worried about driving in snow, I'm worried about everyone else who is on the roads in TN. People in TN are not equipped to handle the snow and after an inch or two they may shut down the whole state.

Not sure what I'm going to do.

 

[DebbieB]

So, we are supposed to be driving down (From Wisconsin) beginning Christmas Day and one thing I've always worried about is a snow storm disrupting the plans. Well, it looks like the worst case scenario for a snow storm is going to take place beginning Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day because it's happening in Tennessee.

Here in Wisconsin we can handle snow, it's no big deal. But in TN they panic. People don't know how to drive. I'm not worried about driving in snow, I'm worried about everyone else who is on the roads in TN. People in TN are not equipped to handle the snow and after an inch or two they may shut down the whole state.

Not sure what I'm going to do.

I think if you stick to the interstates, you will be fine.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you are talking about Eastern Tennessee in the mountains, then don't worry about safety; they are equipped to handle it on the Interstates. Traffic will be severely slowed, however.

Western Tennessee near Memphis is another story entirely. They don't stock much road salt/sand on that end of the state, and if it gets really bad they have been known to resort to treating the highways with pea gravel. (Luckily it VERY seldom gets really bad that far west.)

Are you coming down through Illinois? If the weather goes bad, you could veer a little west and come down I-55 via St. Louis, then veer back east starting in northern Mississippi on I-22. Obviously, that's a much longer route, but it avoids any higher-altitude terrain that is more likely to get snow. (I make absolutely no promises about ice, however. NE Arkansas tends to get ice.)

 

[lugnut33]

If you are talking about Eastern Tennessee in the mountains, then don't worry about safety; they are equipped to handle it on the Interstates. Traffic will be severely slowed, however.

Western Tennessee near Memphis is another story entirely. They don't stock much road salt/sand on that end of the state, and if it gets really bad they have been known to resort to treating the highways with pea gravel. (Luckily it VERY seldom gets really bad that far west.)

Are you coming down through Illinois? If the weather goes bad, you could veer a little west and come down I-55 via St. Louis, then veer back east starting in northern Mississippi on I-22. Obviously, that's a much longer route, but it avoids any higher-altitude terrain that is more likely to get snow. (I make absolutely no promises about ice, however. NE Arkansas tends to get ice.)

yeah, we are coming down through Illinois. That western route is an option. I look at TN and it appears to be a giant iceberg blocking the entire southeast.

 

[hearts8701]

i drove down a few years ago from chicago in january i hit a bad ice storm in the mountains of tennessee causing traffic to be stopped and i mean stopped for 18 hours!!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Still 3 days away--the forecasts could be wrong.

 

[sam_gordon]

To get to TN, you have to go through KY. Talk about people panicking!