[Misc] The Award-winning official "More Snow Tomorrow?" Thread [2024-25 Season]

[PILTDOWN MAN]

No they don’t.

My EV has 4 wheel drive and I suspect many others do as they often have a motor at the back and at the front. But even with a 2 wheel drive car, winter tyres is what you need more than anything else, not a smelly 4x4.

Never had an issue with normal tyres and a 4x4. Only thing I've ever got stuck is my tractor, had to wait for a good hard frost and drove it out the field at 5am in the morning.

 

[wunt be druv]

The Argus comments will include legends at driving, bemoaning rubbish drivers. And that old chestnut of “the Austrians and Finns never have problems with snow”. Where there’s a colossal annual spend on clearing the guaranteed snow, winter tyres are mandatory and they do have snowmageddon days on the roads.

I have driven in Finland and it is a completely different experience, the snow is dry and dusty, the consistency almost the same as sawdust, so long as you don't lock your wheels and avoid sudden movements you're fine, I adopt similar techniques over here and trundle along quite nicely, off to Inari at the weekend so will enjoy some proper cold and snow!

 

[JonnyCLately]

but will we get any more?

 

[Jam The Man]

Epic journey home given there wasn’t that much snow.
Left Burgess Hill at 1615, and have arrived in Lancing at 1910.
2 hours of that was stuck on Clayton Hill.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

That's harsh - it is pretty awful on the roads considering gritters caught completely by surprise

How could the gritters be caught by surprise? I knew by looking on my phone lunchtime?

 

[Weststander]

I have driven in Finland and it is a completely different experience, the snow is dry and dusty, the consistency almost the same as sawdust, so long as you don't lock your wheels and avoid sudden movements you're fine, I adopt similar techniques over here and trundle along quite nicely, off to Inari at the weekend so will enjoy some proper cold and snow!

I’ve driven many times in the Alps in winter, in our old car or rental cars. Winter tyres are incredible (I had a set on a VW Golf), even though just a FWD we could drive the final few km on uncleared snow on ascents.

The Alps on Saturday travel days can be carnage. It only takes one person who’s ignored the particular nation or region’s rule on tyres or chains, to bring a road to a halt for everyone. The police sometimes do checks at the base of big climbs.

 

[Weststander]

How could the gritters be caught by surprise? I knew by looking on my phone lunchtime?

Conflicting reports? Many meteorological sauces relayed here, forecast the South Downs/coastal belt to be about 3C or 4C with rain.

Which is very much par for the course for snow devoid Sussex coast. This has caught a lot of people out.

 

[VAL1850]

I have driven in Finland and it is a completely different experience, the snow is dry and dusty, the consistency almost the same as sawdust, so long as you don't lock your wheels and avoid sudden movements you're fine, I adopt similar techniques over here and trundle along quite nicely, off to Inari at the weekend so will enjoy some proper cold and snow!

Agree... Plus nothing goes faster than an Austrian taxi....

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Left SILs in Lancing at 16.15.
Arrived Coldean 19.25.
A littering of various vehicles abandoned on the way
Not the worsted I've endured....but not the bestest either

 

[jessiejames]

No they don’t.

My EV has 4 wheel drive and I suspect many others do as they often have a motor at the back and at the front. But even with a 2 wheel drive car, winter tyres is what you need more than anything else, not a smelly 4x4.

In Europe From 1st November through to end of April all vehicles 3.5 t and above must have winter tyres on, class 1 and class 2 trucks must carry snow chains as well. Ski resort snow chains must be on the wheels and this rule starts in October. Hate putting chains on when it's really cold, that's when you realise how shite lorry driving is.

 

[Weststander]

Agree... Plus nothing goes faster than an Austrian taxi....

I had to take one from Hochgurgl to Soelden to collect a prescription for family. The driver was an absolute loon, I felt ill on each hairpin bend.

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

Left Crawley at 3.30 - and just got in. Went via Coldean to drop a colleague off - got turned around on the Hollingbury slip road , and headed very slowly down five ways and Lewes Road

 

[Madafwo]

I’ve driven many times in the Alps in winter, in our old car or rental cars. Winter tyres are incredible (I had a set on a VW Golf), even though just a FWD we could drive the final few km on uncleared snow on ascents.

The Alps on Saturday travel days can be carnage. It only takes one person who’s ignored the particular nation or region’s rule on tyres or chains, to bring a road to a halt for everyone. The police sometimes do checks at the base of big climbs.

Still got the winter tyres from my old car on the wall of the garage, got me back from Manchester when we played United in the FA Cup during the Beast from the East, and round Manchester again a few years ago when it froze over near Christmas.

I've been tempted to get some Michelin CrossClimate tyres for my current car as a just in case, but it's an £800 just in case.

 

[Cotton Socks]

In defence of the gritters they go out overnight & not many of us see them. The salt & grit needs the movement of the cars to mix it in with the snow. It started snowing around 2pm in Stanmer Park. We went to Hove then to Kemptown, at 3.20pm Wilsons Ave was a 'white out' & took 45 mins to get to Hollingbury. When it snows heavily in a short space of time there just isn't enough time for the salt & grit to mix with the snow.

Edit @PILTDOWN MAN

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Conflicting reports? Many meteorological sauces relayed here, forecast the South Downs/coastal belt to be about 3C or 4C with rain.

Which is very much par for the course for snow devoid Sussex coast. This has caught a lot of people out.

Rain will turn to snow below 2C it's not beyond belief the temp may drop to that. It is incredible how poor this country is in planning

 

[Thunder Bolt]

How could the gritters be caught by surprise? I knew by looking on my phone lunchtime?

It was raining hard at 2pm before it turned to snow. Any grit would’ve been washed away and a waste of time.

 

[Weststander]

Still got the winter tyres from my old car on the wall of the garage, got me back from Manchester when we played United in the FA Cup during the Beast from the East, and round Manchester again a few years ago when it froze over near Christmas.

I've been tempted to get some Michelin CrossClimate tyres for my current car as a just in case, but it's an £800 just in case.

I had Continental WinterContact, 5 of them as for the spare too, which was needed as one was ruined in the Alps. When the Golf was sold, I sold the winter tyres one October and got a high price. A pain was the twice yearly changeover at a tyre fitters.

Those Michelin’s are highly rated by folk who drive to the Alps each winter.

 

[jessiejames]

Was looking forward to being home tonight, fat chance, had to pull onto industrial estate will spend night here, bit of Netflix, off to sleep, up and on road by 4.30 back to yard, shower breakfast, fill up with food and start the day again. Hopefully home Friday evening.

 

[Weststander]

Rain will turn to snow below 2C it's not beyond belief the temp may drop to that. It is incredible how poor this country is in planning

But this happens so many times a winter. All the snow lovers on nsc get their hopes up, then Littlehamton to Eastbourne gets bugger all. Just relative mild and a load of rain. I’ve been sent pics tonight of low level Rottingdean with a load of settled snow by Sussex standards. No one following the experts thought near sea level Sussex coast was going to see settled snow this afternoon.

The best bet was Ditchling Beacon getting a dusting, soon washed away by rain.

 

[dazzer6666]

Thawing very quickly in balmy Mid Sussex