Please! No more! We're supposed to get freezing rain for Christmas!
By mentalward
@mentalward (14691)
United States
December 22, 2009 7:58am CST
Good grief. It wasn't bad enough that we got 33 inches of snow on Saturday but now the weather gurus are saying we will be getting freezing rain, starting Thursday night and ending Friday night!
Those of you who've had freezing rain know what I'm talking about. For those who have never experienced it, freezing rain is precipitation that comes down as rain but freezes on contact with whatever it touches, the ground, the cars, the trees, everything!
It covered the roads, too. NOTHING except maybe a flame thrower can melt it if the temperature doesn't go too far above freezing. Driving is impossible. Walking on it is impossible. Maybe you'd have a shot at getting where you need to go if you had on ice skates (and were good at skating) but that's about it.
Christmas Day! That's going to ruin my plans. I'm already thinking of postponing our celebration until the following weekend so everyone who was planning on coming over, can come over. HOPEFULLY, we won't have MORE bad weather before then! 
Would you want to drive someplace on Christmas Day if the roads were covered with ice or would you rather postpone it for another day? If I were planning to travel, I'd wait!
Would you want to drive someplace on Christmas Day if the roads were covered with ice or would you rather postpone it for another day? If I were planning to travel, I'd wait!5 people like this
24 responses
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
22 Dec 09
There is rain and rain and freezing rain in our forecast for thursday and friday too. My friend and I have our traditional christmas eve shopping trip planned. We are still going but we are trusting the weatherman on his prediction of when it will start and plan to be home ahead of it.
Once it starts I'm in for the duration of it. Ice is near impossible to drive in and I don't like sliding around in it.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Dec 09
I see mountains in your avatar. Are you by any chance in Virginia? That's where I am, in Winchester. Last year and the year before were very mild. We had some ice storms but not much snow and the ice didn't last long. This year, though... geesh! We JUST got the most snow I can remember in one snowstorm except one when I was about 7 years old. We got four feet of snow in one storm way back then. Now, freezing rain on Christmas day.
Well, it's all up to me as to when to have our Christmas dinner. I don't want to be responsible for anyone having an accident or getting hurt. I think that if they're still calling for this weather tomorrow, I'll change our plans. I'm trying to give the weather guys enough time to change their minds. LOL
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
22 Dec 09
Hiya jewels49,
I thought those were Mountains too did´nt realise they were trees covered with snow.
Just to be hopes if there is any freezing rain it will come and go away while everyone is asleep.
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
22 Dec 09
They do look like mountains don't they They are actually snow covered trees..I'm in Michigan, we got slammed with snow knee deep twice in the last 2 weeks and we probably picked up another inch yesterday from the lake effect snow.
I'm sure that everyone would understand if you rescheduled..they praobably would be relieved if you did, that way they don't have to feel bad about canceling because of bad weather.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Wow, 33 inches?! 
That's amazing! It's snowing here right now but Christmas Eve it's supposed to be 40 all day so the roads will be alright. Good thing, because I'm going to my cousin's house 40 miles away and on Christmas I'll be going to my dad's house. I don't want anything like what happened last year!
Last year we had that freezing rain. My son was supposed to come in on the 23rd and his plane had to turn around and come back the next day. I had spent 2 hours traveling the 25 miles to the airport because the roads were a solid sheet of ice and nobody was salting them. 
On the way back it seemed like I was the only driver that was able to control their car--cos nobody would slow down, not even the cops!
A white Christmas is beautiful but not when you have to travel! I hope your roads clear up so your plans aren't ruined!
That's amazing! It's snowing here right now but Christmas Eve it's supposed to be 40 all day so the roads will be alright. Good thing, because I'm going to my cousin's house 40 miles away and on Christmas I'll be going to my dad's house. I don't want anything like what happened last year!
Last year we had that freezing rain. My son was supposed to come in on the 23rd and his plane had to turn around and come back the next day. I had spent 2 hours traveling the 25 miles to the airport because the roads were a solid sheet of ice and nobody was salting them. On the way back it seemed like I was the only driver that was able to control their car--cos nobody would slow down, not even the cops!
A white Christmas is beautiful but not when you have to travel! I hope your roads clear up so your plans aren't ruined!1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
22 Dec 09
If not for my son coming in I would never have ventured out! You're right, we do what needs to be done and we don't whine about it, we just DO IT! Afterward we can get the shakes or have a cry or something but we take care of business. 
Did you win your case? Why don't you start a new discussion about it? I have a relative who is greedy, too.
If my plans are ruined, I'll just turn on the gas fireplace and watch a movie with my dogs!
Did you win your case? Why don't you start a new discussion about it? I have a relative who is greedy, too.
If my plans are ruined, I'll just turn on the gas fireplace and watch a movie with my dogs! @dragon54u (31636)
• United States
22 Dec 09
I'm so glad it worked out!! Yes, I've heard of Bethlehem Steel and it was a monster back then, very profitable. I feel kind of sorry for your uncle and also my uncle who is greedy--they don't really have anything that matters. They may have people who love them but they value only the money so their lives are ultimately empty and miserable.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
22 Dec 09
You guys really got hammered last weekend. We watched the news stories and really felt for you, because we were hit with a massive storm here in Iowa less than than two weeks ago. We're still digging out, and now forecasters are predicting rain, freezing rain, flooding, heavy snow, and wind for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We're worried about it, because our son and his wife are driving here from Queens today and tomorrow. It's always a real hardship when the holidays are full of bad weather.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Dec 09
It seems that the entire country is getting extreme weather this season. Where it's too warm to snow, they're getting flooding rains. It really has been awful.
I couldn't believe just how much we actually got. It is more snow than I've seen in any one storm since I was a little girl. We got 31 inches of snow back in 1983 but nowhere near that until this past weekend. The weather forecasters said we could get as much as two feet and I thought, well, that's not TOO bad, I've dealt with that before. But 33 inches was totally unexpected! The official report was 22 inches in our area but they obviously were not measuring at our house! I stuck a tape measure in the snow and it said 33, not 22.
I hope your son and daughter-in-law make it without having to go through any bad weather! I saw on radar that there is snow going past us, to the north and south but, thankfully, missing us this time!
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Hi Marti, hope this day find you doing well in spite of the terrible weather you are having.
As I type this I am looking at the weather channel.
First I would like to say I am sorry to hear about all the bad weather you guys are having up there in Virginia.
The weather here is fantastic at this moment, the sun is shinning, but it is cold, but tolerable cold. The weather forecast for Thursday and Friday of this week is calling for rain. Not freezing rain just rain. Which will interfere with some people Christmas celebration.
I am aware of freezing rain because we have gotten it here. You have to be very careful when you have that kind of precipitation it is dangerous.
If the forecast changes here I will certainly let you know.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Hi Chevee. I hope you don't get freezing rain! It will only happen if you've had more sub-freezing temperatures than above freezing. We'd had some days recently where it didn't get above 32F and it's going down to 17F or 18F most nights, more than enough to freeze the ground. We had freezing rain quite a few times since we moved here. At one point, I thought that was all we'd ever get in the winters here but this past weekend sure changed my mind! LOL
Since I'm getting used to this weather (I'll never like it but I'm getting used to it), I'll try to keep all the freezing weather up here so all you get is rain, unless you'd like some snow. I'd be more than happy to send some to you!
@good2go2001 (915)
• United States
22 Dec 09
We just had 12 inches of snow about a week ago and now they telling us freezing rain for Tuesday Wednesday and turning to snow for Thursday and Friday with totals of up to 18 inches new snow on top of ice. YUK im not going anywhere for Christmas staying home nice and warm, hopefully if the power stays on, and spending time with my children. We did have family that was suposed to travel here where we live to spend time with the children for Christmas but we have changed the date to Jan 2nd its not worth having one of them get into tradgic car accident on the way here. To me its fine to change the date just gives me more time to get things done like wrapping!
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Sounds good to me! I'm like you in that I don't want anyone coming to see me and chance having a bad accident and/or getting hurt! It's just not worth it. This is a season of good cheer and it's not very cheery when you're trying to drive on ice, let alone walk on it!
I just saw that they are still calling for freezing rain on Friday so I'm going to postpone this until the following weekend. My sons come over every Wednesday so I think we'll do our gift thing tomorrow and have the dinner the following weekend. I'd feel so much better about it.
I hope your power stays on and you have a wonderful time with your children. They are what makes Christmas what it is for me. My sons are adults but have no children yet so I'm in that "in-between" time with no little ones except for my dogs and they don't care WHEN they get their treats, just so they get them. LOL
@malamar (779)
• Canada
22 Dec 09
Good grief is an apt opening mental - it appears you are experiencing more than a fair share of winter's wrath! Here in Southern Ontario, it has been unseasonably mild, and almost no trace of snow yet!
I know and have experienced freezing rain, and let me tell you, nothing, absolutely nothing, would make me risk driving in those conditions! I would have Christmas in April before I would risk the lives of loved ones travelling in adverse driving conditions.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Thank you, malamar! Now, I don't feel so alone in my thoughts of postponing this. One friend of mine who comes over every Christmas with her family will have to drive 120 miles one way and she had three strokes last year. She can't walk well in GOOD conditions! If they got stuck, I couldn't live with myself!
It really doesn't matter when we celebrate it, right? Isn't it what's in our hearts and not at all about the date? I've had to postpone my youngest son's birthday parties often when he was young because he was born on January 26 and very often we had bad weather on that day or right before. The day before I was to bring him home from the hospital we had an ice storm. Poor thing! But, he understands now. (He's 25 now! LOL)
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
23 Dec 09
there is nothing more dangerous than freezing rain, you can see people in montreal here falling down in the middle of a busy intersection in this kind of weather. Worst still two people have been killed falling into the snow removal truck. It is just awful.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I had to drive after a freezing rain once and, even moving at 5 miles an hour, I still slid and bumped into a parked car. I've also slid and fallen on ice before. I was much younger then and, even though I did hurt myself, I bounced right back. I'm afraid my days of bouncing back are long gone now. I wouldn't dare step outside with ice all over the ground!
That's horrible about those people getting killed from the snow removal truck! I can understand how it happened, though. Sometimes, you have no choice and have to go out in this weather. I just wish people would be more careful and never take chances.
@legendforever4 (137)
• India
23 Dec 09
really you had a good view about the freezing situation..but people do it for FUN!
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Dec 09
i'd heard about that-we got at least 20 ourselves the other day..last thing we need is rain making an even bigger ice skating rink out of the state.
nor do i need the red dots on my skin if i have to go out.rain is bad enough,but freezing rain suuuuuuuuuucks
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Wow we had a lot of snow here in the NYC area but not 33 inches like where you are...we're still digging out of it a bit..LOL. And yes, I think it's supposed to rain on Christmas here as well, but not freezing rain. Sure wish it would snow instead but that would make traveling just as hazardous as well. Luckily my plans are to just stay home on Christmas regardless of the weather.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Christmas is always celebrated at my house, ever since my kids were little, so I won't have to worry about going out. I just don't want anyone who is supposed to come over to have an accident or get hurt and that is a very distinct possibility!
I've already told everyone that I want to put our celebration off for a week, maybe have it on Jan. 2nd. I'm sure that my friends who are coming from 120 miles away would never be able to make it, even if they tried. I have the feeling we'll be hearing of even more accidents than when it snowed. You can't even walk on the stuff!
My sons are coming over tomorrow for their weekly visit and we've decided to exchange gifts then and have the dinner a right after the New Year. They only live 12 miles from here but even 12 feet is treacherous on solid ice!
I'm glad to hear you're only getting rain! I hope it doesn't change to freezing rain. We were first told, last Friday, that we would get snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I was so happy! But, they changed that to freezing rain and it's stayed that way since. Looks like we'll definitely be getting it.
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
22 Dec 09
yea they are talking about a frezen rain here which means roads will be unsafe
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
22 Dec 09
not really we plan on a day with the girls at home an just staying home together I will be cooking for my family but thats it
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Hey Marti,
What a shame to have to postpone your party, but like you said, it's just not safe!! If everyone had studded tires it might not be so bad, but that's not likely the case. I'm sure your invited guests will feel more comfortable. Just stretch out Christmas a little longer. Wish I was there.
Hugsss
Leenie
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I think even studded tires would slide on ice. Spiked tires might work but I don't know where one could get them. I'm sure they don't exist. They'd tear up the roads that weren't covered in ice! I know that chains don't work. I've seen trucks with chains on their tires sliding.
My friend who lives 120 miles away still wants to come! I told her I'm not going to have the dinner this Friday because I don't want anyone having an accident or getting hurt but she's so stubborn! She had 3 strokes last year so she can't walk well on dry ground. There's no way she'd make it on ice! She also told me that they are expecting the same weather we are so they would be traveling on solid ice the entire way. Luckily, her husband does the driving and he has more sense. 
I'd love it if you were here, Leenie! We may not be able to go out and play in the snow like when we were kids, but we could look out the windows at it and enjoy it that way or watch my dogs having fun in it. They LOVE snow! LOL
Hey, I'll be sending you an email so keep an eye out for it.
Hugs right back at ya!
Marti
I know that chains don't work. I've seen trucks with chains on their tires sliding.
My friend who lives 120 miles away still wants to come! I told her I'm not going to have the dinner this Friday because I don't want anyone having an accident or getting hurt but she's so stubborn! She had 3 strokes last year so she can't walk well on dry ground. There's no way she'd make it on ice! She also told me that they are expecting the same weather we are so they would be traveling on solid ice the entire way. Luckily, her husband does the driving and he has more sense.
I'd love it if you were here, Leenie! We may not be able to go out and play in the snow like when we were kids, but we could look out the windows at it and enjoy it that way or watch my dogs having fun in it. They LOVE snow! LOL
Hey, I'll be sending you an email so keep an eye out for it.
Hugs right back at ya!
Marti1 person likes this
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Marti,
I would give anything to be there so you and I could enjoy the snow together. All that ice on the roads is pretty treacherous. I hope your friend re-thinks her plans. I don't blame her for being anxious though. What are you planning for your big dinner party? Have fun when you do have it. Merry Christmas!!!Ho Ho Ho!!!!
Love Ya,
Leenie
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Hey MW! I know exactly what you mean! We here in NY are having
the same weather predictions and that is so not good! There is
nothing worse than trying to walk or drive on a sheet of ice!
It is one of the scariest feelings that I know to try to walk
on it! I had to try to go to work and my damn boss didn't give
a crap that the roads and sidewalks were a sheet of glass and
that it was impossible to take a step without just about killing
yourself! So, I do know how horrible it can be when the weather
is predicted to be freezing rain! They mean just that! As soon
as it hits the pavement it is totally frozen! I only have one
friend coming for Christmas so if she can't get here it won't
be that bad for me and my boyfriend! We can spend a nice cozy
Christmas together!
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
23 Dec 09
Wow, that really is a lot of snow to get in one day. I remember we had a whole bunch of snow last year. Good thing we didn't get any freezing rain because I don't think I would be able to handle it. I hope the weather gets better for you soon.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Thank you, nijolechu. We haven't had much snow until this year. We moved here 2 1/2 years ago and the first two winters hardly any snow fell. This year is definitely making up for those years!
I'd much rather see snow, though, than freezing rain. That is impossible to drive on and no amount of salt will melt it, either. With the ground underneath so frozen, the salt just can't penetrate. There's nothing anyone can do except wait it out.
You won't catch me going out on solid ice! Not even chains on the tires help. I'd much rather postpone our Christmas celebration a week than risk having anyone have an accident.
@hoodwinks (157)
• United States
23 Dec 09
yeah that freezing rain can do some damage at least where I live, I live in upstate New York, and we get lots of snow and when it freeze rain it ices up on the power lines and there goes the light. can end up till like five hours with out power. I hate it when the lights go out. so dark and cold, goes to show how we take things for granted. I could not imagine a life with out electricity. would be sad and boring.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I can't think of a good thing about freezing rain. You're right about the power lines. We live in the mountains with lots of trees around. We have a giant oak tree right in front of our house with very large branches. If they get too heavy because of ice building up on them, they could come down and possibly go through our roof! And, as you said, there's always the possibility of losing electricity and the winter is not a time you want to lose electricity, unless you have gas heat or some other way of heating your house.
I do use solar panels for some electricity around here. We wouldn't be totally in the dark but our refrigerator isn't hooked up to the solar panels. Neither is our stove. I agree with you, a life without electricity would be very sad and boring! We sure are spoiled, aren't we? LOL
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Boy, the weather is just not cooperating. It sounds like a mess. Maybe you could call and ask a few of them, what they prefer to do. I hate freezing rain.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Yeah, freezing rain is the worst! I will be calling everyone later today to see what they want to do but I honestly would prefer to postpone our celebration. My youngest son could come over the day before because he hasn't found a job yet so he wouldn't have a problem getting stuck here. My oldest son is so dedicated, he'll probably go in to work (he has to work Christmas night). It's closer to his house than my house is, plus most of his driving would be through town so the roads might not be as bad as out here in the country.
The biggest problem is that we live in the mountains. There are lots of ups and downs to every road, nothing is level. That would be even harder to drive on without losing control. I'd just worry too much about anyone driving.
1 person likes this
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Sorry that your weather is so bad right here at this time of the year especially, people will be on the road trying to get to family no matter what the weather is like, as for me I think that when it puts a person's life at risk, I could wait a few days for it to clear up, rather than load my family into a car and have to slip and slide all the way there. 33 inches of snow, wow, that alone is a mess to deal with, and freezing rain on top of it only adds to the danger. We live in Ohio and yes know all about ice, I just stay in till it is gone, or heats up enough to melt it. I don't find that there is anything any more that is that important that I have to put my life in danger to get where it is I would have to drive on ice to get to.Life goes by all too fast for me to do stupid things to shorten it. Nothing not even christmas is worth endangering your life to get somewhere.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
23 Dec 09
People love Christmas but they hate the weather, I'm with them. We are in Houston, Texas so the weather is nice but we are going to travel for the New Year and it will probably suck and be cold where we're going. Hopefully global warming will kick in and melt all the ice, I was being a jerk there Al Gore.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Thank you so much, jilshi. I wish you a very Merry Christmas, too.
I would love to send you some of this snow! This is the most snow I've seen in one storm since I was a little girl, MANY years ago!
Snow is very beautiful and fun to play in but, when it comes to shoveling it or even just trying to walk in it, it's no fun. Driving in it is not bad as long as you are cautious and slow down. Some people here never slow down, though. They are usually the ones that cause the traffic accidents or end up in a ditch by the side of the road, or worse.
I hope you will be able to experience snow at least once in your life.
@terrile (97)
• United States
23 Dec 09
You must be in Virginia? I would give my eye teeth to be there on Christmas. I would just plan to get there before it started and leave after it cleared up. but then again I would be coming from out of state. I definately would not like to be on the roads there during an ice storm. been there done that was dug out of a ditch. Hope however you plan it, it turns out to be a merry one.
@legendforever4 (137)
• India
23 Dec 09
yea! on this x-mas i need to make my whole day freezing ,scatter on the ice and i won't miss this chance..in common to daily life action freezing is a different day with x-mas isn't it?
