Arizona Weather = Suckitude

Verna

@Pitpat, I-70 around St Louis is closed until maybe this afternoon due to flood waters over the interstate. 

PITPAT

@Verna , thanks for the heads up. Have to use I-70 in St Louis to I-44. Yikes, this is getting more and more bizarre. T@B is now sitting in driveway all hitched up. Been loading gear in between rain showers....but that's better than snow & ice! Plan is to pull out on Wed, stop off in Columbus to pick up solar panel and then westward ho!

jcfaber1

PXLated, if  you don't like your weather come here to Rockford IL.  It is freezing rain - sleet @30-32 degrees.  I just left work and cleaned 3 inches of ice,sleet and corn snow off of my car.  Want to trade?
John

Verna

@Pitpat, watch out for I-44, also.  It was closed this afternoon also.  My new raincoat is waterproof--I've been loading during the showers!

RZRBUG

I've been checking road conditions as well.  Here are links to highways in the states you may be travelling.

(Missouri)  http://traveler.modot.org/map/

(Oklahoma)  http://www.dps.state.ok.us/cgi-bin/weathermap.cgi

(Arkansas)  http://www.idrivearkansas.com/#traffic

(New Mexico) http://nmroads.com/

(Texas)  http://drivetexas.org/#/6/30.669/-94.884?future=false&=null

(Arizona)  http://www.az511.gov/adot/files/traffic/

Nomad

I guess I have it good :-)
That's the kind of weather I never want to see again. Last year at this time I was in the Albuquerque area - heard there's tons of snow there right not - none last year.

Allie

Most of you probably already know about this app, but RVPARKY tells what  RV Parks are in the area around you incase an unscheduled stop comes up.  Everyone drive carefully and take your time.

Michigan_Mike

PXLated said:

Patti - Hope Jenn's right, 27 degrees this morning :-(

It's been warmer here in Michigan than out there.   I'm still wearing shorts!  

Nomad

Mike - Indoors or out? ;-)

Verna

@Pitpat, I-44 is closed again. A river that is normally 4 ft is at 32 ft and is over the Interstate. There's quite a long detour to get around it. 

jkjenn

@PITPAT
It might make sense to think about taking I-80/76 to Denver and then either 70 (depending on weather) or I-25 south.

What a week for travel!

Mr_Mrs_Gnome

@PITPAT & @jkjenn, be aware that Colorado is now enforcing traction laws on I70, West of Denver. http://gearjunkie.com/colorado-snow-tire-requirements-2015

PITPAT

Thanks @RZRBUGfor the Missouri DOT page. After Verna's posting this afternoon I thought I'd best check out . Holy Moly....look at all the closing due to flooding. I may need pontoons on my T@B to get across Missouri. 

jkjenn

Oh, brother, @PITPAT!

@Mr_Mrs_Gnome good to know! Although, you probably don't want to tow a T@b on I-70 during chain weather, anyway!

Wanderoo

I agree with Jenn -- it's El Nino.  My son lives in Wickenburg, AZ, and he said it's been extremely cold and windy -- very unlike Arizona weather typically is.  When my parents were alive in the 80's and lived in Sun City, I visited them at Christmastime and could expect 60+ degrees and gorgeous swimsuit weather.   I'm watching the sky as well, because I will be Tucson-bound mid January.  I will hang back for a couple of days if the weather is ominous.  Just don't want to chance it.   

Tomorrow is my last day of work.  Happy retirement to me!  Still hoping to make the Lake Pleasant camping trip, but if not, Coyote Howls for sure in February.

Stay safe Fellow-Tabbers.

Normfun

Beth congratulations on retirement!!  We're about 10 months behind you in that. Enjoy. 

Nomad

Beth - Second that congrats!
Wickenburg's a nice little town. Tried to stay there last year but they had some kind of horse/rodeo thing going on :-(

Wanderoo

Thanks, Norm.  I can't wait to just get out and camp more.  Woo Hoo!  You'll hear from me on this Forum about my travels.  Hang in there -- your time will be here before you know it. 

jkjenn

Wanderoo said:

I agree with Jenn -- it's El Nino.  My son lives in Wickenburg, AZ, and he said it's been extremely cold and windy -- very unlike Arizona weather typically is.  When my parents were alive in the 80's and lived in Sun City, I visited them at Christmastime and could expect 60+ degrees and gorgeous swimsuit weather.   I'm watching the sky as well, because I will be Tucson-bound mid January.  I will hang back for a couple of days if the weather is ominous.  Just don't want to chance it.   

Tomorrow is my last day of work.  Happy retirement to me!  Still hoping to make the Lake Pleasant camping trip, but if not, Coyote Howls for sure in February.

Stay safe Fellow-Tabbers.

Woohoo for your last day of work and retirement!! That's awesome!

Wanderoo

RZRBUG, thanks for the links to the highways in Arizona and New Mexico.

Yeah, Jenn -- It's "living the dream" time for me.  Got the T-shirt that says that with the teardrop on it.  Ha!

Verna

Congrats, Beth! You'll keep asking yourself why you waited so long!  The t-shirt my sister gave me said "The Legend has left the building".  It'll be 5 years on Jan 31st.

Mr_Mrs_Gnome

Congrats Betth. Would love to catch up with you before you leave CO.

jkjenn

Bad news for the SW AZ snow geese: A nasty storm might be on the horizon sometime around January 8th.

Verna

Thanks, Jenn. Guess I better leave home tomorrow. I've veen waiting for a lot of the high water to fall, while getting everything done and organized before I leave.  It seems like as soon as I finish loading "the last thing" I find something else. It's been a good way to remove excess baggage.

Sgtjohn

I'm in Gulfport for another day awaiting a slack in the rain.  Mid-Jan they are predicting flooding here due to the Missippi river oat flood stage.Right now St Louis MO is flooding and it's moving south.

Wanderoo

JKJenn -- What websites do you find the best source for predicting weather and incoming storms?

I guess anybody could chime in here if you have a favorite source.  Thanks!

Nomad

SgtJohn - Heard the Missippi is up 15 ft in the St. Louis area.

Nomad

When ya'll get down in AZ - Be prepared to go through a bunch of propane with the cold (below freezing) weather. With Alde at night and fridge, I'm using roughly a 20 pounder a week. Lines every day at the propane refill stations.

Verna

I finally checked out the Alde on propane in the driveway. It works just fine. Forgot to check the frig.

Nomad

Well of course, you had to make sure your fancy heat vents worked ;-)