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| National Weather Service |
In weather speak, the symbols mean:
Continuous fall of snowflakes (heavy)
Ice pellets (sleet)
Rain, freezing, slight
The winter weather they've been predicting since Monday-a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain-made its way into the area today. I was ready.
This morning I had to be at work at 9:30 (which means leaving the house at 8:50). The snow was supposed to start about 9:00. Based on what I'd heard, it was going to be a rough commute home, and I decided to make the morning commute easy on myself. I spent less time in blogland after breakfast and got on the road a half hour earlier than usual in case the storm started sooner than predicted.
There was absolutely no precipitation on my drive to the mall, and I pulled into the parking lot a little bit before 9. I decided to ignore the rule that says employees are supposed to park on the top level of the garage or on the far corners of the surface lot. Instead, I left my car in the covered section of the parking garage; I didn't think there'd be too many customers coming out in this weather and jockeying for the spaces
There was absolutely no precipitation on my drive to the mall, and I pulled into the parking lot a little bit before 9. I decided to ignore the rule that says employees are supposed to park on the top level of the garage or on the far corners of the surface lot. Instead, I left my car in the covered section of the parking garage; I didn't think there'd be too many customers coming out in this weather and jockeying for the spaces
To pass the time, I locked my coat and purse in the Customer Service desk office, then walked the mall until it was time to clock in. After I set everything up at the desk (which took 10 minutes), I spent another 15 minutes walking. On the last leg I went past a doorway and saw the first fluffy white flakes coming down. The desk lights went on right at 10 when the mall opened, and I waited for the customers I didn't think would come.
Over the course of my five hour shift there weren't many customers. However, I was very busy. Every few minutes the phone rang and the person on the other end wanted to know if (A) the mall was open or (B) if the mall was closing early. The calls were evenly mixed between customers and store employees wanting to know if they should come into work.
When I'm at the desk I can't see the outside world, so I had to go on the information that was coming to me. One caller told me the roads "were turning into parking lots". Another said cars were going off the road "everywhere". I tend to take comments like these with a grain of salt, so I wasn't overly concerned. My standard answer to the closing early question was that I didn't know, but if the management office decided they'd post a notification on the mall Website.
My shift was over at 2:30. After my replacement clocked in I clocked out, and got ready for the journey home by using the restroom. The first driving challenge happened just a block from the mall, when I encountered cars sliding on the highway entrance ramp. I managed to drive around them and get on the highway but then sat, barely moving, for a half hour. When I heard the highway was closed several miles up ahead because of stalled vehicles I took the next exit. So did a lot of other cars. It took 10 minutes to get to the end of the exit ramp, and then another 20 minutes to get through a stoplight less than a mile away. However, once I got past the light there wasn't much traffic, and I pulled into my driveway a little over two hours after I left the mall, happy to be home.
It's supposed to get above freezing tomorrow afternoon. Between the snowplows and the warmer weather I hope the roads are in good shape before the next time I have to leave the house.
Five years ago today: New Thing #41--Can You Teach a Cat a Trick?
Five years ago today: New Thing #41--Can You Teach a Cat a Trick?
Glad you made it home safely, sounds scary!
ReplyDeleteIt was more annoying than scary, but DEFINITELY not fun!
DeleteThat weather is never fun to drive in, especially when you're chugging along with your lane of traffic at ten or fifteen, and the cowboys charge down the outside lane that is a foot deep, endangering everyone. Somehow I never see them overturned in the median, worse luck.
ReplyDeleteAt one point on my trip home I was on a two lane road, of which only one lane was clear. There was a stoplight at the top, and a slight incline to get there. The traffic was stopped and I waited at the bottom of the incline, thinking it would be easier to get traction when the cars in front of me started moving.
DeleteAll of a sudden a car plowed through the snow-covered lane to my right and cut in front of me-the young male in the car had the nerve to look over at me and shake his head, like I didn't know what I was doing!
Stay safe, Kathy. My daughter just sent me photos of a snowman that my granddaughter and friend were building outside their home in Illinois. They tell me they have a lot of snow too.
ReplyDeleteWinter weather is much more fun when you don't have to drive in it :-)
DeleteWow, sounds like winter is really hitting hard. Hope your next work day was less stressful. Sounds like you spent more time on the road than at work!
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I wasn't scheduled the next day. I have a meeting I attend on Friday mornings, but it was cancelled. I didn't leave the house until late afternoon, and the roads were fine by then.
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