Dangerous Winds On I-10 today (AZ and NM)

doxiemom11 wrote:
Why don't you sit it out and go another day?

That certainly is the best choice. However, forecasts are never all that accurate. The day before a trip it may say heavy rain, snow, wind etc. and next morning its sunny and calm. Or the opposite happens frequently.

I think for most its a matter of not having another day to wait. This weekend is Christmas. Wait another day and you may as well wait a week, month etc. Not saying thats a good choice if weather is nasty!

I also tend to think that many tow far too fast in bad conditions. High winds and they're still towing at 65+mph.

I myself will be driving on I-8 to San Diego on Saturday. Watching the forecast closely. High winds and rain are expected. Says 35mph gusts. I can handle that but if higher may be forced to wait.

Because it is dangerous to drive in high winds, I don't understand why so many get on the roads anyway. Why don't you sit it out and go another day? Just don't understand what is so important to put yourselves in danger of injury or death.
We have friends who couldn't wait to head south - high winds in AL flipped their tt. They totalled both the tt and truck. Wife injured badly, husband more minor injuries and dog killed. Was it worth not waiting another day?

We are in Blythe headed to San Diego today. With the rain, our planned route to El Centro via CA-79 is 'not recommended due to numerous flash flooded sections'.

So we will be taking I-10 up to near Riverside and I-15 down to SD. Adds about 80 miles to the drive - and that wonderful southern CA freeway traffic.

(US-95 from Quartzsite to Yuma is also not recommeded due to flash flooding. Yesterday north of Quartzsite there was water standing on the road in several places.)

We'll be heading on I-8 west to San Diego. Forecast says high winds, heavy rain and possible snow thru the mountains between El Centro and San Diego on Saturday morning. Not supposed to stick so roads should be ok but not looking forward to the rain and wind.

We had the front pass through Texas overnight Saturday. 30 degree temp drop and fairly high winds. Not anything like 60mph though; probably more like 30-40. I wouldn't want to be driving I-10 anywhere in Texas today.

Here's a Grand Design Momentum toy hauler that got sideways during the high winds in Northern Arizona yesterday. The report didn't state whether the wind caused this or not, but in that area it was gusting to 60+ MPH around the time of the accident. This trailer runs around $100K. Ouch!



Jim

We did get what the Advisory called for plus periodic heavy rain most of the night.

Good to go now...sunny and light winds.

Safe travels.

We had those very high winds out here in Nevada yesterday. Gives a new meaning to "Rocking & Rolling". A lot of RVs lost there slide toppers. Had one come blowing right by my rig.

Zero visibility dust storms hit I 10 between Tucson and Phoenix several times a year. It will look fine and in under a minute you have zero visibility and you and everyone around you is driving 75 MPH. NOT FUN.
If you wont take the advice of parking till the Wind Advisory is over and you get caught in it:
Pull your vehicle off the pavement as far as possible, stop, turn off lights, set the emergency brake, take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated. Stay in your seats with your seat belts on.
LIGHTS OUT!
In the past, motorists driving in dust storms have pulled off the roadway, leaving lights on. Vehicles approaching from the rear and using the advance car's lights as a guide have inadvertently left the roadway and in some instances collided with the parked vehicle. Make sure all of your lights are off when you park off the roadway.

That's why we are parked until Sunday.