OT: Ann Arbor Weather Support/Help

Submitted by FauxMo on January 29th, 2019 at 2:50 PM

The weather is bad here, for those of you that aren't local. Including MLK Day last week, my kids have been to 3 days of school of the last potential 7. Tomorrow will make it 3 of 8, as the district has already called off school for tomorrow. Apparently it is going to be colder than at any point since wooly mammoth (or is it mammi?) roamed the state. 

Between these kids at home constantly and the grey and cold, I am losing my mind. 

I am seriously considering putting my name in the transfer portal for any school south of Tennessee... 

NittanyFan

January 29th, 2019 at 3:16 PM ^

Airplanes actually perform better operationally (engine performance, lift, et cetera) in colder temperatures vs. warm.  That's a function of the more dense air.  That's also why, if you fly out of an airport like Denver in summer: it takes a lot of runway to take off and then the climb-out is slow too.  

They'll keep all the airplanes overnight on the APUs (auxillary power units) to prevent stuff from freezing (that's something they usually don't need to do with overnight planes in milder air).

Jet fuel isn't at a significant risk of freezing - its freezing point is -53 F.

The big thing with the cold is that (1) ground crew will be significantly less efficient working in the extreme cold, (2) a non-zero risk of lav and water trucks freezing, and (3) the ground trucks and ground equipment may not work (diesel fuel will coagulate when it's in the single digits above zero, much less well below zero).

So those are issues.  I've read that United has preemptively canceled ~ 20% of their flights out of O'Hare for Wednesday.  

Which - given it's a Wednesday in January, one of the slower days for airline travel in the calendar year - United (or Delta in Detroit) will have slack in the system.  It won't be overly difficult to re-route those folk through other hubs and not suffer operationally.

Joined: 12/04/2012

MGoPoints: 43300

stjoemfan

January 29th, 2019 at 6:04 PM ^

I flew out of Midway today. Currently sitting in Pasadena. Only 71 here.

There are no slower days right now. I tried to reschedule my flight from today to tomorrow or Thursday and there were NO seats available. On ANY flight on Southwest. I looked at flying into San Jose, no seats. Fly into Sacramento? No seats.

There have been so many cancellations and bumping that all flights are sold out.

With that being said our flight was sold out but was less than 65% full. A lot of people must have cancelled in the last day.

Joined: 12/11/2008

MGoPoints: 1645

East Quad

January 29th, 2019 at 3:07 PM ^

I did that (entered the portal) in January 1978 and don't regret it.  I didn't mind the cold, just the 90 days of not seeing the sun.  Started my post Michigan career in Houston TX but have lived in Northwest FL since 1992. Still have some frost, but not the lingering gray days. I don't mind the heat or the occasional hurricane.

Joined: 11/12/2017

MGoPoints: 52719

BlueMan80

January 29th, 2019 at 3:22 PM ^

You can have family science time tonight or tomorrow night when the temp gets around -20.  Fill a container with hot water, go outside, toss it in the air, and it comes down as snow.  I did that with the kids the last time it got this cold (1994?).

All my adult activities got cancelled for tomorrow, so I'll be stuck inside like everyone else.  I won't have kids around to make it extra exciting, though.  Sounds like a great day to do maintenance on my treadmill.  The wife threatened me with cleaning the storage area in the basement.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 13097

skurnie

January 29th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^

AAPS is closed tomorrow and I suspect will be closed Thursday as well. Not sure how the District can justify kids standing outside waiting for the bus when Thursday at 8am it's supposed to be -17.

My daughter is loving it now...not sure she'll have the same reaction when they add some days on in June.  

Joined: 07/31/2013

MGoPoints: 20170

SFBlue

January 29th, 2019 at 3:48 PM ^

I remember Michigan being closed for weather only once, January 1999. Michigan wins the weather prize in June/September. Northern California in May is close, but can't match that. 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 15699

L'Carpetron Do…

January 29th, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^

I'm in Iowa and its brutally cold but we avoided the snow that hit Michigan and the Chicago area yesterday (and today as well). We've had plenty over the last several weeks though and it seems to snow every other day. 

But, is it really bad in Ann Arbor right now? Is there a chance tonight's game could be canceled?

Joined: 03/15/2010

MGoPoints: 8572

mGrowOld

January 29th, 2019 at 3:51 PM ^

True story.  About an hour or so ago school here just south of Cleveland got called for tomorrow and Thursday so my wife has gone into survival mode.  She is running to the store to pick up candles, extra batteries, flashlights and god knows what else.  She's made sure our portable power unit is fully charged and has checked local hotels for availability if we lose power.

Then she texts me "we need to have a plan in case the power goes out."  I responded "I plan to drink rye whiskey and put on a sweater.   What's your plan?"

I havent gotten a response back yet.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 213309

stephenrjking

January 29th, 2019 at 4:08 PM ^

Universities tend not to close due to snow when schools do. Some of this, I imagine, has to do with the pedestrian nature of their constituents (though not the faculty). 

But that seems to make this a logical thing, because students don't necessarily own or pack the kind of clothing necessary for exposure to these conditions, and walking to classes can involve quite a bit of time spent outside. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144003

LSAClassOf2000

January 29th, 2019 at 5:06 PM ^

My kids' district just called off tomorrow and Thursday. 

So, nothing is getting done this week. Hell, I don't even know if I'll bother tomorrow - I can do most of my job from home fortunately. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130669

greatlakestate

January 29th, 2019 at 5:57 PM ^

Middle school teacher here.  Once upon a time I had 3 kids at home and my feelings toward snow/cold days were similar to yours.  Since they've grown and flown the nest, my attitude has done a 180.  Hang in there!

Joined: 10/28/2015

MGoPoints: 3245

SlothWolverine

January 29th, 2019 at 6:10 PM ^

Love Grand Haven in the summer, but this steel grey sky that blankets this town for 4 months gets depressing.

7 more years and I am officially a snow bird. Florida or Arizona. I'll rent to start until I'm sure which is best.

Joined: 12/14/2017

MGoPoints: 336

Go for two

January 29th, 2019 at 6:33 PM ^

This winter has been very mild until now. I do remember walking to school in 6” of snow and my Mom tossed me a scarf to keep my face warm. Really don’t understand why all the school closings every day. Tomorrow, ok, but yesterday and today....toughen up and get going

Joined: 12/23/2016

MGoPoints: 20425