***Official 2025 Weather Thread***

[AgronAlum]

During the mid 90s I purchased a new ford ranger 2WD, and I tried concrete blocks tied down, bags of sand, anything to get a little more weight into the back end. Every time you hit the brakes whatever was back there would slide forward into the back of the cab. I finally started scooping snow out of the driveway while I cleared it out into the back of the truck. It added weight and as the temp warmed up, it would melt out. Worked great, only problem was until it got a layered crust on the top, I would leave a snow trail in the air going down the road. Had to suck for people coming up behind you. Love that little Ford Ranger, 5 speed Manuel, cab and half, just a great vehicle for a young teacher not making much money.

My very first car was a 93 Ranger Splash 2WD. Holy hell was that thing fun to **** around with at 16 other than the gas pedal randomly sticking down. It'd drive right through the brakes and I'd have to reach down and pull on the pedal to get it free. Almost went through the fence at my high school but was saved by a snowbank. It also stuck going around the corner on the SE side of Valley West Mall. Pants successfully shat on that occasion as well. I miss it and is part of the reason I picked up my 93 F250. I'm a little nostalgic over the old red Ford interiors.

 

[cyclimate]

Back on weather topics, what are some of our resident weather folk seeing for Christmas time in Iowa?

Looking warmer overall into Christmas. Snow depth will be taking a hit this week. Chances of shifting colder again the week following Christmas. Not much for precip into Christmas.

 

[CychiatricWard]

Looking warmer overall into Christmas. Snow depth will be taking a hit this week. Chances of shifting colder again the week following Christmas. Not much for precip into Christmas.

Ughh, I just want snow and cold this time of year. Have a river skating rink to set up this winter and can’t do so with the wild swings of temps that don’t get us a good long freeze.

 

[Die4Cy]

Looking warmer overall into Christmas. Snow depth will be taking a hit this week. Chances of shifting colder again the week following Christmas. Not much for precip into Christmas.

Good. Let's melt all the snow and then we can freeze this ***** hard.

 

[mkadl]

Back in the day, when I had a 2WD pickup, I ran snow tires with about 300 pounds of old tractor weights in the back. I almost never got stuck.

66 ford f150 chains on back tires 2wd. 13 fat hogs and 5 miles to the packing plant. Sometimes $2.00 more a pound on days with crappy roads.

 

[BCClone]

66 ford f150 chains on back tires 2wd. 13 fat hogs and 5 miles to the packing plant. Sometimes $2.00 more a pound on days with crappy roads.

Get the old studded tires. Nice clatter sound going down the road also.

 

[mkadl]

Get the old studded tires. Nice clatter sound going down the road also.

Studs were on the cars not the truck. Didnt want to get stuck with the priceless load.

 

[WartburgClone]

I also never used a snowblower - I had a thing called a Snow Wolf, a big scoop on a long metal bar with a huge wheel in the middle. It was a great lever to push and then toss the snow out of the way. I could clear my driveway and sidewalk in hardly any longer than it would take a snowblower (plus no gas, spark plugs, or snow packed augers to deal with). I used that sucker for over 15 years, getting replacement scoops and other parts occasionally. Unfortunately I think the company stopped making them sometime after 2010 or so …

This thing?

 

[KidSilverhair]

This thing?

That’s basically it. I think the one I had was designed slightly differently, but yeah.

 

[Kinch]

 

[BigJCy]

8 days out but right now their calling for low 50's on Christmas Day.

Des Moines, IA 10-Day Weather Forecast | Weather Underground

Des Moines Weather Forecasts. Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weatherreports, maps & tropical weather conditions for the Des Moines area.

www.wunderground.com

 

[zarnold56]

8 days out but right now their calling for low 50's on Christmas Day.

Des Moines, IA 10-Day Weather Forecast | Weather Underground

Des Moines Weather Forecasts. Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weatherreports, maps & tropical weather conditions for the Des Moines area.

www.wunderground.com

Smoked over the top chili is on the menu, so that works out for me

 

[ScottyP]

I'm perfectly fine with a brown Christmas. I don't want snow messing with people's travel plans. There is a lot of pressure to travel during the holidays even if travel is not advised due to weather.

 

[Cyrealist]

Every time you hit the brakes whatever was back there would slide forward into the back of the cab

I had an old 2X10 I put across the fender well. It kept the weights where they belonged.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

Smoked over the top chili is on the menu, so that works out for me

kinda sucks but will make taking down Christmas decorations much easier

 

[ackatch]

kinda sucks but will make taking down Christmas decorations much easier

Yeah, love getting the stuff down and put away before the deep winter sets in.

 

[cydsho]

Fun reminder that winds are coming.....

 

[drmwevr08]

I had some interesting rides back in my snow days. An old Cavalier that I could put in gear and get out to push to pull myself outta the ditch at home and a Beretta GTU with performance tires that may has well have been an ice cube. When I put all seasons on that one I felt like I suddenly had an 4x4.

On another note, it's still in the 70s here, but my boys went north a couple hours and skied yesterday. Not a bad locale this time o year.

 

[FLYINGCYCLONE]

HWY 18 closed west of Spencer. Letting school out. Have fun

 

[theshadow]

HWY 18 closed west of Spencer. Letting school out. Have fun