road conditions

[Tom Lento]

For anyone driving today/tonight -

It's been a mix of rain and sleet, and it's been falling steadily.  Roads should be ok, but be careful on bridges and avoid shortcuts on minor roads (especially that park street cutoff from 81 to 79 - I had a little run-in with a post in similar conditions).

Now say "yes, mom" and drive carefully!

Be safe, have fun, and maybe I'll meet one of you someday!  

[melissa]

Yeah. It was snowing this morning in Albany and is now doing the sleet thing. Roads are slushy and slick for anyone coming in from the
boston area. backroads from here to Ithaca likely won't be pretty tomorrow so allow for extra time.

[LGR31]

It's very slushy out. Let's hope it'll clear out this weekend (i personally live 2 miles from Lynah, but for the rest of you....)

[Peter]

Here's the latest from the weather service for this afternoon.

Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service
 
 ...NYZ022>025-055-312100- CHEMUNG NY-SCHUYLER NY-STEUBEN NY-TIOGA NY-TOMPKINS NY- 1045 AM EST THU JAN 31 2002
...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR FREEZING RAIN TODAY... OCCASIONAL FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE. TRAVEL WILL BE QUITE HAZARDOUS TODAY. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING THIS EVENING BRINGING AN END TO THE THREAT OF FREEZING RAIN

[judy]

Tom Lento wrote:
(especially that park street cutoff from 81 to 79 - I had a little run-in with a post in similar conditions).

off of 81, what park street cutoff? is this at exit 8? which one's park street?

btw, it's a nice warm upper 40 something degree day here in rainy maryland.

[Josh '99]

If I'm not mistaken, that's the one that takes you, via the same exit, around Whitney Point?  Can't remember the name of the streets, though.

[Tom Lento]

Yes, that's right.  Same exit, via Whitney point.  I don't know what the name of the first road is from the 81 turnoff, but the one that connects 79 to that other road that I can't remember is called Park Street.  Or Park Ave, but I don't think so - that'd be pretty funny considering the area. . .

[Josh '99]

If you were to want to take the shortcut to Ithaca, you'd get off 81 at Exit 7 same as normal, but rather than going to the light where the exit hits 79, you make the first left turn, not sure the street name, onto a residential street.  Stay on it for a decent ways, probably 3-5 miles if I had to guess, and that road will end at 79 on the other side of Whitney Point.  Did I describe that OK, Tom?

[judy]

Josh,

exit 7 or exit 8? I usually get out at exit 8, take a right at the off ramp, to the end of that road, left at the stop sign and hit the light with the Hess station...so I'm a little confused.

Anyways, is this shortcut one that would be okay on a snowy/sleeting/whatever tomorrow will be kind of day?

[CowbellGuy]

He means exit 8. Take that exit and make the first left until you hit 79.

[Josh '99]

Oops, sorry, yes, Exit 8.  Same exit you'd normally take.

[jtwcornell91]

So, according to the forecast I've seen on Yahoo, the prognosis for tomorrow has actually improved over the course of the day. Currently it's supposed to turn over from sleet to rain overnight, and tomorrow's high will be around 49F.  (Oh wait, now I see Syracuse says tomorrow rain early then turning to mixed rain and snow showers by the afternoon.)

[judy]

Well, since most people are either in Ithaca or headed to Ithaca tomorrow... for those there already, hey, no more driving for you...
for those who will be on the roads tomorrow, good luck to us all and I hope that everybody makes it in one piece by 7.

[gwm3]

On the shortcut, I believe you actually have to make two left turns to get back to 79.  One off of 26 (??) and then one when this street hits a stop sign.  It gets you around Whitney Point and probably saves a few minutes.

[judy]

CNN's weather is forecasting a high of 54 in Ithaca for the day...maybe everything will melt... :-) but then how do I play in snow? :-/