 With winter's inevitable return on the way, it's time for some winter weather driving reminders. In this part of the country where we get more snow than most places, snowplows become a regular part of traffic. Remember, the main aim for county snowplows is to improve driving conditions for other motorists.
Sometimes you'll see a sign on the back of a snowplow that reads, “Don't Crowd the Plow.” It's sound advice and in this post we will discuss several reasons why you should pay heed and not crowd the plow. Road Conditions First, if snowplows are even out in the first place, it is because road conditions are not great. That means you shouldn't be driving too closely behind <i>any</i> other vehicle, much less one the size of a snowplow. One of the main rules of winter travel is to give yourself extra time to get to your destination. That means realizing the some drivers will be driving slower than you would drive, including snowplows, so this is a good time to exercise patience and focus on arriving safely. The Plow's Limited Visibility The size of a snowplow creates visibility issues for the snowplow driver. For instance, snowplow drivers cannot see directly behind their trucks. Further, when the plow is down, there is likely to be a snow cloud created by the plowing process, which can further limit a snowplow driver's visibility. Your Limited Visibility In snowy winter conditions, which are compounded by the aforementioned snow cloud, your visibility is also likely to be affected. Trying to pass the snowplow is rolling the dice with limited visibility, which is never a good idea, especially with a vehicle as large and heavy as a snowplow. The Plow Truck Can Move Unexpectedly Snowplows are out there pushing piles of blowing snow, chunks of ice, wet and sloppy snow, and sometimes even doing it in freezing rain conditions. In any number of different winter conditions, a snowplow can hit a patch of “something” that causes it to move sideways. If you are next to a snowplow when it does this, it can put your life, and the lives of other drivers, in immediate danger. The Right-Side Wing Motorists are never supposed to pass on the right. This was common knowledge at one point, but you would never know anymore. Still, this is incredibly important when it comes to snowplow safety. Many trucks come equipped with wings that can extend up to six feet out on both sides of the truck. This gives snowplows more options to clear as much snow as possible in the shortest amount of time. These wings are huge and heavy. Some can weigh as much as a small car. When you pair the size of these wings with the limited visibility issues listed above, trying to pass a snowplow on the right is quite literally an accident waiting to happen. Just don't do it. In Conclusion Nobody likes driving in winter weather conditions, especially snowplow drivers. If the weather is starting to turn, anticipate that there may be snowplows out there, which will slow down traffic conditions. Give yourself extra time to get where you need to be and use some patience along the way. Of course, if you are looking for commercial snow removal services, we'd sure appreciate it if you would give E.P.M. LawnScape and Supply an opportunity. Simply contact us online or call us at (517) 990-0110 today!
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 There's an old adage that goes something like this: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. While this can be applied in many different settings, one setting where it rings particularly true is in winter weather emergencies. It's not uncommon for some storms to render areas powerless for hours-to-days at a time.
 On any given day, the weather forecast can seem like a total crap shoot, at best. And the 10-day forecast? Please. Anything after 48 hours is almost a complete guess. Still, that hasn't stopped the Farmer's Almanac from predicting entire seasons' worth of weather well in advance.
At this point, the almanac has been a staple of American culture since nearly the dawn of America itself, as it was first published in 1792. In this post, we are going to look at the weather prediction for the winter of 2019-2020, as well as some of the background that goes into those predictions. This Year's Prediction For the Great Lakes region, the almanac is forecasting a winter that is considerably colder than normal. It is projected to linger well into April, pushing the start of spring back by quite a bit. The worst of it is forecasted to hit between January 4-7 and 12-15 when "copious amounts" of snow are supposed to blanket the area. Super. How Do They Predict? Long range forecasting, as one can imagine, must be particularly difficult. Just how the almanac devises its predictions is notoriously a secret and speculative endeavor. The Farmer's Almanac standard answer to the inquiry is an, "exclusive mathematical and astronomical formula, that relies on sunspot activity, tidal action, planetary position and many other factors." What Do Meteorologists Think? As one could imagine, seasoned meteorologists don't put much stock into these forecasts, which is <i>really</i> saying something when you think about it. In a 2015 CNN article about the almanac, Senior Meteorologist, Dan Hennen, said, "It's difficult enough to do a five-day forecast…." He elaborated by saying, "We're really good at the day of and the next day, (and) we're better at temperature a ways out than precipitation. But to forecast out that far in advance ... even the science behind our long-range forecasting is sometimes not that solid." Snow in the Summer of 1816 One intriguing story about the almanac's accuracy goes back to the 1816 edition. Legend has it, that a wily printer, while founder Robert B. Thomas was laid up with the flu, inserted a prediction for rain, hail, and snow throughout New England… in July! When Thomas discovered the prank, he rounded up all the copies, had them destroyed and new ones printed sans the outlandish prediction. Strangely enough, however, is that the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in the East Indies spread volcanic ash and dust into the atmosphere the world over, affecting weather patterns in many places. One of the effected areas was the New England and Canada's eastern seaboard. And yes, in July and August of 1816, it actually did snow! In Conclusion In Michigan, mid-autumn and mid-spring are notoriously unpredictable. We could see anything from an 80-degree day to eight inches of snow. Relying on forecasts doesn't always help much either. As such, it's always best to be prepared for winter weather situations as early or late as they could occur, regardless of the forecast. Of course, if you are looking for commercial snow removal services, we'd sure appreciate it if you would give E.P.M. LawnScape and Supply an opportunity. Simply contact us online or call us at (517) 990-0110 today! |
Our Services:Commercial Snow Removal
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Contact & Location:Phone: (517) 990-0110
Email: nick@epmofmichigan.com 2840 Shirley Drive
Jackson, MI 49201 |
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