Weather prediction across Midwest for week of 15 January 24

Hey Folks!
Have kind of a strange request so here goes:
Oldest grandson has taken a DOD job that has him relocating back to Hill AFB in OGDEN Utah (He just came home last December 2022 after 6 years in USAF last assignment was at Hill)
He will be driving a 2500 Chevrolet Duramax and pulling a U-Haul trailer with his stuff in it from here in upstate of SC and taking a route that would have him crossing the Midwest on either I-70 or I-80 after working his way up through NC,TN,KY,etc. Think that going to Kansas City and then North on I-29 to I-80 would give him the best route to avoid potentially bad weather in and through CO.
What say those of you who live in areas along the routes mentioned? He is old enough to decide for himself but being his grandfather, of course I want to help anyway that I can to help him avoid any ugly snow storms.

Thanks so much for any information or advice I could pass along..

 

FarmerJ ?

 

Talking up to 8" for the Omaha area by Friday afternoon, who knows what we will really receive. Snow can get to blowing and drifting across I-80 the further west you get. Not much, but all I can offer.

 

I -80 was closed from North Platte Ne. Eastbound to I am assuming Omaha. For this last storm. Opened up about 3 PM Tuesday. I only know this because I was in North Platte yesterday.
It’s not unusual for portions of it to close for winter storm in the western part of Nebraska and Wyoming. But they get right on it to get it opened up.
As with any long winter trip, allow plenty of time, ( maybe plan in a couple extra days just in case) be prepared and cautious and all will be fine

 

80 is going to be risky going across Wyoming no matter what.

if we were routing an oversized load, because of weather closures etc, we’d go through flagstaff up to Vegas and then north to salt lake.


70 across Eisenhower (pass west of Denver) can be sketchy and will likely need chains as well.

Wyoming gets 50-70 mpg winds and the last few years can have quite a few closures as a result.

 

100% agreed. As someone who has taken to driving (a car) more and flying less, even cross-country, I will shoot south when heading west in the winter depending on the forecast. Ryan Hall Y'all (Youtube wearher guy) has been pretty decent the couple of times I've had the need to head out that way in the winter. The furthest south I've had to go was this exact route FarmerJ suggested to SLC. Be aware, there can be some nasty weather in the high desert in New Mexico and even, Amarillo so checking that as he progresses across is prudent.

Cattlemen's Restaurant in Oklahoma City is very good if he is looking for a stop for a decent steak to get a break from fast food.

As a side note, If your grandson chooses this plan and decides to take a secondary road out in New Mexico, Arizona or Utah, to be super careful about speed. The Reservation cops love to setup speed traps.

Safe travels.

ETA...just watched a Max Velocity video on YouTube...it is going to cool in the TX panhandle on Monday so take that into consideration.

 

Many Thanks to everyone who offered up their thoughts and advice! It will be passed on to my grandson. If anyone has more information the closer his 15 Jan departure gets it will be extremely helpful. Is there a weather app that long haulers use to ascertain best routes for winter driving?
Thanks All!

 

Any way he can cut south in Utah? Might add miles, but a southerly route wouldn't be a bad idea considering.

 

I just got on the individual states 511 road conditions.


My work vehicle

 

Sleeper with a rack? Not seen much in my parts. Nice & clean rig there.

 

Thanks.

right now I’m battling a no charging issue with it and it’s kicking my butt.

I’ve already put two brand new alternators on it, the batteries have had a charger on them since Tuesday night.

when you test the voltages as the Delco Remy 24SI install manual says, it gives the voltages and everything it says it should have with engine off/ key on. Then when you start it, the B+ terminal and the R terminal go to 1/2 half battery voltage. Battery voltage is 12.6V and running 6.3V.

And it still won’t charge.

It’s had a few different wagons behind it.

 

I have no idea if this will help but on chrysler vehicles they ground the control wire of the alternator thru the pcm. Sometimes, about 50%, when an alternator went so did the pcm.

Not sure on those big trucks but on cars and pickups there's usually only 2 small wires going to the alternator and 1 big one. As for the smaller ones, one is a voltage sense by and pcm and the other is the field control.

On old 1 wire gm alternators they send 12v to the field coil to "excite" it to begin charging. Must use the case as a ground. Chrysler does it backward and uses the power from the big wire at the alternator and they ground the field coil thru the pcm as needed.

 

Evidence of lots of great adventrures! I could have been an over the road guy, I think.

I loathe electrical gremlins. Fought and lost to some this summer on a mower of all things. Everything's right, but something's still wrong.

 

I got a skid steer just like that

 

Well for now, I took a 6 ga set of jumper cables and ran straight from the alternator B+ post to a battery positive post. Yes, I put a 200 amp mega fuse into the line too. The alternator is rated at 160 amps.

It’s charging now to 14.1 volts.

When the weather is much nicer and I’m not strapped for cash, I’ll tear into it or else I’m just hoping to sell out.

At least I can go back to work.

 

Well, In an attempt to get this thread back on track . How about any of the FHC members who live in the states of IA,NE,WY or MO,KS,CO. Any 5 to 7 day storm forecast that we should be considering for his trip ?

Thanks All!!!