mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

We're supposed to get about 6" of snow here in very northern Illinois. They've been wrong all year. This might be forcaster's last chance to get it right this year.
What are you other midwesterners expecting?

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

3-6-9” or nothing…
I will report in the morning!

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Sorry to hear that Ed. I know y'all are ready for some warmer weather

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Our local forecast is calling for 10 inches overall from this system...and if we do get it...I'll be enjoying it via snowmobile once it stops! Last chance to ride until next season! I say...bring it on!

My wife and I are headed out in about a half hour in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights tonight ahead of the weather system that is approaching Northern Michigan. They were spectacular last night but we were unaware of the happening so we only saw photos from local folks that published some real beauties!

From what I hear via the web site known as "spaceweather.com"...they could be seen from almost the entire Northern USA last night!

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Take some pictures yaker. I don't see things like that down here

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

Gordon , these were from Gaylord Michigan last night!

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

Outcast, those are spectacular! I've only seen them once (about 30 yrs. ago from central PA of all places) and it was incredibly surreal watching them dancing in the night sky.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

VERY COOL Outcast! Much to our disappointment, we did not end up staying long enough to see them. We left around 11 pm from our spot at the end of Old Mission Peninsula as some clouds started to fuzz the sky up.

On our drive back home things started to clear again (the moon sliver came back into sharp focus) but we figured that it was either going to be a flop...or happen later. Glad you were able to witness the show, and thanks for posting some photos!

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

I saw that on the news. Beautiful. Did you have luck seeing the lights last night? We've been to Alaska twice and didn't see them.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

Awesome

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

mistred64...Unfortunately we left before they appeared...assuming that they did eventually appear for view from where we were. Our location was about 40 miles more Southerly of Gaylord, MI.

There were hundreds of people roaming around our area late last night...tucked into all sorts of good viewing areas...so hopefully they did show up! My wife had not planned on staying out very long and was giving me the "I'm cold" look so we wrapped our trip up at 11 pm.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

OJ we got about 2". It was mostly a real heavy rain and sleet and then a little snow. At least the streets were only wet this morning.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

So far we have rec'd 8 inches of wet heavy stuff. Just got in from 2.5 hours of blowing and shoveling. Almost too dense to snowmobile in as far as keeping the engine from overheating. I may still ride tomorrow if the temps cool down and things turn to more of a powder.

The system is supposed to taper off by midnight tonight....

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

Won't that turn to ice rather than powder? I haven't snowmobiled enough to know. I only know snowmobiling is a blast the couple times I had a chance.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

We've been "thawing" out around here lately...with the terrain surface starting to warm up. That made the initial snowfall start to melt on contact and turn to mush but what is blowing and falling right now is staying more in the form of powder...which is perfect for a snowmobile track to churn up and throw across the undercarriage heat exchangers that cool the antifreeze between cycles.

When riding in really "packy" snow, it just blurbs up in chunks and clumps that make it hard to keep the engine cool. If there is enough snow depth, and the ground is clear of debris, you can zig and zag thru deeper fresh snow and usually keep things running fine. Deeper snow is better than a thin layer for sure with this type of snow.

Since it may be the "last hurrah" for riding this season I may go tomorrow regardless and just keep an eye on my digital temp gauge. 170 degrees is where my sled runs best, and at times, under this type of condition, it has been in the 190 range which makes me nervous. Typically the engine will simply shut down if it gets too hot...but you don't want that to happen when you are many miles from your origin!

I agree about how fun it is to ride. My wife and I have enjoyed the sport for several decades, and it is a great way to enjoy Winter when the season is upon us.