White Out!

These pictures from Saturday don't show a dangerous scenario.

My drive to Janesville was under sunny skies and very cold temperatures, close to zero, and very strong winds.

Judging from the photos, it doesn't look too bad.  And it wasn't.  Everyone was driving along at highway speeds.

In spite of wind chills close to 20 below zero, it was just another winter Saturday in Wisconsin.

Levels of snow along the road created interesting swirls and eddies of snow, but it really didn't feel like much to worry about for most of the trip.

Yet, as I made the curve on U.S. 14 from traveling mostly southeast to more directly east the playful blustery winds and blowing snow quickly escalated.

It might have been extra snow on the fields or the way the wind was channeled that increased wind speed, but all of a sudden I couldn't see more than a car length in front of me.

Checking the rear view mirror to be sure the SUV trailing me was slowing down and peering into the white haze in front on alert for brake or tail lights, I dropped from 55 to 15 in a hurry.

It wasn't snowing, just strong winds enveloping the car and stretch of road in white.

Maybe a mile down the road, it let up a bit as trees and buildings blocked the wind.  The white-out returned.

As quickly as out-of-nowhere as the snow arrived; it left and the rest of the trip was under sunny skies.  It was still windy, but I could see.

While our friends out in New England have had more than their fair share this winter; the past weekend was a good reminder that when the right ingredients get mixed together it doesn't take much to find yourself in dangerous driving conditions.

Be careful out there, even if it looks clear and sunny.