Not many folks are traveling Route 66 this time of year. But if you are, you'd best be aware of a huge winter storm that's about to hit northern Arizona, especially the Flagstaff region. According to the Arizona Daily Sun, up to 2 feet of snow will fall in Flagstaff this weekend, with wind gusts … Continue reading White Flag
Category: Weather
Rendezvous Report
Here is some coverage from the Route 66 Rendezvous this weekend in San Bernardino, Calif. --- A lucky reporter at the Redlands Daily Facts tried the fare at the barbecue booths at the festival. --- The Contra Costa Times takes a closer look at the alternative-fuel vehicles and other "green" practices at the event. --- … Continue reading Rendezvous Report
Tornado strikes Williamsville
A tornado ravaged the Route 66 town of Williamsville, Ill., on Wednesday afternoon, destroying or damaging at least two dozen homes and businesses. No loss of life has been reported so far. One of the casualties is the Route 66 Antique Mall (photo of the damage is here). According to the Springfield Journal-Register: Jack Caldwell, … Continue reading Tornado strikes Williamsville
Severe storms lash SE Kansas, SW Missouri
Severe thunderstorms blasted southeastern Kansas and southwest Missouri, including parts of the Route 66 corridor, on Friday afternoon. I'm not aware of any damage to Route 66 landmarks. However, anyone traveling through the area should be aware of downed trees and other wind-blown debris on roadways. Joplin, Mo., especially got hammered, including the local TV … Continue reading Severe storms lash SE Kansas, SW Missouri
Flooding closes Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma
Northeastern Oklahoma has been deluged by rain, including seven inches in one day in Mayes and Rogers counties. KJRH-TV in Tulsa reported Friday that parts of Route 66 in Claremore were closed because of high water. I've heard there was flooding on 66 around Chelsea, too. The Tulsa World reported that Route 66 had reopened … Continue reading Flooding closes Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma
To hell and back
As many of you probably know, a bunch of wind-whipped wildfires scorched central Oklahoma earlier in the week and in some cases caused widespread property damage. The Tulsa World uncovered the story about dramatic fire-fighting efforts near the Route 66 town of Wellston, Okla. It reads almost like a Hollywood thriller. I commend it to … Continue reading To hell and back
Snowstorm hammers Route 66’s midsection
Late March is usually a safe time of the year to travel old Route 66, barring a thunderstorm or two. Not this year. There are currently blizzard warnings or winter storm warnings from central New Mexico, the entire Texas Panhandle to most of western and central Oklahoma. According to the Quay County Sun, U.S. 54 … Continue reading Snowstorm hammers Route 66’s midsection
Snow in the desert
Well, this quote from the Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner is impressive: "This is the worst snowstorm that DPS has ever had to deal with in Northern Arizona," said Commander Dean Nyhart, DPS Northern Bureau Highway Division. According to a report in the Arizona Republic, the northern part of the state received between 29 and 32 … Continue reading Snow in the desert
Wind power near Route 66
Construction of a wind turbine on a "gob nob" mining-waste hill near Farmersville, Ill., has been finished and will begin producing power this week, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. Art’s Motel & Restaurant owner Barry Lambachia, who also can see the gob knob from his office, said he his hopeful the novelty of a wind turbine … Continue reading Wind power near Route 66
Rough winter for Arizona
The winter season's hardly begun, and it's already been a rough one for some folks in northern Arizona. In the Route 66 town of Kingman, barely a week after an unusual snowstorm struck there, high winds caused power outages and structural damage, reports the Kingman Daily Miner. To top it off, temperatures also plummeted. That … Continue reading Rough winter for Arizona