Warmth Strategy for Snowbirders

[skyl4rk]

We are going to fire up the mystery machine and hit the road in a few days.  Looking at the weather reports, things are colder in the southwest than in the midwest.

We have a few options.

The plan is to take the shorter route (Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City, Sante Fe) for the most part on two lane highways (24 to 56) then I-40 to Flagstaff and head down to Quartzsite through Sedona.  The goal here was to stop frequently in interesting places.

With the cold weather, we are looking at other options.

Option 1 is to drive straight south to try to find warmer temperatures, then follow I-10.  

Option 2 is to go the shortest route and keep rolling on the interstate and don't stop much until Quartzsite.

Option 3 is to drive interstate highways many hours a day on the original route plan until we get to New Mexico, then slowly make our way down from Sante Fe to southern New Mexico and follow I-10 to the destination.

I am leaning toward option 3, but I am wondering what others would do. 

Florida is looking pretty good this year. At least gas is cheap.

 

[compassrose]

You can drop down below I-40 (like to I-20) for winter travel. I am 75 miles south of ABQ. It's freaking cold here. You need to be in TorC or lower down and it's still cold. Our first winter in NM (2009) we headed to Corpus Christi and stayed near the breach. Had about 6 weeks of winter (it was really cold that year and the windshields would get a heavy frost which melted off by about 10AM).

I've been in NM winters since 2010. Whomever tells you that the winters are not cold are from far colder areas than what I am accustomed to (NC/TN Appalachian Mountains). Basically the "moderate" winters are south of I-40. The farther south you go, the warmer the temps. There are micro climates where this does not hold true. Like Chattanooga has typically milder winters (not always) due to the TN River wrapping around it.

It had already snowed where I am at. Had at least two hail storms already this winter too. IF you come to NM, put the money back to leave the state. Jobs are low paying and cost of living is higher. And yes, I hate this damned state.

 

[SoulRaven]

Yesterday the overnight low temperature in Philadelphia was 12 degrees WARMER than in Quartzsite.

 

[SoulRaven]

Weather History for KHST (Homestead Fl Air Force base) for January 2015. Average high temp 75 low temp 55 rainfall 1.88" for the month.

http://www.wunderground.com/history...reqdb.zip=33037&reqdb.magic=1&reqdb.wmo=99999

 

[buckwilk]

Pull up the 10 day forecasts for the area your contemplating. Yuma, one of the warmest winter areas in the country, is in the 60's this week.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We like spending part of the winter in Yuma for the warmer weather. Plenty of BLM camping and lots to do in town too. They have all kinds of events and street fests, as well as some interesting history. All the major stores and tons of fun little shops. 

Ehrenberg is a good place to "get away from it all". Blythe is a short drive across the river...has limited shopping, but good grocery store (Smart and Final). Sort of a sleepy farm type town, in my view.

Quartzsite has loads of BLM camping all around it for miles and is kinda like a giant flea market with only a few "regular" stores...just the basics.
I like Q...fun to look around...no telling what you might find that you just can't live without

Yuma, being the warmest overall, still has some rather chilly nights. Like Q and E-berg, it usually warms nicely by mid morning. It's possible to see a couple nights when it drops below 30F...mostly in the 40s tho.
Most often dry, but we'll have to wait and see how El Nino effects us this season.

Today's weather: Q is sunny, in the lower to mid 60s and just enough breeze that a sweater feels good.

And...in the news today:
Early arrivals in Q for the upcoming RTR relax in the Great Desert

 

[wagoneer]

Take the 4 o'clock to Yuma

 

[B and C]

Take the 4 o'clock to Yuma

For sure you want to miss the 3:10

 

[OpenSpaceman]

I'm heading the same way. I'll probably check 5 day forecast and play the weather. No point in stopping in cool places if the weathers to rough to enjoy it. 

I'm gonna pickup a Walmart atlas so I know which ones I can overnite at.

 

[MtDave]

Ok, it is all relative to what you are used to. Right now outside my front door it is 16 degrees. Weather underground shows Quartzsite at 41, 25 degrees difference. 41 would seem warm. I am looking forward to being able to be down there next year. I think my old bones would love it.
David

 

[masterplumber]

Yeah, normally I'd say don't miss the beautiful drive through the Colorado Rockies. But not this winter. At 7500 ft elevation We haven't been above freezing for more than a couple hours on only a couple days in the past couple weeks. It's been in the single digits several nights and we've had close to 2' of snow total so far. The real mountains are much colder and a lot more snow. January in Q is sure looking good!