need to drive from nc to Seattle wa 2nd week of sept.

Just got a new job in Seattle area and I will need to drive from mc to Seattle during 2nd week of sept. Friends tell me to be very concerned about weather issues not allowing me to get to Seattle .. Any suggestions?

Welcome to RTA!

Let's face it, weather is always a concern to somebody, somewhere. Too hot, too cold, too windy, too dusty, too wet. The only thing a traveler can do is to plan a trip, carry paper maps, keep abreast of the developing weather, and be prepared to either wait out weather or go around it.

Before smart-phones, my husband and I would turn on the TV in the motel room and check the weather forecasts. If we were camping, we'd pick up a newspaper and see what the weather forecasts were. These days, smart-phones make it a bit easier.


Donna

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

The fact is that no one can predict the weather a week or more in advance. But while it is not impossible that you might see some snow or freezing rain while crossing the Rockies, it is far less than probable. In fact, I wouldn't worry about it at all. At worst, you might see a short storm with modest accumulation and, again at worst, you might have to wait a day for the weather to clear and the road crews to remove that accumulation from the highways. Note that the Interstates get first priority for plowing/sanding/salting so you should plan your route to utilize those routes exclusively west of the Great Plains. That would mean I-90 west from at least Sioux Falls SD with your routeeast of Sioux Falls depending on where in North Carolina you're starting from. It should take five days of solid driving to get from say Charlotte to Seattle, so you should allow yourself six days to be on the safe side. And that's as far as I would go in worrying about the weather.

AZBuck

As above, don't worry about things that you can't control. The good people of Colorado have to go about their daily lives all year round and the weather will be a whole lot worse come December and January. September can be a wonderful time to travel and although the weather will do as it pleases, the odds of you seeing any major disruption are slim.

I suspect the main concerns are about the fires and smoke which are inundating the Pacific Northwest right now. The interstates to Denver and then to Salt Lake City to Boise to Portland to Seattle should be okay. To play it extra safe, just stay on I-80 all the way to Sacramento and then catch I-5 north to Seattle (probably avoid heavier smoke using this route compared to the more northern route).

Taking I-80 to I-5 via Sacramento adds about 600 miles to the most direct route, of going up to I-90 at Sioux Falls - or even the slightly longer route of going through Denver and Salt Lake City. That's at least a full extra day on the road, and not an option I would recommend at all, as somehow being safer. Despite the wildfire, all of the Interstates are open, and thousands of drivers are traveling them every day without any problems.

Agreeing with Michael above, definitely! Add to the fact that California is JUST as susceptible to wildfire, if not more-so because we have had major drought. So adding 600 miles could mean driving past other fires. No, just take the shortest route. Interstates are open, though they may be a bit smoky.


Donna

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions!