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More snow to go

johngregsite Posted on by
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Snow “bank” at the credit union

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from: Washington Post 13-Feb-2015

While we are used to a certain amount of winter and snow, this season is not usual. Significantly, we are reaching average annual snow-fall totals while observing the half-way point of a typical 100-day central Maine winter. More significantly is the relentless nature of the cold temperatures. This Saturday will be the third one where the forecasters promise, “… the coldest temperatures of the season.”

It is more usual for us to get a foot of snow in one storm per month and thirty-to forty degree temperatures the following days. The follow-up warming was natural snow removal. This is the first season since 2008 where the credit union has had to hire special snow removal operations. In the thirteen years I have worked here, we have had two seasons when general snow plowing was not sufficient. And, in those years, it was a one time event each time. This year may require removal operations every other week the way we are going.

The forecast for this weekend is quite ominous (the plot at left shows a significant low pressure area forming Sunday in the Gulf of Maine which is promising 100 mph winds along the coast). The twenty inches of forecast snow is an after-thought on the problem list.

February snowing round 2

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Actually, it is hard to remember what round we are in. From the end of January into February over six days, we received about forty inches of snow in three storms. From the first image here, taken during the first storm (labeled as a blizzard, this was twenty inches), you can see that the basement window is not yet blocked by any snow.

The front of the main house, image 2 here, required some shoveling out at the basement windows by the third or fourth storm. Snow had reached the glass for about two inches. The low temperatures which are following these storms (again, not usual for the last decade plus) are resulting in little melting and the snow is accumulating from storm to storm.

The south side of the garage has a snow drift from the roof that is as high as the garage windows. There is a slope so that snow is not pressing onto any window glass, yet. It is possible to climb up this drift and touch the garage roof.

My truck is parked at an angle with the left side now being inundated from the garage roof drift. Digging the truck out is a multi day project complicated by absence of anywhere to put the snow being removed.