Snowfall Derby – Part III
A storm is coming. Our snow comes from the North and the West, but this storm is coming from the opposite directions. It is a ‘Nor’easter,’ like the one that sank George Clooney in ‘The Perfect Storm.’ Local weather persons are giddy. Rather than the ½” to 2” brushing, they are forecasting a foot or more along with winds up to fifty miles per hour. Finally, they can be blown about in their hooded jackets with the station’s decal, just like their peers in the South. This is a snowstorm on steroids.
As of this morning the Snowfall Derby is: Syracuse – 85.9”; Baltimore/Washington – 80”; Philadelphia – 73.1”; Rochester – 71.6”; and Buffalo – 68.8”. A comment came in from Atlanta demanding they be entered into the derby. The writer insisted their 4.5” season-to-date accumulation is harder on Atlanta than a few feet in Rochester. I wanted to write back that we will still be shoveling while Atlanta is complaining about pine dust in 70 degree weather. It is never good to dry-up the few comments I receive.
This is called ‘heart attack’ snow, the heavy and wet stuff. There are too many casualties each year shoveling a small pathway. Wind is major problem. A foot of snow, chased by high wind, will pile drifts to roof tops. Talk about claustrophobia when I opened the garage door, a few years ago, and faced a dark wall of the white stuff.
Yesterday, my students at our state university in Brockport wanted to know if classes will be cancelled. I told them it was up to Governor Patterson. A chorus of ‘what does Albany know about our weather?’ came from the desks. I wanted to morph the conversation into the role of government in business, but why throw cold snow in the lap of high class participation?
The best thing to do as a blizzard nears is to join the mob at the grocery store grabbing all of the water, toilet paper and Oreo cookies. Now, it is time to stoke up the fireplace, relax and study the snowfall derby scorecard. All of our competitors, except maybe Buffalo, will be hit by this storm. Philadelphia and Baltimore will melt well before we move across the 100” milestone. Syracuse remains a problem. Oh well, time to cozy under a blanket and watch the Winter Olympics. What’s this? My television is fuzzy. Uh oh, the lights are blinking.
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