Posted on 02/01/2011 11:11:51 PM PST by 6ft2inhighheelshoes
It’s been a long time since Michigan has had a really big snowstorm. Most local folks under the age of 25 have never experienced an authentic blizzard; the kind that drops more than a foot of snow and blows drifts that bury automobiles, mailboxes, and even buildings. Tonight we may be visited by a “beast” of a storm that is roaring across the Midwest, has dumped 21” in Tulsa, and is sucking up moisture over the big lake before clobbering us.
Predictions for mid Michigan range from 10” to 18” over the next 24 hours, with lots and lots of drifting. For those of us growing up in the sixties, it marks a return to winter’s business as usual, and the thought of how I forgot to get the primer button fixed on the snow blower is foremost on my mind. Fortunately, I planned waaaay ahead, and am now in possession of two hulking teenage boys who understand the connection between helping Mom, and using the new PS3.
These guys grew up during a mini Global Warming Period, with mild winters and falling lake levels, long summers, and Al Gore. I’ve been regaling them with stories from the great blizzard of 1967, when the snow paralyzed everything, and we had a week long vacation from school. A full two feet feet fell, and remains the record. However, today’s newspaper states the snowfall during the 1967 blast was 15.4”. That number appears to have been picked from an early report during the blizzard. It’s curious that current researchers chose an understatement of the snow depth. I do wonder why. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110201/LANSING01/302010012 From the internet version of the Lansing State Journal: Record snowfalls in Lansing 15.4 inches, Jan. 26, 1967 • 15.1 inches, Jan. 26, 1978 • 14.5 inches, Dec. 11, 2000 • 13.9 inches, March 17, 1973 • 12.6 inches, Jan. 22, 2005 • 10.3 inches, Jan. 13, 1979 • 10.2 inches, April 1, 1970 • 9.9 inches, April 2, 1975 • 8.9 inches, Dec. 11, 1970 • 8.8 inches, Jan. 13, 1976
Not to be dramatic, but didn't this kind of data massaging bring on Climategate?
Since weather forecasters are predicting as much as 18”, it seems as if the reporter hopes we achieve a new record tonight. Of course, news sells papers, but this kind of news also sells bad ideas, and I’ve lost count of how many references I’ve heard today of Global Climate Change, and how this “massive storm” is directly related to it.
My husband, who continues to surprise me, announced that he had kept the newspaper clippings from the snowstorm of 1967, and triumphantly retrieved them tonight. I was aware of his collection of the moon landing, and the assassination of JFK, but now I actually appreciate his peculiar obsession.
Of course, in 1967 we weren't yet worried about Global Warming, because it didn't yet exist. The backwards notion of the day was that the world was doomed to repeat a long overdue ice-age; with increasingly vicious snow storms, shorter summers, and much colder weather, which culminated in the winter of 1976-77. In the whole month of January 1977, the thermometer never once topped 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, we know better; the current colder temperatures, heavier snowfall, and general change in the weather from day to day is caused by Global Warming, or rather the more fashionable term, Global Climate Change. Indeed, no matter what happens in the swirling dark tonight, the same people who accuse Rush Limbaugh. Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin of scare-mongering, will hurry to press in the morning with the latest bleak predictions of doom.
Nice story....Have fun....in some ways I envy you...I like snow....but, having it all winter could be difficult (I lived in Prince Albert, SK for 18 months, however....so I KNOW cold. Stay warm.
In what region of the state are you? I’ve spent some time in Michigan - I had two elderly aunts there, one in Grayling on the Ausable River, and one in Charlevoix. I was in Charlevoix for the 100th birthday of the younger one in December 2003 - only a dusting of snow that weekend.
And a chase after wind drifts!
Great post.
There was a great blizzard in Minnesota called the Children’s Blizzard in the 1880’s which killed several hundred school kids who were trapped in their school houses. The day began sunny and mild and turned into a blizzard within hours. One thing about the snow, it was a very fine powdery snow that got in between the garments. A person wearing layers of clothing to keep warm were not immune to getting snow under his coat and etc. Literally the person was getting wet from within in the storm and died from exposure if he attempted to walk too long in the blizzard. Many farmers died just trying to go to the barn and back and got lost/disorientated and died within their properties but far from the barn or his house.
Keep warm and stay home during storm. No need to get trapped outdoors and exposed to the cold.
I was in 7th grade when the blizzard of ‘96 hit NYC. School was closed for just one day, and I had to walk to school wearing my baseball cleats. I surely remember that. That’s still the most snow I’ve ever seen on the ground at one time. We’re going to break our all-time record for a season, but that one snow fall was massive.
1974? Some year near there had a massive snow (around Thanksgiving?).
# April 6, 1886 -- 24.5"
# Dec. 1-2, 1974 -- 19.2"
# Jan. 26-27, 1978 -- 19"
# March 4-5, 1900 -- 16.1
# Jan. 31-Feb 1, 1878 -- 15.7"
# Feb. 28-March 1, 1900 -- 14"
# Feb. 28-March 1, 1875 -- 14"
# Dec. 18-19, 1929 -- 13.8"
# Feb. 12-13, 1884 -- 12.8"
# Feb. 19, 1900 -- 12.6"
# Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 1881 -- 12.5"
# Feb. 9, 1911 -- 12.3"
# March 3-4, 1895 -- 12.3"
# Jan. 13-14, 1927 -- 12.1"
# Jan 30-31, 1982 -- 11.8"
# Jan. 7-8, 1874 -- 11.7"
# Jan. 13-14, 1910 -- 11.4"
# March 4-5, 1899 -- 11.4
# Dec. 19-20, 1973 -- 11.2"
# Feb. 3-4, 1901 -- 11.2"
# Jan. 13-14, 1992 -- 11.1"
# March 7-8, 1931 -- 11.1"
# Feb. 25-26, 1965 -- 11"
# Dec. 4-5, 1898 -- 10.6"
# Dec. 13-14, 1922 -- 10"
# Feb. 4, 1900 -- 10"
# Jan. 25-26, 1978 -- 9.7
Give it a rest.
I’ll take any of those over the inch and a half of ice I have.
I wonder if the Children’s Blizzard occurred as a result of the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. I know we had terrible weather for several years after Pinatubo, including the 500 year Mississippi flooding. Last year we had record snows in the mid Atlantic area. I spent Valentine’s Day, 2010 digging out a 60 foot walk with 27” of snow because he had broken his hip skidding on ice from the 20” snowfall in December 6 weeks earlier. My first memorable snow was The Big Snow of ‘47, around New York. I was 9 years old and the snow was up to the middle of my chest. After my father dug the walk, I hollowed out a cave for my 2 year old brother.
Based on personal experience, I agree.
Snow can be shoveled.
I’ve never lived where there was snow-snow...but in 73 (give or take a year) there was ankle deep snow in Houston, Texas.
We actually got to make a real snowman and snow angels! (my sister and I put the snowman’s head in the deep freeze to remember him by). :p
We were taught in school (watched assorted films) about the big freeze coming— it would dip waaay down in the USA. *sigh*
Different times, different rhymes to reason.
SALT talks were the rage with teachers and now it’s START, guess salt worked for the big freeze on the way. heh
Thanks for the post and stay safe and warm! It is pretty amazing that the Mr kept all those news articles!
My previous post I meant to say my boyfriend had broken his hip. Regarding the record of 24.5” for 1886, I’ll bet that was a Krakatoa effect.
What was the answer? How many inches was it in 77? 15.3 or higher?
If anyone wants to come here to Steuben, Maine you can help me shovel out to get ready for the next storm tomorrow. My back hurts and my dog don’t like her butt in snow when she poops. My snowblower ran like a champ until it hit some real snow, then decided to break down. I would not trade this for a penthouse on Miami beach.
The place for snow is on a postcard and the place for ice is in the drink that you sip while reading the postcard — preferably on a tropical beach.
Tokyo hasn’t been hit yet, but most parts of Japan have been clobbered.
Your sensible observation is moot. No matter which weather condition occurs, the Radical Left is comfortably straddling both sides. Just check the consistency from Time Mag over the years.
Next time you make these observation please factor in the derangement of the left over their religious beliefs. Also keep in mind they are a dishonest lot. Fun snow pics on your page.
Last year Maryland had 51.5" in a 3 day long snow storm.
10 inches is sissy
I agree, wimps, all.
It missed us here in Lebanon County, PA, for the most part.
A little snow, a little ice, and a whole lot of idiots running around like it’s the end of the world.
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