High Logan snowfall means different things to different people
Snowfall this winter means business for some and long work shifts for others. Whether it’s work or play, winter is here until mid-March – at least if the groundhog seeing his shadow Feb. 2 means anything. But even if the rodent is wrong, others have also made their predictions.
Sandi Duncan, managing editor of Farmer’s Almanac, said predictions for 2001 show the beginning of March to be fair weather, but because it is a transitional month, there will be some storms but will be cleared up by the end of the month.
Farmer’s Almanac, one of many publications, is a type of publication that formulates the weather, as well as other astrological studies.
The almanac has one weather prognosticator, who uses the pseudonym Caleb Weatherbee. Duncan said his identity is not revealed, nor are the specifics of his work. Using a secret formula created in 1818, Duncan said Weatherbee uses moon phases, planet positions and other astrological elements to predict weather patterns.
“It’s not just throwing darts at the wall or getting out the woolly caterpillar,” Duncan said of Weatherbee’s predictive procedure. The formula is applied to these elements, and weather can be predicted years in advance. Because publications come out in August, Duncan said the almanac has 2002 predictions ready.
There are different almanacs because no one can own the right to the name, which dates back to ancient Rome as a generic type of publication.
Duncan said her almanac’s prediction for spring is that it should begin in the end of March or early April for Logan’s zone. Coming up, however, is more snow around Feb. 24 through 28.
Duncan said her readers say the almanac is 80 to 85 percent right. She said it accurately predicted the heavy storm in the Northeast region of the country, hitting areas like Maine with 12 inches of snow.
Specifically in Logan, the heavy snowfall has brought the Public Works Department for Logan City more work than all of last year combined.
Dee Hadfield, manager of the Division of Streets, said employees of the division have put in more hours this year in snow removal than in the past couple of years.
Last year, 1,300 tons of a salt and sand mixture was put out on the roads. This year, 1,900 tons have been put on already.
When there is a snow storm, Hadfield has crews work on the major roadways and some ulterior roads first. If it continues to snow, crews work 12-hour shifts keeping the major roadways clear.
When the snow stops, crews turn to getting the snow pushed back to the curb and gutter, then minor roads and finally subdivisions. Hadfield said he anticipates this kind of work load for the next storm, forecasted for this weekend.
Hadfield said one problem they run into is cars parked on the road.
“People parking on the road doesn’t allow us to clear the snow back to the curb and gutter,” Hadfield said. Garbage cans left on the roadside also pose problems for the snowplows, Hadfield said.
He said there are also problems with people shoveling snow back into the street. This snow gets packed down by cars and turns to ice. Hadfield said these ice spots grab the shovel and turn the plows suddenly. He said last year there was an incident where a plow caught on one of these ice patches pitched the shovel into the side of a truck.
“It catches the drivers by surprise,” Hadfield said. He said it also creates danger for the traveling public.
Another situation this weather has on the road conditions is freezing the asphalt. Hadfield said he anticipates more pot hole repairs than usual this spring.
“There’s not a lot we can do about it till it thaws,” Hadfield said.
Because of the subzero temperatures, frost is driven into the ground, making an uneven driving surface. The multiple expansion and contraction of moisture in the road can crack it, causing potholes.
The snowfall is not necessarily a bad thing for others, like Marge Seeholzer, owner of Beaver Mountain Ski Resort.
“The conditions up here are excellent, even without new snowfall,” Seeholzer said.
She said the holiday season brought crowds not seen last year. She said she and her husband were excited in December because of the abundant snowfall they got.
Opening on Dec. 19, the resort had more snow than it did on last year’s opening day, Dec. 23.
January, however, was discouraging. She said there just wasn’t the needed snowfall to draw customers.
“Crowds haven’t been good, and we know that reflects the snowfall,” she said.
She said it seems that, based on the past few years, winter patterns are changing.
“We can’t depend on the big storms like we used to,” Seeholzer said. In the storm last week, the resort received 8 inches of new powder, and she said that has become a good amount.