Searching For Snow In Duluth

[hatrack]

The Northland might add to its string of nearly snowless winters

"As the East Coast gets pummeled by repeated storms packing 2 feet or more of snow, it's almost embarrassing for Northland residents to get excited about 5 or 6 inches. But, hey -- when winters are as wimpy as ours have been lately, you take whatever you can get.

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Still, it's not much to get excited about, historically. The Northland may be well into another winter where there's barely enough snow cover to ensure winter fun and sustain an economy that relies, in part, on winter sports. If the trend holds true, it could be the fourth winter in the past five that disappointed outdoor enthusiasts, shovel salesmen, resorts and snowmobile dealers. In 1999, no snow was on the ground at Duluth International Airport at Christmas. In 2001, it was just 3 inches. Last year on Dec. 25, there were just 2 inches.

So whatever happened to the good, old-fashioned heavy dumpings we used to get? We can't even get a foot, let alone two feet like Boston or the 48 inches that fell in Maine last week. "After our big snow years in the mid-'90s, it's been pretty sparse around here," said Sam Standfield, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth who keeps track of weather records.

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Other phenomenon (sic), such as giant high pressure systems that remain in place for months over the Arctic, can push stormy weather away from us. Some scientists say global climate change may be pushing our area into a warmer, less snowy pattern that's here to stay."

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http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/7502603.htm

[MariaS]

1. No lack of snow

in the northwoods. Just 2 hours from Duluth we have a decent amount of snow. Less than a week ago we were hit pretty hard and there seems to be a fair amount to help vactioners enjoy their snowmobiles and winter fun and help aid the economy here. Living here I hate the snow but have learned to deal with it and also I have come to realize how important it is to area businesses.

[Nadienne]

2. I'm an Iowan, not a Northlander

We'd had the same problem for a few years, it seemed. This year, we're finally getting snow. Not the fun, heavy snow-fort-building snow I remember as a kid...

I guess this means the Boundary Waters and Quetico will have another low-water summer...

*sigh*

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. I'm back in Minneapolis after 18 years away

I used to keep a down coat at my mother's house to use during those subzero Christmas visits.

The past few years have been noticeably warmer. In 1999-2000, when my grandmother died and I made three winter trips to Mpls, I was surprised that I didn't need the down coat at all, not even for the graveside service on a windy hillside--the wind was only about 30 degrees ABOVE zero.

There was almost no snow at Christmas the years after that, and this year, we have snow, but the temps keep climbing into the thirties, creating slush that freezes and melts.