As I have written about before

where I live –

we get

a lot.

of.

snow!

This year was no exception.

 

 

 

 

We actually shattered several long-standing city & state records, some that date to 1893!

Just to name a few:

• All-time record for two-day snowfall in the state of Pennsylvania: 60.5 inches (Dec. 25-26); previous record was 44 inches in Morgantown on March 20-21, 1958.
• All-time record for snow in any single day in Erie: 34 inches (Dec. 25); the previous record was 20 inches on Nov. 22, 1956.
• 24-hour snowfall record for Dec. 25 in Erie: 34 inches; the previous record was 8.1 inches in 2002.
• 24-hour snowfall record for Dec. 26 in Erie: 26.5 inches; the previous record was 8.2 inches inches.

Erie’s records for two-day, three-day, seven-day and 13-day snowfall were also broken during this lake-effect event!

• Two-day snowfall: 26.7 inches (Nov. 24-25, 1950; the “Great Appalachian Storm”)
• Three-day snowfall: 30.2 inches (Dec. 29-31, 2002)
• Seven-day snowfall: 39.8 inches (Dec. 27, 2001-Jan. 2, 2002)
• 13-day snowfall: 52.8 inches (Dec. 31, 1998-Jan. 12, 1999)

That’s not a misprint.

Erie picked up more snow in less than 36 hours in this event than its previous 13-day snowstorm record!

Needless to say, the 121.3 inches of snow in December was the city’s snowiest single month on record, clobbering the previous record of 66.9 inches in December 1989 by over 4 feet.

That’s also more snow in one month than Erie averages in an entire winter season – 100.9 inches.

What’s more, this was also the snowiest month on record anywhere in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania state climatologist! The previous record was 113 inches in February 2010 at Laurel Summit in Somerset County.

As of  1 p.m. EST Wednesday, February 7, 2018, the season’s snowfall total was more than 12 feet of snow!  This breaks the previous snowiest season of 2000-01 which had 149.1 inches.

And…wait for it…

we are (again) in first place for the

Golden Snow Globe National Snow Contest of the Snowiest City Pop 100,000+ !!!

With second and third place substantially behind, I do believe it is safe to say we will win the coveted title.

(Did I already mention, again???)

Placement       City, State                               Population     Snowfall Totals    Normal

1-1	Erie, Pennsylvania	101,786	154.8	73.6
2-2	Syracuse, New York	145,170	105.4	87.0
3-3	Rochester, New York	210,565	85.1	66.0

Yipee?

Yes, yippee!

 

 

(Who needs dinner theatre when you can have dinner window-side at home, while watching the National Guard dig out your city?)

So what is the most important thing to survive a climate that produces as much snow as ours?

 

 

A snow shovel or snow blower?

A good set of long underwear and a fabulous parka?

Soft woolen mittens and a cupboard full of hot cocoa?

Certainly all of the above, and many others too numerous to mention; however, the key item to surviving an Erie winter…especially as we trudge through the month of February is the

pep-talk.

Yes, dear southern friends, (who need only lower your air-conditioning to adjust to the winter months) – we in the north are skilled at talking ourselves into the ‘wonder’ of winter!  

And by mid-february we are all working hard pepping-up the pep-talks, reminding ourselves how magical it can be to live in a climate full of snow.

“When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels.”  said a principal of fun school.

 

“Even though snow is so delicate, it still has the power to cancel school!”  my childhood friend, Lisa.

“Snowing is an attempt of God to make the dirty world look clean.” Mehmet Murat ildan

 

 

 

“Snow provokes responses that reach back to childhood.”  Andy Goldsworthdy

 

“There’s just something beautiful about walking in snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special.” Carol Rifka Brunt

 

“Snowflakes are kisses from heaven.” says, those who believe.

 

“There’s one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor’s.”  Clyde Moore

 

 

 

“There are lots of fun things to do in the snow!” says everyone who owns a pair of snow-pants.

 

“Snowmen fall from heaven….unassembled.”  giggles.

 

And the number one pep-talk to be heard on the banks of Lake Erie,

 

 

“Eventually it melts.” said every Erieite. Ever.

 

hugs n’ blessings to all the great motivators inspiring us toward spring!!

 

photos taken by: Jared Schaaf Photography