The Badger Herald

NEWS

Madison passes record snowfall

Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.

Also by Cara Harshman:

Meriter develops 10-year facility renovation plans (February 11, 2008)
County delays RTA proposal (February 8, 2008)
Storm causes pile-ups (February 8, 2008)
Madison newspaper plans to cease daily print edition (February 8, 2008)
City digs out with ‘everything we got’ (February 7, 2008)

by Cara Harshman

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Last night’s snowfall sent Madison’s winter total plowing into the record books, breaking the all-time snowfall record of 76.1 inches in 1978-79.

“Anytime you set records, it is sort of a momentous occasion, but it doesn’t mean anything more than we’ll be out just like any other storm,” said Madison streets superintendent Al Schumacher.

Jon Martin, University of Wisconsin chair of the atmospheric and ocean sciences department said there is a lot of variability from one winter to another, and it is difficult to put a finger on why this winter has been so snowy.

“This is a very abnormal winter,” Martin said. “We break the all-time snowiest winter record, and we still have 5 or 6 weeks left for possible snow.”

Since Dec. 1, it has snowed 41 times in Madison, taking a toll on everyone in the city, especially streets employees working 16-hour days plowing streets and fixing potholes, Schumacher said.

On average, the streets division deploys plows five times per season, Schumacher added. The city has already deployed plows 12 times this season, nearly three times the average.

“I’d much rather have the record the other way, the least amount of snow in the season,” Schumacher said, adding the snow equipment is beginning to break down from such extensive wear.

According to Schumacher, funding for the streets division is “all right for now” with the $4.5 million allocated by the city’s budget. He said the streets division will see how it is doing by November and December when the winter season starts up again, adding the streets division had to ask for more money at the end of 2007.

“Regardless of the financial outcome, we will continue to plow, salt and maintain the streets,” Schumacher said. “Public safety is more important than what the budget says we’re supposed to spend.”

This is one of those winters we are not going to see again, Martin said, with continuously cold temperatures and very few rainy days.

Cold temperatures carried by northwesterly winds have not ceased all winter. Madison has not seen westerly or southwesterly winds that would bring warmer temperatures.

“We may crush this thing,” Martin said, referring to the snowfall record. “That’s what I’m hoping for, because all of us who live through this will have seen the greatest snowfall … in our lifetimes, especially if we get to 100 inches.”

Schumacher said large item garbage pickup is suspended so employees can focus on snow cleanup. Recycling and refuse pickup will continue today and tomorrow as usual.

Feedback

Show all comments

Hide anonymous comments

Reason McLucus (February 12, 2008 @ 10:28pm):

I hope Jon Martin is correct about this winter being unusual, but if some theories are correct it could be an indication of future problems. Some scientists are concerned that the sun may be entering a quiet period that could mean colder winters and la Nina dominated weather conditions such as this year. The last 30 years have been dominated by el Nino events.

http://ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=287279412587175

Madison isn't alone. The entire northern hemisphere has its largest snow cover since 1966.
http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/jan08-northern-hemisphere-snow-cover-largest-since-1966/

Add a comment

We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.