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Snowmageddon open thread

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* With spring break upon us, I’d been planning to take a couple days off from the blog. But then I realized that a lot of you might be homebound today because of the big snow storm

* 17 inches in Springfield, reported at 6 a.m. Monday at Capital Airport
* 14.5 inches in Jerome at 3:15 a.m.
* 12.5 inches in Chatham at 10:30 p.m.
* 13 inches in Berlin at 9:45 p.m.
* 13.7 inches in Taylorville at 9 p.m.
* 15.5 inches in Riverton at 1:15 a.m.
* 12.5 inches in Sherman at 8:15 p.m.

* Even though no state facility closures have yet been reported, I figure some of you are probably still at home. The rest may have stories to tell. So, I’m gonna do a few posts today to give those who are stuck inside something to do.

* By the way, here’s my front yard…

I’m a bit worried about those low-hanging wires. I believe that one of them is for my telephone, which I disconnected months ago when I went totally mobile. Not sure what the other one is.

* Part of the back yard…

* What does it look like by you?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:44 am

Comments

  1. maybe a half inch 30 miles west of aurora:)

    Comment by wizard Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:52 am

  2. great pics….but too bad it did not hit last week, it might have kept folks in Springfield and they may have actually gotten something constructive done.

    Comment by illinifan Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:52 am

  3. 130 miles northeast and all we got is a slushy mess. No real accumulation. Gotta love Spring time in Illinois.

    Comment by nobody Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:54 am

  4. That fat cable at the bottom that looks like a suspended water pipe is your internet cable, the umbilical cord that links you to the world! If that went down, we would see no news on your site.

    Comment by cod Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:56 am

  5. ===If that went down, we would see no news on your site.===

    I have a backup.

    Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:57 am

  6. About 12 inches of heavy wet snow, a few limbs down from the white pines. Thinking about heading out to plow the drive with 1947 Ford 2N tractor.

    Comment by Very Old Soil Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:58 am

  7. How does Oscar like the snow?

    Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:06 am

  8. If that 17 inch figure is correct then this is an all-time record 24-hour snowfall for Springfield (the previous record was 15 inches on Feb. 28, 1900). If it doesn’t melt by next week the Easter Bunny may have to borrow Santa’s sleigh… :-)

    Comment by Secret Square Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:07 am

  9. ===How does Oscar like the snow?===

    He loves it, which is a bit of a problem. He was rolling around in the snow yesterday so much that it caked all over him. I had to shovel an area so the little guy could do his business without tunneling.

    Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:08 am

  10. Love those old Ford tractors. Make me smile just to hear about it. Maybe the most durable machine ever made. We have an 8N from late 40’s - early 50’s…still running strong.

    Comment by Observing Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:09 am

  11. Looks the same way at our house-15 inches here about 100 miles south of Springfield-like the Massey Ferguson tractors better-they had continous pto for all of those old farmers out there.

    Comment by boat captain Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:13 am

  12. So jealous. I love a good snowstorm… even if it is a bit late in the season.

    I think we had about 10 minutes of barely visible light flurries last night on the north side of Chicago. Nothing stuck.

    Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:16 am

  13. Easter lilies and crocuses popping up through the cold ground. I think I’d already cut the grass a couple of times a year ago.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:20 am

  14. Nice, little dusting in Will county but thats about it. Too bad to. I am supposed to be on the road to Indianapolis today and they are getting hit now just like springfield got… Not a good day to be on the road.

    Comment by RonOglesby Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:20 am

  15. South suburbs received a very slight dusting. Nothing like downstate.

    Comment by Stones Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:23 am

  16. In Jackson County a dusting is all we got.

    Comment by John A Logan Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:23 am

  17. Maybe Bill Cellini should be furloughed on work release to help organize the snow removal in Springfield.

    Comment by Meanderthal Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:24 am

  18. I can tell you what it doesn’t look like…opening day, which is only 7 days away.

    Comment by T.O. Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:24 am

  19. We have about 7 inches in Madison County. It’s starting to lightly snow now. I saw flowers blooming last week, this is crazy ! Didn’t we move the elections to April to avoid this in Feb…ha!!

    Comment by Metro transplant Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:24 am

  20. Here in Springfield, the ruler showed 8 inches of snow at 3:00 PM yesterday, and it just kept coming down. This morning I’ve got about about 18 inches in my front yard in the Blessed Sacrement area of Springpatch.

    Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:25 am

  21. I have 10-12″ at my house in Spfld. Deeper next to the house from snow blowing oiff the roof. My snowblower cannot handle more than 12″ and, while it was slow going, it took it all.

    My Wheaten loves the snow, too, especially the deep stuff. I let him have at it and worry about the cleanup later. Snowy legs are a lot easier to deal with than muddy

    Comment by Joe from Joliet Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:28 am

  22. I think that 17 inches at Capital Airport is the total for the month of March so far. I measured just over a foot at my house, south of Springfield but north of the lake. If there were 17 inches I probably couldn’t see out of the windows.

    Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:28 am

  23. After last year’s drought conditions this late snow melting and gently seeping into the central Illinois farm fields so close to planting time is a wonderful gift to farmers.

    Comment by Responsa Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:29 am

  24. My son was one of thousands of U of I students heading back to Urbana yesterday at the conclusion of their Spring break. I-57 was caked and U of I got about a foot of snow. Finally at 1am U of I sends out an email stating that classes were cancelled for Monday…would’ve been nice to know before the treacherous ride down.

    Comment by PublicServant Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:34 am

  25. We received maybe 7″ here in northern Logan County. The robins gathered on my driveway after I cleared it off this morning….I feel sorry for the poor buggers. They look miserable.

    Comment by redleg Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:44 am

  26. We insisted our son - also a U of I student- get out of bed yesterday morning and head back to Champaign with the storm following him the entire way. We had picked him up at STL late Saturday eve - he spent Spring Break at S Padre Island. Kind of a shock to the system to come back to this! I feel bad about rushing him out of the house yesterday now that classes are cancelled today.

    Comment by Way South of I-80 Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:52 am

  27. Nearly nothing, just a light snowfall currently in SW suburbs.

    Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:54 am

  28. Received well over a foot of snow north of Springfield. Highway was clear of snow and covered in ice. Lots of cars in the ditches. I was the only one on the road for quite some time. Made me wonder if the rapture had come…

    Comment by Slick Willy Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:55 am

  29. A foot or more in rochester. My neighbor did my long driveway w his snow blower. Good karma for all the years i did his.

    Wasnt yesterday the ice storm anniversary?

    I remember a new governor thompson waking up to a big snow and declaring a snow day. Those who showed up wanted overtime. Who was essential? It was a mess. Later they said if it snows, good luck. Its on you. Take vacation if you have to

    Comment by Langhorne Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:56 am

  30. west of Peoria we have about 5 inches on the ground. several area schools are closed, though south of us in Fulton County there seem to be more closures. since I work from home, just another work day!

    Comment by Susiejones Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 9:56 am

  31. Farmers ok with any more moisture for the soil right now.

    Comment by walkinfool Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 10:11 am

  32. Is there going to be any issue with standing water when this all melts by Friday.

    Comment by PublicServant Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 10:14 am

  33. “I was the only one on the road for quite some time. Made me wonder if the rapture had come…”

    Low expectations, huh? LOL

    Just a slight dusting here, barely enough to stick to the car glass.

    Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 10:19 am

  34. ===If that went down, we would see no news on your site.===

    I have a backup.

    I’ve got my giant hamster wheel at the ready, Rich.

    Be careful downstaters.

    Comment by Wumpus Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 10:24 am

  35. ***The robins gathered on my driveway after I cleared it off this morning…***

    The doves and field birds did the same thing when the county plow cleared the road. I am such a softy and I threw a mess of seed out for them. The resulting rush would have made Tippi Hedren nervous.

    Comment by Slick Willy Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 11:13 am

  36. Couldn’t get out this morning. That’ll teach me to leave my car in the driveway instead of on the street in a snowstorm. Finally convinced a relative to give me a ride, and here I am at work - and very happy to see CapFax up and running.

    Comment by Yossarian Lives Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 11:17 am

  37. I know all that snow downstate can’t be fun to deal with but I’m sure the farmers will appreciate the moisture when it melts. Hopefully it won’t all run off.

    Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 11:44 am

  38. About a foot on the west side of SPI. Alderman’s hood, so hoping for some efficient plow work soon.
    AA has only scooped enough snow to give the dog a clear spot.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 12:18 pm

  39. I live near washington park in springfield. A guy across the street just dug his car out, and then moved it and set a chair in the parking space. Just like the big city by the lake.

    Comment by Publius Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 12:37 pm

  40. Narnia.

    Comment by Cal Skinner Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 1:44 pm

  41. We got 9 inches in the Twin Cities. Sun is out now and that plus a wind is helping the salt work on the streets. Most public schools are on spring break so no buses had to be on the roads earlier when it was slick and snow-packed in some places. ISU is open but U High and Metcalf were closed.

    Earlier this a.m. there were cars and semis in the ditches and median on i-55. Friends flew back to the airport had to dig out their car for a half hour–no shovel. Took it out of the car a tad too soon.

    Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 2:11 pm

  42. –We got 9 inches in the Twin Cities.-

    Do people call Bloomington-Normal the Twin Cities? That’s the first I’ve every heard of that.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 2:26 pm

  43. I feel guilty as I departed for Chicago Sunday at 1.30 and drove out of the storm around Pontiac. There’s barely a flake (of the snow variety) in Chicago.

    Comment by D P Gumby Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 2:27 pm

  44. -Do people call Bloomington-Normal the Twin Cities? That’s the first I’ve every heard of that. -

    Yes they do.

    Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 2:33 pm

  45. 13 inches in a flat section of the driveway, 11.5 inches on top of the dog house that is sheltered right next to the garage. Just finished digging out about 80 feet of driveway and also about 35 feet of alley. Had to do the alley so I could get a running start with the truck to break the alley open. Went back and looked after I got out and the snow was deep enough the front bumper on the SUV was plowing it and the rear axle was dragging across it.

    And the dog is out there with just his head above the snow, pushing his way around the yard and wanting me to come out and play in it.

    Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 2:53 pm

  46. forgot location … Blessed Sacrament neighborhood of Springfield

    Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 2:54 pm

  47. Very irresponsible home owners around me! Their entire families brought enough food and booze to fill my kitchen where we all parties until midnight. Around midnight we finished shoveling driveways for the third time, then had more snowball fights.

    Beer buried in snow is so freaking cold! Single malt buried in snow seems to get you drunk faster!

    Loved the snowstorm!

    Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 3:01 pm

  48. Springfield West Side. So much snow we had to pack down a portion of the yard for the dog. It was at least double her height. She was not amused.

    Got some great photographs in the blowing afternoon. Would have preferred this in January.

    Comment by How Ironic Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 3:32 pm

  49. On Saturday, the mail carrier brought some onions for me to plant in my garden. According to my e-mail, I have more on the way!

    I was too far north for much snow (only got 2-3 inches), but I’m trying to figure out what to do with the poor little onions.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 4:03 pm

  50. Overcast skies but not a flake on the ground. Looks like Chicagoland REALLY dodged a bullet on THIS one! (Yet some days I feel like I’m STILL recovering from that BRUtal Chicagoland Winter 2-3 years back which featured the 22″ Snowfall Slammer/Shut-Down Lake Shore Drive Blizzard, etc. and so forth)! Can’t recall, though, if Sangamon Co. and other Il. Parts got it nearly as bad THAT year)! And Good Luck with all the snow-blowin’ and shovelling (at age 50+, take your TIME, too; the threads will continue to be sewn here(!)–Man! Your front yard ALONE lools like a DOOzy!!)!

    Comment by Just The Way It Is One Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 6:04 pm

  51. …”LOOKS” like a DOOzy….

    Comment by Just The Way It Is One Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 6:06 pm

  52. I have always been told, “Champaign- Urbana’s nickname is ‘Twin City’. We have two twin cities in IL?

    Comment by Mama Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 6:09 pm

  53. RNUG, I sure don’t know where the “official” figure of 18″ for the ‘Patch came from. We’re in Cobblestone and got right at 12-13″.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 8:55 pm

  54. AA,

    Late this afternoon I went to my former house I’m getting ready to sell, also in the Blessed Sacrament neighborhood. I did measure 18+ inches in the driveway there, which is sheltered between my house and the neighbor’s house so it tends to collect … and I’m sure it had melted from below some during the day because that driveway sits right against the heated basement. Did a bit of unintentional plowing there also with the SUV.

    I can see the variance depending on the wind and windbreaks. I know some friends in a subdivision near Mechanicsburg told me they measured 19 in their driveway.

    Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 25, 13 @ 10:13 pm

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