GoldenSnowball.com - A Fun New York Snow Contest

STOP THE PRESSES!

This contest isn’t offically over just quiet yet… Well on a scale of 0-100 it’s about 99% offical, but 5 days still remain until the offical end of the 2007-2008 contest on April 30th. With that being said we are comming to the end of the road on the closest contest ever in goldensnowball history. Only 5.3 inches seperate Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse right now. The last time the contest was this close was all the way back in the winter of 1977-1978 when Syracuse edged out Buffalo by 6.9 inches and Rochester by a mere 0.3 inches.

Anyways the reason for this post… The last two days of this year’s contest… the forcast calls for.. you guessed it some of the white stuff MAYBE! While it’s about a 99.9% probability nothing but a trace, if that, will fall there is still that one in a million chance Buffalo could sneak something out. I will not confirm or deny reports of one last ditch snowdance occuring this weekend in the Buffalo area. I know I might get some negative comments on this but, I would love for one more snow to finish one of the best seasons in golden snowball history, it’s been a heck of a year and an awesome contest this season!

Even if we don’t get any snow it’s gonna be a cold one next week. So any of you early season gardeners who put any tender plants out already should pay attention to the NWS as at the least frost/freeze conditions are somewhat likely in the Monday – Thrusday time period this week.

Who can even think about the snow contest with this AWESOME weather we have been having? To be honest with you I haven’t been thinking much about it other than counting the days, 11 including today when the contest finally wraps up.

Hopefully none of the cities got any snow since the last update and I guess I’ll have to look sooner or later to see if there were any adjustments made to the city totals. Lets hope not!

Today the grass will be cut for the first time and more than anything I am looking forward to my favorite smell of Spring. The smell of fresh cut grass. Of course with the prices of gas at the pump it will probably cost us all an arm and a leg this summer cutting it.

The wasps are out in full force which is what I go by as far as warm weather sticking around so it looks like it could be here to stay. Of course now that I just typed that and as much as I have been wrong this snow season the chances are I jinxed us and we’ll get buried sometime soon. Lets hope it’s over! Have a Beeeeuuuutiful day all! Chances are I’ll be whining that it’s too hot out today 😉

The contest just got closer with Rochester now only 3.2 inches away from over taking Syracuse for the Golden Snowball trophy. This all happened while the temps have been in the 50’s and 60’s go figure. Like Tom mentioned in one of his comments Syracuse actually had some snow removed from their totals. They were at 110.0 inches just a few days ago but are now down to 109.1. Every now and then we will see an adjustment made to the totals by NOAA. I think this is only the 3rd or 4th time that it has happened this season. My guess and that’s all it is, is that they may go back over the stats and make sure everything adds up and in this case it didn’t thus the drop in snow total for Syracuse.

Believe me when I say I’m enjoying this weather just like the rest of you but I’m still not convinced we are through with the snow totals. This week looks to be great but looking and reading around next week may be a little different and colder but then again who knows. On a promising note I did see a couple of bees over the weekend but not enough to convince me the warm weather is here for good. When I see lots of bees I’m pretty much convinced. That’s my little secret as to when I think we are done with the snow. With the race this close we are still sticking to the agreed upon date of calling the contest when April is over.

One thing I am loving is this season we really haven’t had a lot of what I call teaser days. Finally we are getting some of these bonus warm days and more importantly the sun along with the warm temperatures. Got to love it! Have a great day all!

What exactly is spring fever? I’m honestly not sure but whatever it is I think I might have it. Although I still sort of, kind of, maybe want a couple more days of decent snow just to give Rochester and Buffalo a change at one last run to take home the trophy I’m starting to think ehhhh bring on the warm sunny days. If it comes down to cold and rainy I would rather see cold and snowy though.

One of the great journalists from Rochester, Jim Memmott who writes for the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester has an article out today which really does sum things up for this time of the year. Read the article at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080405/NEWS0202/804050320/-1/COLUMNS .

Jim says it all about how the transition from talking about the snow and weather starts to turn to talking about outside and yard things and it’s so true. So far this week I have called about having the driveway resurfaced and mentioned how I would like to get the yard rolled this year hoping for a smoother ride while cutting the grass when it’s time to. Jim also talks about bird feeders and squirrels and I love his closing line to his article. As always Jim, thanks for the mention and I love the way you transition winter conversation to spring conversation. Isn’t it the truth?

General, It’s about time you had your name in the lights. OK, print but it’s a start. Read to the right of the column 😉 Thanks for the help with the site as always. Lets all hope it snows in Buffalo and Rochester sometime soon. Just don’t let Tom’s Grandma know I just wrote that. She lives in Buffalo and has had enough snow for the year.

Tonight is the big night for the NCAA final four. Mom and myself actually have a shot at winning some matchsticks again this year in our little office pool. So if your out of your brackets already feel free to cheer for North Carolina and Memphis. All we need the to do is to win today and the final game won’t even matter. Go UNC!!! Go Memphis!!! Have a Great Weekend All!

Both the bragging rights and the Golden Snowball trophy are still up for grabs but the days are numbered now for Rochester and Buffalo to steal it away from Syracuse. Looking at the upcoming forecasts it looks like 50 degree weather might be around with a hit or miss here and there. Right now it’s a gorgeous Spring day with plenty of sunshine and the temps hovering around 50 degrees.

Just a little reminder of what all the cities haven’t seen except for Syracuse in their city since the Golden Snowball contest was resurrected along with a free plug for channel 9 news.

Right now it’s still just a matter of 4 inches keeping it sitting in Dennis Brogan’s office in the city of Syracuse. Personally I think Dennis might be getting a bit too attached to it by now and it may be time to give it up. On the other hand I haven’t talked to Dennis in quite some time but the way he sounded when I last spoke to him is that when/if Syracuse loses the bragging rights they will find a fun way to deliver it to the winning city. The big question is will it be this snow season or will that have to wait another season.

Personally I have mixed feelings about Syracuse losing the bragging rights to the contest along with the Golden Snowball trophy. It’s fun when people talk about how much snow Buffalo gets blowing off Syracuse and Rochester and being able to say to them that the Trophy has resided in Syracuse for the past several years. On the other hand I think it would make the contest a bit more exciting and fun to see it leave the city of Syracuse. Only for 1 snow season that is. With that said all I can say is “Good Luck” to Rochester and Buffalo down the home stretch. I’m pulling for you, sort of!

Have a great day all and Good Luck to the Syracuse Chiefs this season who start their baseball season with a home opener today.

I know it’s only April and we technically still have a potential 4 more weeks of winter, but I’m ready for spring and summer to get here. You know it’s been a long winter when a snow lover like myself has had enough. Only made it to 35 today but I spent most of my day off outside doing some yard work and man oh man did it feel GREAT to get out and soak up some sun for a couple hours. Probably the best I’ve felt in a few months, the short days (light wise), the cold, and days after days of clouds really start to wear you down mentally over the winter months.

Barring any suprises in the next 2 weeks I’m thinking the standings are pretty well locked up even though it wouldn’t take much to rattle the top 3 places. Personally I’m content with the snow being over for another year. Get out there and soak up some of those wonderful sunny rays everyone!