Ice Bowl (1967)

Ray Scott, Jack Buck, and Frank Gifford. According to them it was cold "just plain cold" at the Ice Bowl. Ray Scott, the Packers announcer, called the first half and Jack Buck, the Cowboys announcer, called the second half on TV. Nice hat, too. Production values have changed just a little.

You had to love Scott's sparse style, "Starr, Dowler, touchdown."

Snow Emergency in Monona

Get your cars out of the street tonight.

P R E S S R E L E A S E

DATE: January 17, 2011

SUBJECT: Declaration of Snow Emergency

CONTACT PERSON: Patrick Marsh

City Administrator

City of Monona

Office (608) 222-2525 pmarsh@ci.monona.wi.us

In preparation for a major snow storm forecast for the area, pursuant to Municipal Code 10-1-26, Mayor Robb Kahl has declared a General Snow Emergency for the City of Monona effective 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 17, 2011 until noon on Tuesday, January 18, 2011. During a declared general snow emergency no person shall park any vehicle at any time on a designated snow emergency route and no person shall park any vehicle on any other street within the city.

The police department will begin towing vehicles that are parked on any Monona Street obstructing the snow removal operation. It is essential to have the roadways clear so that Public Works personnel can clear streets during the early morning hours.

All City of Monona Park parking lots may be used to park your vehicles until the end of the snow emergency.

As an additional reminder, the normal snow ordinance is in effect where it is unlawful for any person to park or cause to be parked any vehicle on any public street within the City of Monona at any time within twelve (12) hours after a snow fall of two (2) inches or more, unless within such time the public street has been cleared of snow.

XXX

Storm Stories - Post Yours

The snow storm brought some 18" of snow to the greater Monona area and even made the news in the UK and the NYT: Blizzard Paralyzes Much of Midwest. (I tried to find an online version of the map from the paper edition of the WSJ, but failed. Am I the only one who can never find anything on the new Madison.com?).

Having driven around Monona and across Madison, I can say that the storm also demonstrated that Monona does a better job of clearing its streets than Madison - much better. Let's hear it for the Monona Public Works crews (and don't forget the Monona police, fire and EMS folks who are also working long hours in very difficult circumstances).

But, here's my storm story: My kids came in from trying to shovel out the wall of snow at the bottom of the driveway and said "the guy up the street said he was coming back with his snowblower." A few minutes later here came the neighborhood crew with shovels and snowblower to finish off the snow. So I joined them - four of us watched the other guy run the snowblower - that's the way to shovel snow!

Turned out they had already been up and down the block helping clear all the driveways. Kudos to Dave and Jake Mairet, Bob Gonzalez, and Shea McCue.

Got a snow story to share?

Madison Area Precipitation Records

Here is some historical data on Madison area precipitation.

The records are from 1861 to 2000. If extended through 2008, then 2007 and 2008 would be the 4th and 5th highest years for precipitation. June 2008 was the wettest June on record.

The 1971-2000 average annual precipitation in Madison was 32.95". In 2006 we were 3.25" above average. In 2007 we got 44'2" and in 2008 44.0". And we are on pace to be above average in 2009 mainly due to record-setting March precip of 6.9".

One wonders what things were like in the 1880's when precip was way above average for 6 straight years (1880-1885). Probably not as bad due to much less development, but it would be interesting to know if there was flooding and the extent and duration.

To see the table go here: Top Ten Extreme Years for Temperature and Precipitation

Snow Emergency Cancelled

P R E S S R E L E A S E


DATE: December 19, 2008

SUBJECT: Cancellation of Snow Emergency

CONTACT PERSON: Patrick Marsh
City Administrator
City of Monona
Office (608) 222-2525
pmarsh@ci.monona.wi.us


The General Snow Emergency for the City of Monona has been cancelled as of 5 pm, Friday, December 19, 2008.

Snow Emergency Declared December 18 and 19

P R E S S R E L E A S E
DATE: December 18, 2008
SUBJECT: Declaration of Snow Emergency

CONTACT PERSON: Patrick Marsh
City Administrator
City of Monona
Office (608) 222-2525
pmarsh@ci.monona.wi.us

In preparation for a major snow storm forecast for the area, pursuant to Municipal Code 10-1-26, Mayor Robb Kahl has declared a General Snow Emergency for the City of Monona effective 10 p.m. Thursday, December 18, 2008 until 10 pm Friday, December 19, 2008. During a declared general snow emergency no person shall park any vehicle at any time on a designated snow emergency route and no person shall park any vehicle on any other street within the city.

The police department will begin towing vehicles that are parked on any Monona Street obstructing the snow removal operation. It is essential to have the roadways clear so that Public Works personnel can clear streets during the early morning hours.

All City of Monona Park parking lots may be used to park your vehicles until the end of the snow emergency.

Snow Emergency Continues - Get Your Vehicle Out of the Road

From the Monona PD:

PRESS RELEASE
MONONA POLICE DEPARTMENT

9 December 2008
1:52 pm

The snow emergency remains in effect until noon, 10 December 2008. Monona officers will be ticketing vehicles parked on Monona streets.

Beginning around 7:00 pm this evening, we will begin towing vehicles that are parked on any Monona street.

It is essential to have the roadways clear so that Public Works personnel can clear streets during the early morning hours.


Frank K. Fenton
Operations Lt
Monona PD

Until the conclusion of the snow emergency, citizens should be advised that they may park their vehicles in any Monona City Park parking lot.

Flooding

I have had several contacts about flooding at homes in Monona that are not on Belle Isle. These folks are not sure what to do.

During regular work hours, anyone with flooding concerns should call City Hall at 222-2525 and ask for city engineer Rich Vela or leave a message (in this instance I would recommend leaving the message with live person in addition to voicemail). Outside of regular hours, call the police non-emergency number at 222-0463 (TDD 441-0399). They will contact the appropriate Public Works personnel.

My understanding is that sand and sandbags will be placed in Winnequah Park parking lots in addition to the 'normal' Belle Isle operations. In addition to the record-setting 4.11 inches of rain, it appears that plugged culverts may be the culprit with the Winnequah Park lagoon-related flooding. (See, Flooding a danger as rivers rise in wake of record rainfall). Also, inmates are coming in to help out on the islands.

It never hurts to call or email an alder or the mayor so that we know where the problems are.

Weather Whine

At Monday's meeting Alder McKeever told me he loves this winter's weather. The man has obviously cracked! I enjoy a good snowy winter as much as the next guy, but let me officially cry "UNCLE"!

As I was sitting on the Beltline for a good portion of Tuesday morning it occurred to me that the only sensible option was to exit the highway, point the car south and drive until the weather turned warm. I didn't have a toothbrush with me or I might be in Austin, Texas by now. Austin Texas - Events, Attractions, Convention Information, Guides ...

And now the forecast predicts minus 14 degrees tonight. Is there just cause to get out of bed before Spring? To rise and shine? To put on the the bright eyes and the bushy tail? To shake a leg? Well, there is Pitchers and Catchers! Pitchers and Catchers!

You Know It's Cold When

The dog's breath freezes on the porch door.
The dog dances around because his bare tootsies are freezing.
The hairs in your nose freeze.
You can't remember the answer to the age old question 'just why do we live here?'

And copied from http://prairiewinds.blogster.com/know_cold_.html

Your eyelashes have icicles on them.
Your feet get cold even though you are wearing wool socks and boots rated for -40.
The snow squeaks when you walk on it.
The kids want to go outside, so you stand them in front of the door, open it, then ask them if they still want to go out. NO! they say.

Could be worse. Could be in Kazakhstan (which would be worse for more reasons than the weather):

http://eawild.blogspot.com/2006/01/you-know-its-cold-in-kazaksthan-when.html

You know it's cold in Kazakhstan when....
-You get on the bus and there is a layer of snow on the floor, as if it was outside…and it stays there for an entire week without melting.
-Your eyes tear up because of the wind and cold air, and then immediately start to freeze up, so you have to blink rapidly to stop your eyes from freezing shut.
-School kids in Uralsk went to school 4 times in the entire month of January because school was canceled due to coldness.
-You don’t even think of going outside without tights, long underwear and wool pants on.
-You can’t tell the difference between –35 degrees and –45.-Fashion (which is VERY important here) goes out the window and you wear mismatching hats, gloves, and scarves for the sake of warmth.
-Things that you don’t necessarily want to see (i.e. barf, human excrement…) remain frozen in the snow for weeks on end, unless someone chooses to chisel it out. (I’m not volunteering for that one)
-You may have to amputate toes if you don’t wear shoes that have fur lining.-It's normal to wear ski pants to work.
-You do whatever is necessary to get out of the cold, for example buying a ticket to India, where it is currently 80 degrees!!