New Snow In Hammond

Well, today is certainly a snow day in Hammond, Indiana. We are expecting upwards to 12 inches of the white stuff over today and tomorrow. It’s our second snowstorm of the winter season in 2009-10. Once i get done with this blog I’ll get ready and go out and shovel a little. I don’t want to be shoveling the whole 12 inches tomorrow.

Still, I’m glad it’s not like 1967. When we had 23 inches of snow over 2 days. It’s still the grand winner of snowstorm in the area. We were off from school for 3 days. People couldn’t get to work or leave once their shift was finished in the steel mills or the end of the day. But it was a lot more fun then it is today as people worked together to get the cars dug out and the streets cleared.

These days, people help each other out less. They only work for themselves, forget about the other guy or gal.  It’s kind of sad, in a way. Hard to thoink of the ’60’s as the ‘good old days,’ when people helped out each other and had fun doing so. It’s kind of like my parents who longed for the good old days of the 1930’s qnd 40’s.

Every one has a period of time they think was the best. I guess it’s just human nature. Well of to shoveling!

Big Snow In Northwest Indiana

It may not rival the Great Snowstorm of 1967, but, today we will have a significant snowfall today January 7th and January 8th. So far we are looking at 6 to 10 inches in the area.

Also, the lake shore area could get a few extra inches as we get some lake effect snow. It is rare for the area of Hammond and Whiting to get lake effect snow as the wind usually blows Northwest and hits the Michigan City and South Bend area. But once in a while a North or Northeast wind will blow and then, we get punished.

In 1967, I enjoyed the snow, but then I was 14 years old and in 8th gtade. Now I’m all of 57 and have a Heart-Lung transplant. I’m no longer thrilled ny the prospect of winter snow. If I didn’t have obligations here I’d move where it is warmer. This year that may be impossible. It’s cold and miserable all over. Texas-cold Florida-cold. Georgia-cold. Why go on vacation? You would be laving one cold place to visit another cold. area. Wait, there is Arizona. I don’t think it’s too bad there. Spring training, here I come!

I’ll report later on about the snow and it’s after affects.

Did You Miss The Snow?

While some of us mussed the last snowfall in the area, the folks in Valpo and Chesterton and other areas east of Gary got plastered with as much as 18 inches of the white stuff.

It snarled roads and closed schools and made life miserable for all the people living in the area. It also is a surprise for those going east on the toll road (other wise known as the highway robbery raod now that it’s privatized) and I-94. One second you are in sunshine and the next second you are in a blizzard.

I remember going through one of those a number of years ago. It was surreal. I was glad I got out of there when I did. These days, I try and stay out of Porter and the surrounding area during the winter. I’m not a great driver as it is. Going through snow like that is such a hassle.

Of course, once in a while we get a wind switch directly from the north and end up with the snow. Hammond got on of those January 20. I kept looking out the window and yelled STOP ALREADY! It finally did about 2pm that afternoon. I ended up shoveling 10 more inches of snow. We now have about 18 inches on the ground.

This weekend the weather will warm up to near 50 degrees. Now we will have to deal with flooding. No good thing goes unpunished. I’ll ne watching the basement and planning for seepage. I hope the sump pump works!