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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-12-13, Page 1• December 13, 2000 Si (includes GST) Storm Seaforth residents bunker down, do well during storm By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff Even though Seaforth's four plows were working steadily since 4 a.m. yesterday, town hall's phone was ringing off the hook all morning with complaints that streets hadn't yet been plowed. "We had every plow going and they were doing the best they could but there was so much snow to move. This was the biggest storm since 1977," said a town hall employee. One complaint was from a Tuckersmith family which needed to get to a funeral home visitation b'ecause of a death in the family. Others were from people wanting to get to work. However. Highway 8 and all other highways and ,county roads in Huron, Perth. Wellington, Bruce and Grey Counties were closed until at least noon. All Seaforth and area schools were closed Tuesday, along with the Seaforth Medical Clinic. Const. Nigel Tilly of the Huron OPP said that while a lot of cars were stranded on Seaforth. streets. some of them in ditches, the drivers and passengers were all able to find their own way home. "Nothing serious happened. Most people stayed home and everyone is responding well to the first real winter storm in 10 years. They're all Huronites - they remember how to deal with storms," he said. aggin out.. Pegs Sluderttsdonate toClrislmas Pogo S Pegs 7 Worst storm in decades blows through Susan Hundertmokr, Matt Shurrie photos Tylor Marion and Nick Heimpel play in one of the giant snowbanks left in the wake of Tuesdays storm Region crippled by first major snowfall of the season By Matt Shuttle Goderich Sinal -Star staff The first major snowfall of the season overnight Monday. into Tuesday morning, crippled area roads and highways forcing schools and some businesses to close their doors. A major weather system from the Mississippi Valley is being blamed for the sharp dose of winter that dropped more Than 30 centimetres of fresh snow between Monday afternoon and early Tuesday morning., Winds gusting from 50-70 km/h left most roads throughout Goderich and Huron County impassible and poor weather conditions even forced plow drivers off the road. Weather reports instructed drivers to stay off all roads in five counties including Huron, Perth and Bruce. By midday highways across the area remained closed because of blowing and drifting snow. "This was a big storm. an extensive storm." said Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips. "There was a real buffet of winter precipitation associated 'with the storm - some areas saw rain. freezing rain and snow. ' "In a sense it was a 'Paul Bunyan' storm with lots of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico helping to feed the system." Across the county. highways remained closed including both major routes in and out of Goderich. "We've got some pretty big banks out here." said Scott r gendorff Strolling Santa Santo was out for o walk down Goderich Street Fridotr when he went to visit residents at Seaforth Martyr. Joe Hallahan, road foreman with the Auburn Patrol. Whilesome highways were down to one lane, Hallahan said seven plows were continuing to work in.hopes of opening highways before dark. Huron County engineer Sandra Lawson said a total of 14 plows and three graders were working two shifts in hopes of clearing the snow. In fact. a snowblower was also rented to help clear northern parts of the county. According to Lawson the county was late getting plows on the road yesterday morning because drivers were unable to get into work. Some eventually dug themselves out while others used snowmobiles to get to their plows. See LIGHTNING, Page 2 Environment Canada warns of old fashioned winter By Matt Shuttle Goderich Signal Star staff What a difference one year makes. Just 12 months ago residents across the region were enjoying temperatures in the mid- teens while others spent time on the golf course. "It looks like winter has arrived in North America," said Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips. Coming off what has been called the shortest and softest winter on record, Phillips said a return to more seasonal temperatures will likely have residents turning up the heat and finding extra blankets. Phillips said warm lake temperatures mixed with. strong northwest winds have resulted in both a snow squall warnings for arid as much as 35 centimetres of fresh snow at the start of the month. These weather effects were followed Monday and Tuesday by one of the worst storms to hit the area in decades with more than a foot of snow, high winds. freezing rain and thunder and lightning. But despite the return to winter, Philips said Environment Canada's official winter forecast is calling for dr season to be warmer than normal. "I think we're in for an old fashioned winter with more arctic air," said Phillips, who along with his colleagues question the validity of Environment Canada's computer forecast. "I think we're going to see the kind of winter we saw many years ago." This week's storm is already reminding people of the long. snow -filled winters of the 70s. Phillips said colder temperatures will likely be caused by more North/South flows creating a "rollercoaster weather look across the Country". 'I think we're going to see the kind of winters we saw many years ago' -- David Phillips, Climatologist If weather history was to repeat itself Phillips said the winter forecast would be right. since 14 of the last 20 winters have been milder than normal while 17 of the last 20 winters have also been dryer than normal. "Most people who are forecasting winter weather are saying colder than normal or normal." said Phillips, who was surprised when Environment Canada's official forecast called for warmer temperatures. After a season that saw rainy weekends and an extended spring but no real summer, Phillips said this is another season filled with uncertainty. "To be honest I think we'd rather sit this one out," said Phillips. While looking back at weather patterns in 2000, Phillips said the one thing that sticks out is how we really only had two seasons. "We were waiting for winter to arrive and it , see MINT, Pegs Your community newspaper since 1860