# Game: Guess when the Piper yard will be snow-free! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 30, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094 "2013-04-30T13:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/1 "2013-04-30T13:30:05Z")
For those of you who have not been following along in my whiny winter thread, here’s the synopisis: It started snowing in November chez Pipers, with one 24 hour snowfall that had more snow than we got in all of the winter of 2011-2012. It really hasn’t let up. It’s April 30, 6 weeks on from the official opening of spring (ha!) It’s snowing now. So, a guessing game: guess when the Piper estate will be snow free! Front (with a southern exposure) and back (sheltered from the sun). [Pix of front yard](http://www.flickr.com/photos/79295541@N08/8694930895/in/photostream/) The story thus far: [I do find one foot of snow in less than 24 hours a tad excessive.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=678656) Oh, and the location, for those of you who want to get all scientific and meteorology-like, is [Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina,_Saskatchewan). (This thread is sort of like those guessing games where they put a car out on a frozen slough and people buy particular dates when the car will finally break through the ice. It’s a Saskatchewan thing. Except, no money for the winner, just undying admiration for weather prognostication skills.) ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/2 "2013-04-30T14:41:07Z")
Including the packed down snowplow piles, 21 May [del]2014[/del] 2013. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/3 "2013-04-30T15:57:05Z")
If it doesn’t melt this summer, and more piles on top next winter, you will have successfully started glaciating. Just sayin’… ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/4 "2013-04-30T16:25:39Z")
Having looked at a few of the weather forecasts for Regina, I’ll guess **12 May**. I realize they are a little less reliable than carnival fortunetellers, but you take what you can get. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/5 "2013-04-30T17:28:38Z")
How many trees do you have in your back yard, and what kinds? A patch of snow can linger for a long time there… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/6 "2013-04-30T18:58:08Z")
1 old, big manitoba maple 1 full growth blue spruce 1 caragana bush that has resisted all efforts to kill it 2 apple saplings that don’t count 1 elm all around the perimeter, none in the centre of the yard ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/7 "2013-04-30T19:01:00Z")
[This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Downtown_Regina_in_winter.jpg) is pretty much what it looked like this morning. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/8 "2013-04-30T19:02:17Z")
I’ll take 18 May… ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/9 "2013-04-30T20:33:41Z")
I’ll go with June 15, 2013. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/10 "2013-04-30T20:47:37Z")
This is a cruel game to play. I am wearing shorts and a t-shirt because it is 80f/26c and has been for weeks. I am guessing my Birthday May 15 2013 **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/11 "2013-04-30T21:35:14Z")
Since we have a chance of snow for the next 3 days, and Minnesota is farther south than you are, I’m going with “Where and when is the next ice age starting” for $200, and guess April 2038. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/12 "2013-04-30T21:35:43Z")
I’m going to be much more optimistic and pick May 7th. Basing my optimism on the @#&$heads at [Environment Canada](http://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/sk-32_metric_e.html), who I’m sure are responsible for this abominable winter. I’m a bit concerned that **Southern Piper** might cheat and manipulate the outcome by spreading the remnants of drifts around to speed melting later this week. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/13 "2013-05-01T01:43:05Z")
Sask made the CBC national news for which of the following events today: A. Floods B. Snow storms C. Brush fires All of the above. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/14 "2013-05-01T05:37:56Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Including the packed down snowplow piles, 21 May [del]2014[/del] 2013. Those aren’t snow plough piles, sadly. That’s snow we shovelled off the roof and snow from the yard that the Bobcat guy moved away from the foundations and close to the sidewalk to drain better. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/15 "2013-05-01T10:23:20Z")
The front yard, May 8. The back yard, May 17. For those last little corners in the deep shadows. Once you stop getting new snow, it’ll all melt fast this late in the season. _looks around nervously for eavesdropping and contrary weather gods_ Sympathies to you…but you have made me feel better about the weather where I am, and our late spring. So thank you for that good service! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/16 "2013-05-01T12:53:37Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Those aren’t snow plough piles, sadly. That’s snow we shovelled off the roof and snow from the yard that the Bobcat guy moved away from the foundations and close to the sidewalk to drain better. :eek:☹ ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/17 "2013-05-01T18:31:59Z")
May 14. No particular reason, just a date that popped into my head. But given the winter you’ve had, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see remains of snow piles when I pass through your city this July. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/18 "2013-05-02T05:45:06Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > [QUOTE=Northern Piper] > > Those aren’t snow plough piles, sadly. That’s snow we shovelled off the roof and snow from the yard that the Bobcat guy moved away from the foundations and close to the sidewalk to drain better. :eek:☹ [/QUOTE] I’ve not just been making this up, you know! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/19 "2013-05-02T13:58:43Z")
Never doubted it for a second – just impressed by the volume and feeling sympathy for you. Is it snowing again out there in the great flat? It is here in TBay. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094/20 "2013-05-03T06:34:00Z")
no, it’s actually been melting again. still snow in both front and back yards, even though the front is in full southern exposure. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-guess-when-the-piper-yard-will-be-snow-free/657094.md?page=2)