# I do find one foot of snow in less than 24 hours a tad excessive.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 12, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917 "2013-01-12T00:27:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/161 "2013-04-12T02:20:40Z")

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> [@Capt\_Kirk](#):
>
> Yes my frozen brother to the north it does. Soon the sun shall shine, flowers will bloom and birdies will chirp happily while building their nests. Yes **Northern Piper** there is a Spring.  
> **Capt**

And then, mosquitos!

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**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:** [April 12, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/162 "2013-04-12T04:04:58Z")

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> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> Cite?

As I understand things, **Northern Piper** wrote to the editor of the New York Sun:

> [@](#):
>
> Dear Editor: Some of my friends say there is no Spring. But I heard that if you see it in The New York Sun, it is so. Please tell me the truth; will there be a Spring?

The editor replied:

> [@](#):
>
> **Northern Piper** , your friends are wrong. They have been affected by a winter that will not quit. They do not believe except they see, and they see no sign of Spring. Yet on this great planet of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his lifespan, as compared with the billions-of-years world about him, as measured by the seasons that come and go, each in their turn.
> 
> Yes, **Northern Piper** , there is a Spring. It exists as certainly as Summer and Fall and Winter exist, and you know that together, they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Spring. It would be as dreary as if there were no **Northern Pipers**. The eternal light with which your knowledge fills the Dope would be extinguished.
> 
> Not believe in Spring! You might as well not believe in puppies! You might get Mrs. Piper to hire men to watch in all the flowerbeds on the spring equinox to catch Spring, but even if they did not see the snow melt and the sun shine and tender green shoots poke up in the garden on that day, what would that prove? Nobody sees Spring come, but that is no sign that there is no Spring. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see kittens dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they do not. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders that are unseen and unseeable in the world.
> 
> You may use the scientific method to explain much of our natural world, but Mother Nature has her ways, and she wears a veil which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only time can push aside that curtain to the point where you can view and picture the supernal beauty and glory of Spring; and indeed, of all seasons. Are they real? Ah, **Northern Piper** , in all this world there is nothing else as real and as abiding as the seasons.
> 
> No Spring! Thank goodness it lives, and will live forever. A thousand years from now, **Northern Piper** , nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, it will continue to make glad the hearts of the great-great-great-great-great-grand-Pipers.

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/163 "2013-04-12T05:52:11Z")

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_This is the winter that never ends.  
It just goes on and on my friends.  
Some people think spring will come because it always has,  
But this winter will just keep on forever because…_

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**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/164 "2013-04-12T13:08:10Z")

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Woke up to somewhere between 12 and 14 inches of snow. Trying to trick myself into believing that going snowshoeing this afternoon will be fun, but brain is refusing to believe it, and just wants to go back to bed.

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**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 12, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/165 "2013-04-12T13:11:46Z")

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Go! There are only so many powder days in one’s life.

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**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 12, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/166 "2013-04-12T13:51:21Z")

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> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> Cite?

You don’t want it, I live in Houston, Texas

**Capt**

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**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/167 "2013-04-15T23:17:01Z")

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9" at my place and it is still coming down hard. Another 4-8" predicted overnight. This is not all that unusual for Colorado in April, but this is the second one in one week!

Of course, the first one had completely melted before this one started.

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**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/168 "2013-04-16T02:08:44Z")

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[![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/8251/8653089215_5f93f1e928_b.jpg "IMG\_0358") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/32738813@N00/8653089215/in/photostream/lightbox/)

[![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/8261/8653085215_0f75b4a7bd_b.jpg "IMG\_0361") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/32738813@N00/8653085215/in/photostream/lightbox/)

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/169 "2013-04-16T15:37:34Z")

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Yay! Saw my first butterfly two weeks ago as I was pulling some gear out of the hangar at work; I thought Spring was coming! Boo! Then a cold snap and more snow last week, and record low temps while I was out in the field all week. Evil little jerk, I wish I had a time machine so I could stomp that fluttering liar out of existance!

Spring, like [the Cake](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-cake-is-a-lie), is a lie!

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/170 "2013-04-16T17:50:08Z")

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> [@swampspruce](#):
>
> Yay! Saw my first butterfly two weeks ago as I was pulling some gear out of the hangar at work; I thought Spring was coming! Boo! Then a cold snap and more snow last week, and record low temps while I was out in the field all week. Evil little jerk, I wish I had a time machine so I could stomp that fluttering liar out of existance!
> 
> Spring, like [the Cake](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-cake-is-a-lie), is a lie!

I regretfully second this. We had one really nice day, and there were indeed butterflies, and now snow and cold, soon to be followed by more snow and cold. I think the entire city is in a bad mood.

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/171 "2013-04-16T17:56:12Z")

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I saw something on my Facebook feed that resembled a program installation pop-up box with these words in the box:

> [@](#):
>
> Installing Spring
> 
> Installation failed.
> 
> Spring is not available in your country.

ETA: This was from last week. Before spring finally made it to the East!

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/172 "2013-04-16T18:15:41Z")

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> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#):
>
> I regretfully second this. We had one really nice day, and there were indeed butterflies, and now snow and cold, soon to be followed by more snow and cold. I think the entire city is in a bad mood.

Your problem was that while they were indeed butterflies, they were African Storm Butterflies, the arthropods native to West Africa whose wingbeats cause zephyrs that become breezes that become winds that become storms that become gales that become hurricanes. (Cf. The Butterfly Effect)

And it is Not A Wise Idea to kill them. (Cf. any of several “B” movies about Man Interfering With Nature to disastrous effect.)

You have been warned. 😃

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/173 "2013-04-16T18:57:12Z")

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Ah, fuck. Stoopit butterflies.

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/174 "2013-04-17T10:31:30Z")

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It reached 20c in England at the weekend - for the first time since September 17. Goodbye Narnia!

Frosts are due to return by Friday, though.

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**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 19, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/175 "2013-04-19T04:13:50Z")

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[QUOTE=Editor of New York Sun, as reported by Spoons]  
Yes, Northern Piper, there is a Spring. It exists as certainly as Summer and Fall and Winter exist, and you know that together, they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Spring. It would be as dreary as if there were no Northern Pipers. The eternal light with which your knowledge fills the Dope would be extinguished.  
[/QUOTE]

This gave me hope.

In fact, there was water running in the streets this morning, from the snow melt from all the deep piles of snow on everyone’s front lawns.

Hope sprang!

Then tonight, the snow started falling again…

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**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:** [April 19, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/176 "2013-04-19T04:29:09Z")

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Last Sunday, I shovelled a foot of snow off the front walk, the driveway, and the city sidewalk. Through the week, we suffered unseasonably cold temps. Then today, a south wind came up, and the snow that was on the lawns disappeared.

This is one weird spring.

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**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 19, 2013, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/177 "2013-04-19T07:41:05Z")

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We’re having a snowstorm. Environment Canada:

> [@](#):
>
> Heavy snow and blowing snow developing this evening.
> 
> Significant snow will develop this evening and continue until midday Friday. 15 to 20 cm are expected with locally higher amounts possible along the north shore of Lake Superior and north through Geraldton. There will also be strong winds associated with the storm especially overnight tonight and through Friday. Northeast winds 30 to 50 km/h with higher gusts along Lake Superior shore will give reduced visibilities to less than 100 metres at times. Drifting snow may also cause difficulty for travel in exposed areas.

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**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 19, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/178 "2013-04-19T13:24:56Z")

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When I was a kid in Saskatoon, we had to read the book [Spring Begins in March](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/293697.Spring_Begins_in_March) by Jean Little.

Spring begins in March? I said “bullshit” then, and I say “bullshit” now.

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**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 19, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/179 "2013-04-19T13:34:47Z")

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It was 21 degrees in Oshawa yesterday.

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**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 19, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-find-one-foot-of-snow-in-less-than-24-hours-a-tad-excessive/646917/180 "2013-04-19T16:36:32Z")

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Eastern and western Canada just separated. 😉

The only road connecting (Nipigon) them is closed due to snow.

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