Snowpocalypse 2024 - Round 2

Mark McFate — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 15:28:12 +0000

Just thought I would post a couple more photos, with a probable update later today. Took these photos yesterday (Friday, January 12) at about noon when I ventured outside to clear the driveway. Didn’t quite get it all done because it was just too cold and windy, and the snow was still falling. I didn’t even attempt to clear the front porch… ain’t nobody coming to visit today anyway. 8^)

There are steps and a deck under there somewhere.
I love my EGO snow thrower, but pushing through drifts that are taller than the intake (about 18") is NO FUN.

Snowpocalypse 2024?

Mark McFate — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Maybe not as bad as predicted (at least per some predictions) but it was enough wet snow for me. Took almost an hour to clear using my EGO cordless snow-thrower (love it) and there’s more to be done before Mackenzie and I can leave for work in the morning.

Fortunately both Grinnell College and South Tama County schools were closed today. GC re-opens at noon tomorrow and STC just announced that they will be closed on Wednesday too.

The captioned photo above is where I left it this evening at about 5:30 PM. The photo below shows the first 1-minute of my progress at about 4:30 PM. I posted a track-log of the “walk” at https://hikes.summittdweller.com/hikes/2024/01/2024-01-09_0430pm/.

Probably 6" - 7" of wet snow but near the house and street it was 14" - 16" deep. Ultimately I burned through 4 large EGO batteries. Clearing the drive in the past would typically take only 2 with some capacity to spare.

I still have more to do before going to work tomorrow. Got another storm heading this way on Wednesday evening so I better get at it in the morning. Wish me luck.

Update: 10-01-2024 @ 10 AM

Managed to get the snow-thrower out again to finish up last evening’s work before heading back to Grinnell in a bit. 34 minutes of effort covering about 3/4 of a mile. I’ll post another track log at https://hikes.summittdweller.com soon. I did take one more photo to give some perspective to the front porch situation.

I really should have taken a photo before I started. The snow shelf extending down off the roof was easily 2’ deep/tall x 8’ long x 16" thick…before I knocked it down, an effort that took 12 pokes with my shovel. Went through another two EGO batteries in the effort.

Not quite done yet, but at least the drive is clear and the front door is reachable.

Tornado Warning

Mark McFate — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:56:00 +0000

Just came up from the basement after a Tama Co. tornado warning, and the wind is picking up again. 🌪 No visible damage outside, but I did find a puddle of pea size hail about 10 minutes after the storm.

@Summitt Dweller’s Personal Blog - Weather

Snowpocalypse 2024 - Round 2

Snowpocalypse 2024?

Update: 10-01-2024 @ 10 AM

Tornado Warning