Storm Approaches

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Eagle Harbor Web

An unofficial source of Eagle Harbor, Michigan news, views and information.

Winter Storm Approaches

Harbor Web Snow Forecast Contest

"...when we don't live with birds or weather or waves we lose the opportunity to think hard about ourselves, to discover from nature important facts about human nature."
(excerpted from Nancy Lord's, Fishcamp)

1997 - 1998 Winter Snow Forecasts

Final 1997-1998 Snow Forecast Report.
Whooops! Revised. County now (Sept.) says we had 4.8" in April, not 0".

Contest Ends Early Due To Lack Of Snow! Even though we average about 77" of snow February through May, this year's meager 22" over those four months confirmed that ole El Nino has pitched almost a scoreless game since January. We skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers were ecstatic after November's 52", but it has been a complete bust ever since. Less than 162" for the entire winter! A record tieing low! Least snow in 40 years. Embarrassing.
John Clarkson, Jack Hartmann and John Lindblom are our April winners. Each forcasted 5", the actual was 4.8". Pretty good!
Three of our 40 forecasters believed all the early fall press about the impact of El Nino on Great Lakes winter weather patterns and went out on the limb with history defying forecasts of no Keweenaw snow in April and May. For such tenacity, each will receive a commerative edition of the world famous Keweenaw Snow Thermometer replica.
Justin Koenders Edges Out Jeane Olson For Total Winter Forecast Contest Win. Justin's YTD forecast of 163" was just 1.3" over the actual 161.7". Jeane's 150" forecast was just 11.7" off the mark. Pretty darn good forecasting! Justin, a nephew of Nancy Clarkson, made his forecast from the vantage of his downstate home! So much for local knowledge! As our big winner, Justin has his choice of a week use of my guest cottage or a sailing trip to Isle Royale in PEREGRINE.

Congratulations to all this winter's winners and many thanks to all our contest forecasters. We will do it again next winter - a winter that is already speculated to be the "year of the big snow"! Let's hope so.

Keweenaw Snow Forecasts
Forecaster Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Total
George Hite 0 6 15 40 10* 10* 0 0* 81
Jean Ellis 0 3 3 22 18 22 10 0 78
Marilynn Ehrenreich 0 15 52 87 36 70 3 0 263
Sue Adams 0 0 18 20 25 20 0 0* 83
Warren Hagen 2 38 89 101 80 31 23 4 367
Susan Hampstrom 0 12 78 102 28 31 15 6 272
Angela Tarnowski 0 28 34 18 15 21 8 1 125
Norm Hampstrom 0 10 66 91 36 29 10 4 246
George Hof 7 39 82 91 49 37 21 7 333
Bill Medlyn 0 27 62 79 33 26 9 0* 236
Jack Hartmann 0 20 40 80 35 25 5* 0* 200
Marc Rubens 1 18 58 73 43 30 10 4 237
Liz Boorman Benson 0 25 52 64 32 29 14 4 220
Barry Bogart 0 31 79 96 24 7 0 0* 237
Mike Owen 6 33 74 85 50 26 15 0* 289
John Clarkson 1 25 50 60 25 25 5* 0* 191
Nancy Clarkson 5 21 22 75 33 59 22 5 242
Lindy/Ellie Dahlstrom 1 20 36 60 40 40 15 10 222
Margi Hampstrom 3* 24 64 72 44 36 12 3 258
Ann Johnson 3* 10 52 86 29 16 11 2 209
Gerry Johnson 5 15 35 70 100 12* 9 0* 246
Ken Liberton 5 15 50 60 30 25 6 0* 192
Mike Moore 7 28 52 60 40 35 19 9 250
Ed Trancik 10 26 73 76 31 26 20 4 266
Jackie Trancik 2 22 47 68 29 21 8 1 197
Elaine Johnson 3* 21 50 64 46 21 12 0* 219
Rick Finke 4 13 40 69 40 30 9 0* 205
Ann Gasperich 15 33 77 116 85 72 24 12 434
Jeane Olson 2 15 30* 55* 24 18 6 0* 150
John Lindblom 2 6 20 31 15 13* 5* 0* 92
Justin Koenders 8 15 25* 40 35 30 10 0* 163*
Rick Finke 4 13 40 69 40 30 9 0* 205
Mack Kelly 5 40 43 82 61 41 2 0* 274
Anne Boggio 4 23 42 74 35 21 3 0* 202
Jim Boggio 8 39 79 100 37 13 8 2 286
Bob Masnado 3* 41* 78 98 42 38 21 4 325
John Dawson 2 12 58 83 31 12 2 0* 200
Cheri/David Abraham 297
Bill Jacka 1 19 71 99 40 32 7 3 272
AVERAGE 3 20 48 67 37 28 10 2 227
* Winner

Keweenaw Snow History
57/58-96/97 History Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Total
Most 23 76 129 111 80 78 35 14 390
Least 0 4 17 36 15 3 0 0 162
Average 3 29 62 71 39 27 11 2 243

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