F#!@ing Ice Dam

I haven't talked enough about the weather. Sure, I've posted my occasional complaints about the temperature and once in a while I mention the large amounts of snow. But, I haven't talked about the bigger picture. This winter has broken all kinds of records for snow accumulation. We have had about 80 inches since December and a lot of it is still sitting on the ground. Long-time residents who know we are new to the area continually feel the need to explain: "this is a really unusual winter. I don't remember having snow like this in at least 30 years."

The image above is from mid-January, and we have had at least 30 inches on top of what you see here. Rhonda has been diligently shoveling the driveway after every single storm; I help when I can. The important fact, however, is that the snow does not melt. I have never before lived in a place where snow sticks around for months. It causes craziness in the spring...

Well, now it is March. Some say March is the snowiest month of all in Wisconsin as the weather "warms" up to more snowable temps. What we did not realize is that it is also the month of CRAZY weather. Not just snow. No. That would be too simple.

Yesterday was warm (37!) and during the day things began to melt. However, last night we had a thunder storm with torrential rains. The first rain anyone has seen in months. But the problem is that the roof of the house is still frozen solid, and there is at least 2 feet of snow everywhere. So shazaam! at 8pm we suddenly had multiple streams of water pouring onto my desk. The last two hours of consciousness yesterday were spent with Rhonda and I running like chickens around the house, collecting towels, mopping up puddles of water, trying to dam the leaks, and shop-vaccing up the enormous puddles that formed in the basement.

But the craziest part of it all is that, by 5am, the rain turned to ice and and snow. And now it looks like the most placid winter wonderland outside. No indication of the insanity wreaked eight hours ago.