36" of snow? Please be careful!!!

[Phil Thien]

This storm is a widowmaker on steroids.

If you live in the region, please be extremely careful.

So what is the strategy here? It seems trying to clear the snow several times during the storm would be pointless and exhausting.

And waiting until there is 36" of snow to clear would make that job impossible w/o some big gear.

I once lamented a 14" (I think) snowstorm heading towards Milwaukee and Ken Fitzgerald's advice was extremely sage: Drink coffee, watch the snow.

[Rod Sheridan]

Good thoughts Phil.

When it snows like that, I put extra seeds in the birdfeeder, make a pot of Earl Grey and stay home and watch the beautiful snow fall.

I do head out with the snowblower and clear it when it hits about a foot deep though.

Hope the people head home before the storm hits................Rod.

[Jason Roehl]

For 36", I would go for the strategy of clearing multiple times, probably no more than 4-6" at a time.

Having driven a plow truck (parking lots, not roads) for about 7 years now, there are several reasons. One, it's easier on equipment. If you're shoveling a driveway, that can mean both the shovel and you, but those are more easily controlled than in a truck (easy to limit how much you put on the shovel--that may not be possible in a truck with a plow). Two, temperatures often drop hard after a big snowfall and can "lock up" the snow, making it that much harder to clear. Three, if you stay on top of it, and there's a medical emergency in your household, then at most you're 4-6" away from being able to get out, and most vehicles can drive through that anyway. That's much better than not being able to get through 36".

That said, if we got 36" of snow (that would probably be a 200 year storm for us), I would probably be looking at a couple of 100+ hour weeks of work (and a pretty fat paycheck). So far my record is 74 hours, which was last year when we got 10", then 2" a few days later. I started work on a Sunday morning at about 8 AM, and was on overtime by Tuesday evening.

[George Bokros]

My strategy would be like Jason's. Better to clear in small amounts that have to work that hard with a shovel or show blower. Also Jason is also correct it is easier on equipment and easier to control the plow.

[Pat Barry]

Being its the east coast that snow will likely be wet and heavy therefore frequent doses of shoveling would be the way I would go for sure. Lower heart attack potential that way.

[Marty Gulseth]

Just best wishes and be safe, easterners!

Regards, Marty

[Phil Thien]

That said, if we got 36" of snow (that would probably be a 200 year storm for us), I would probably be looking at a couple of 100+ hour weeks of work (and a pretty fat paycheck). So far my record is 74 hours, which was last year when we got 10", then 2" a few days later. I started work on a Sunday morning at about 8 AM, and was on overtime by Tuesday evening.

Yeah 36" here would be a game changer. I love my Toro single-stage snow spanker, it can handle 10" to 12" if pushed. But 36" even in a bunch of passes would overwhelm the thing.

I'll cross my fingers that the storm isn't nearly as bad as they predict.

[roger wiegand]

I'm waxing my skis and tightening up my snowshoes!

(and being from the midwest originally can barely resist the urge to go out and drive around while everyone in their right minds is off the roads and at home)

[Jerome Stanek]

The problem is going to be the blowing snow. it will fill back in in minutes if they are right about the amount and wind

[Anthony Whitesell]

Being its the east coast that snow will likely be wet and heavy therefore frequent doses of shoveling would be the way I would go for sure. Lower heart attack potential that way.

According to the forecast, we're not supposed to be above freezing until Thursday. That should keep it light and fluffy. I will probably clear the porch of in small amounts throughout. As for the driveway, that will depend on the consistency. Light and fluffy, probably once halfway through mostly so the bank at the end of the driveway doesn't become too huge. It gets wet and heavy then maybe two or three times.

[Bert Kemp]

I had a Honda 2 stage on trac's when I lived in NH that thing would go thru 36" like butter

[Mike Cutler]

Clear multiple times depending on the capacity of your equipment.
Bigger issue is roofs. 2 feet of snow has to come off the roof, especially where I live.
SE. Connecticut gets a cycle of snow, rain, freezing rain and ice. It never just snows here and stays that way. 2 feet of snow left on the roof when the weather warms and the rain/ freezing rain cycle starts, and you have a huge problem.

[Phil Thien]

I had a Honda 2 stage on trac's when I lived in NH that thing would go thru 36" like butter

The largest 2-stage blowers I typically see have an inlet that is 18" to 20" high. Do these do a pretty good job on snow higher than the inlet?

[Larry Edgerton]

For 36", I would go for the strategy of clearing multiple times, probably no more than 4-6" at a time.

Having driven a plow truck (parking lots, not roads) for about 7 years now, there are several reasons. One, it's easier on equipment. If you're shoveling a driveway, that can mean both the shovel and you, but those are more easily controlled than in a truck (easy to limit how much you put on the shovel--that may not be possible in a truck with a plow). Two, temperatures often drop hard after a big snowfall and can "lock up" the snow, making it that much harder to clear. Three, if you stay on top of it, and there's a medical emergency in your household, then at most you're 4-6" away from being able to get out, and most vehicles can drive through that anyway. That's much better than not being able to get through 36".

That said, if we got 36" of snow (that would probably be a 200 year storm for us), I would probably be looking at a couple of 100+ hour weeks of work (and a pretty fat paycheck). So far my record is 74 hours, which was last year when we got 10", then 2" a few days later. I started work on a Sunday morning at about 8 AM, and was on overtime by Tuesday evening.

Jason, winds are supposed to be up to 75 MPH, so I have to disagree. Wait till its over and you will move a lot less volume of snow, and will be a lot safer. Windchill with that kind of wind even at moderate temps can be brutal if not deadly. If you build up banks by shoveling it will just drift back in even deeper.

A lineman friend of mine was at my house for dinner last night when he got the call to get his crew together and head for Long Island. Apparently they think it will cause some outages.

[Jason Roehl]

I hadn't heard about the 75-MPH winds. I honestly don't know what we'd do with that kind of wind with snow (can't imagine it happening here with a snowstorm, but we do get straight-line winds like that, and more, with thunderstorms in the summer). I've certainly been out in the 40+ MPH blowing snow, and while it's not fun, it's doable. You do have to move the snow downwind, though, or you'll just make it worse for yourself.