January's prodigious snowfall 45.4-inches) creates heaven for some, headache for others

LACONIA — Last month saw at least one local snowfall record broken in what turned out to be an especially snowy January. The winter weather has affects both positive and negative for those trying to have a little cold-weather fun.

"It's not one of those winters where there's no snow," declared Russ Hobby, a consulting meteorologist and Laconia resident. This winter got off to a slow start, with less than an inch falling in November and a below-average amount in December.

January, though, saw 45.4 inches, about double the typical amount Laconia sees in the first month of the year. That total was helped along by a storm on January 12 which saw 22 inches fall, setting a new local record for a single January day.

With January's totals, the winter's snow has added up to 59.3 inches, which is about a foot over what an average winter would have by now. Although a sizable storm is expected for Wednesday, Hobby said the season would have to see quite a bit more to contend with the current record winter of 2007-2008, when 139 inches fell. The average for Laconia's winters is 81 inches.

Hobby said this winter is, "snowy and cold as usual. We've gota long ways to go, the winter's only half over." Hobby said a healthy snow cover is beneficial for many pursuits, such as maple sugaring – "you need to snow to cool the roots, you know" – and for dog sled races.

James Lyman, "trail boss" for the 82nh Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby, welcomed news of more snow. "Everything looks great so far," he said, adding that the extra snow will help to build a good base along the trail, which is shared with snowmobilers. The derby, which attracts competitors from Canada and Europe as well as crowds of local spectators, is scheduled to take place February 11-13.

Last year, poor trail conditions forced organizers to call off the event but Lyman said that isn't likely to happen this year. "Looks like we're getting some luck for a change," he said.

While the snow has Lyman celebrating, it likely has Scott Crowder cursing. Crowder, the founder and organizer behind the New England Pond Hockey Classic, has had a crew of workers laboring since January 21 to clear 14 rinks on Meredith Bay of Lake Winnipesaukee. All the snow this year resulted in a thick layer of slush forming atop the thick ice and insulated by several inches of snow.

Crowder and his workers have invested an estimated 350 hours to remove the snow and allow the slush to freeze in preparation for the event, which will be held this weekend. A big storm on Wednesday will give them hours to clear the rinks again, in time for an event-opening skills competition planned for Thursday evening.

"The good things is, we've got all day Thursday to clear the rinks," Crowder said. It'll be a long day, though, with the added pressure of about a thousand athletes planning to play hockey starting on Friday. "Probably, Wednesday night, we'll be out there plowing with headlights."