Dear Tom,
Not only have we had a lot of snow this winter, but we have had frequent snowfalls. I’m guessing that has a lot to do with the area’s salt shortage.
Scott Schnurr
Dear Scott,
Many small snowfalls obviously require more salt applications than one large one. So far, the city has officially logged 43 days of measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more); far more than the long-term average of 29 and the most snowy days in any winter since 1981-82.
Recent winters here have had relatively few days of measurable snowfall in addition to low seasonal snowfall totals. Chicago’s snowiest winter was 1978-79, when 89.7 inches fell and measurable snow fell on 45 days. The winter of 1961-62 recorded considerably less snow (58.9 inches of snow, quite similar to this winter’s 60.1 inches), but tallied a record 53 days of measurable snowfall.
For reference, Chicago winters with the fewest measurable snow days were in 1943-44 and 1994-95 with only 15 each.
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