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Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ralph Damren on January 26, 2026, 12:24:46 PM
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We got + 15" but had the equipment to deal with it. It was soft snow, easy to plow/shovel, but I see many states got freezing rain/ice which is a much bigger challange. Hope all is safe and well.
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Compared to 25+ years ago, weather forecasting is multitudes better. Back then, the accuracy of forecasts was marginal. Today, they are amazingly accurate, and far more timely. Because of that, those of us in Texas had very good notice of the impending severe weather, and were able to get prepared for it, and take appropriate action - and inaction - to minimize the impact of the weather. Yes, the weather (although not concluded, yet) has caused inconveniences, and a moderate amount of infrastructure damage. As compared to many previous storm events, the human toll (injuries and deaths) has been quite moderate, as well. Based upon the same level of accurate weather forecasting, we should expect the weather to improve in the next few days, with roads clearing, airports fully operational, etc.
Bottom line: The effects of the weather could have been much, much worse.
Locally, where I am, after a pretty heavy layer of sleet fell and froze solid, I got 4” of snow in about 36 hours, with temperatures hanging below 20 degrees in that time (down to -2 this morning, up to 18 right now). I don’t think even one flake of snow that has fallen has melted. The snow isn’t so much the problem as is the hidden frozen layer of sleet. But, again, people are staying off the streets, much more than normal. No schools/universities open today, lots of people staying home. Bright sunshine.
Everybody stay safe.
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While storms of this magnitude were a playground in our daze of youth, they become a nuisance today. There was a jet crash at the Bangor airport with a Texas connection. A corporate jet owned by a Houston law firm, with six aboard, crashed during takeoff in the middle of the storm. It had landed in Bangor from Houston to refuel and de-ice on it's destinaton of France. All six died in the firely crash. The FAA and NTSB have not yet released their final report but the 'street talk' is the hold time after the de-ice and before takeoff may have been too long.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those that died. There was very few power outages and Maine is back and running as usual this morninmg. Hope all of you have weathered the storm safely.
-Ralph