Winter’s First Snow Soon Became a Wet Mess

Be the cause global warming, El Nino, or just a random weather pattern, January has already given the area a memorable winter mix.  

On Jan. 5, the day before an expected big snowfall, Pine Plains Highway Superintendent Carl Baden said his crew was ready. “We’ve been preparing for two to three months, making sure that the road shoulders are cut properly and removing leaves so drainage is clear. The trucks have been maintained. The plows are attached and ready.” 

The 5 to 8 inches that fell on Saturday night was no match for the Pine Plains plow crew. Baden described his plan: “We’re going out Saturday and pre-treating with sand and salt before the snow starts. Then we’ll plow first thing Sunday morning, probably around 3 or 4 a.m.” All 38.75 miles of town roads were in good shape by midday Sunday.

“After this snowstorm, we’ll wash the trucks and rewax them, go over them with a grease gun, and relubricate to counter the salt and water,” Baden said. “They’ll be ready for the next one.”  

But the next big event was a heavy rainstorm on Tuesday night. A visitor to Pine Plains on Wednesday wouldn’t have thought there had been a snowstorm just a couple of days earlier. The concern now was flooding as ponds rose and streams swelled over their banks. What will the rest of the winter hold?