Winter of 2009-2010 has been one for the record books already.
The 72.5 inches of snow that hit Fort Dodge so far this winter breaks the previous record of 69 inches set in the winter of 1961-1962, according to State Climatologist Harry Hillaker, with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
"We have had more snow than typical statewide," Hillaker said. "Northwest and central Iowa are the areas that have seen the most snow this winter. Southeast Iowa has had the least amount of snow, but even there they have had more than they usually get."
Statewide, the average snowfall is around 43 inches, which is the 16th highest seasonal snow total on record, Hillaker said.
While there's no one reason for the massive amounts of snow, Hillaker said since it has been a relatively cold winter, it provides more opportunities for snow as opposed to rain.
The big events that dumped inches of snow on Iowa didn't help with the snowfall count either, he said.
"It doesn't take very many of the big storms, such as the storms Dec. 7 and 8, and around Christmas, to add up quickly. And we had quite a number of small to medium size systems as well," he said.
Piles of snow accumulating all over the state are causing vision problems for drivers and clearing snow seems an endless chore.
Webster County Engineer Randy Will said road maintenance crews have moved, plowed or hauled snow for 63 days since Dec. 3, 2009 to maintain 1,178 miles of county roads.
"Of those 63 days, 16 were a Saturday and Sunday and they also worked all of the county holidays that fell in this period of days, those holidays being half day on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day and Presidents Day," Will said.
But there is a bright side - spring will be here in 29 days.
Contact Angela Burch at (515) 573-2141 or aburch@messengernews.net