Winter Strikes Trotwood - February 2010

Snow piled up in February around this Trotwood
farmhouse. Trotwood had the second snowiest February on record

By Bruce Kettelle
February 2010 was beautiful with a mess of winter in Trotwood. A string of storms dropped over 20” of white stuff starting with 6” on the 5th.

Cities and counties declared periodic emergencies as road crews had trouble keeping up with the frequent deposits. Persistent freezing temperatures insured none of the snows would melt leaving a white blanket until the March thaw. Even by March 10th patches of snow remained, stubbornly resisting temperatures approaching 60-degrees.

Conversations at local diners of more snow coming were initially met with contempt that gave way to acceptance. Succumbing to the daily donning of snow boots and heavy clothes the adventurous found new worlds to explore in their own back yards.

Icicles hung from nearly every eave. Boughs laden with heavy snow touched the ground. Country roads regularly drifted over again even days after the most recent snowfall when cold winter winds whipped at the frozen mass.

Ponds froze solid. Previously frustrated snowmobilers finally got their fill. Cross-country skis sold out in local shops. And by the end of the month you couldn’t buy a snow shovel anywhere.

Melting snow in March delivered a big dose of
mud season to the area. Stepping off the pavement anywhere usually
upset area moms as the dirt got tracked inside.

But like all good things winter finally came to an end giving way to mud season.

It was one for the record books becoming the second snowiest February on record for the Dayton area. Officially 23” of snow fell, just 2” shy of now third place 2003, but well behind the 1910 record of 31.6.

Thoughts now turn to spring as gardeners watch for the first crocus blooms and farmers hope for perfect planting weather. Memories of this February will fade quickly as we all revel in the warmth of spring.

Geese were frozen out of their ponds all February.
On March 8th they were exploring the melting edges of the ice
at Larchtree Golf Course.