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Snow Depth After Storm on March 8th, 2013

Library staff took an unscientific snow depth measurement on one of the granite benches in the library courtyard after the snow storm of Friday, March 8th, 2013:

13.5 inches!

Remember To Shovel Out Your Gas Meter

The changing weather in New England has caused a lot of trouble this winter, from dangerous roads to collapsing roofs. The energy company National Grid would like to remind homeowners of another potential danger: snow-bound natural gas meters.

With all the snow this winter, many residents had no choice but to pile up snow where ever they could - including covering up the gas meter on their house. The recent melting and refreezing has caused some gas meters to become so encased in ice and snow that they're not able to vent properly, thus causing a dangerous presence of natural gas near or inside homes. This could also happen if snow and ice falling from roofs and damages the equipment.

To prevent this situation, carefully shovel out around your gas meter. If you smell or suspect natural gas or carbon monoxide in your home, National Grid recommends that you go outside immediately and breathe deeply; if symptoms are severe, call 911 immediately.

Also, report this gas smell using National Grid emergency contact number 800-233-5325. A service technician will be dispatched within an hour of your call to investigate the smell.

For more information on natural gas, additional information and safety tips, and read a recent Westford Eagle article.

Library Snow Policy Reminder

It's that time of year again! Here's a reminder of how the Chelmsford Library handles unplanned closings due to snow and winter storm conditions - see our policy webpage for the complete Storm Closing policy.

• Closings or delayed openings are coordinated with the town offices. In case of heavy overnight snowfall on a weekday, the decision will be made by 7:30 AM, and the announcement made via the outlets below
• On Saturdays, the determination will be made by 8:15 AM, based on weather and parking lot conditions
• If the weather worsens during operating hours causing the library to close, this announcement will be made through the designated outlets
• The MacKay Branch will sometimes be closed while the main library remains open

To find out if the Library is closed

• Call the main phone number 978-256-5521 after the times listed above
• Check the Library's homepage or Twitter announcements
• Watch Chelmsford Telemedia's town message board

Discover's Snow Facts

In the January 2008 issue of Discover magazine, Susan Kruglinski lists "20 Things You Didn't Know About Snow." With all the snow the Merrimack Valley has gotten lately, perhaps you can ponder a few of these facts while you're outside shoveling:

• No two alike? ...Many [snow] crystals are almost identical in their early stages of growth, and some of the fully formed ones are pretty darned similar
• A snow crystal can be 50 times as wide as it is thick
• According to Guinness World Records, the largest snowflake ever recorded was a 15-incher that besieged Fort Keogh, Montana, in 1887
• In Antarctica, the hard, flat snow reflects sound waves with incredible efficiency. Some researchers say they have heard human voices a mile away

Read the rest of the "20 Things You Didn't Know About Snow" article at discovermagazine.com, or check out the Chelmsford Library's copy.

Source:
Kruglinski, S. (2008, January). 20 Things You Didn't Know About Snow. Discover, 29(1), 80.

facts, shoveling, snow, snowing