The winter of 2015-16 certainly won’t be remembered for record snow or record cold. Nevertheless, it had its moments. There were brutally cold days in January, and a few surprise snow storms thrown in.
Before winter was a third over, readers had a chance to submit their estimates for how much snow would fall at three locations in Indiana this winter. The person coming the closest would receive six bags of seed corn from Beck’s. Second place would get six bags of soybean seed, and third place would take home six bags of wheat seed, or the equivalent if they don’t plant wheat.
CHILLY MEMORIES: It may have been a mild winter, but it didn’t seem so mild when this photo was snapped.
Ken Scheeringa in the Indiana State Climate Office picked the sites; he was looking for northern, central and southern locations. Scheeringa selected weather situations where weather data, including snowfall, has been recorded for a long time, usually back into the early 1900s. His three choices this year were: Lowell, Tipton and North Vernon.
Weather forecasters think of winter as Dec. 1 through Feb. 28 — or Feb 29 this year. They call it climatological winter.
Andrew Eggert, a technician in the Indiana State Climate Office, supplied the totals for the three months at the three locations. They were: Lowell, 22.2 inches; Tipton, 17.8 inches; and North Vernon, 12.3 inches. These were total accumulations for the three-month periods.
Here are the three winners, and information on their guesses. Congratulations to the winners, and a heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated.
BUENING COMES CLOSEST: Jane Buening, a faithful reader from Greensburg, took top honors this year. Chris Nobbe (center), Beck’s seed adviser, delivered the good news to Maurice and Jane Buening.
CALLAHAN GRABS SECOND PLACE: It’s not every day someone with an Indianapolis address wins in a contest giving away free seed. Brian Callahan got close enough to capture second place, and he receives soybean seed.
ANGLE TAKES THIRD: Craig Angle, Rushville, was next in line when the snow totals were counted. He placed third in this year’s contest.
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