Thaw

    Local temperatures today of a low of 8 and a high of 25 does little to melt our major snowpack. The winter of 68-69, was our first in northern North Dakota. Our town, Mohall, was near the place where North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba meet.  That winter was a snowy one similar to this.

   On April 9, 1969 Joanne entered the small, local, 22 bed hospital to give birth to Lars. When she entered the hospital there  had been no thaw. On the 9th the temperature rose to 74 degrees, didn't cool off much at night and stayed in the 70s daytime for days. When Joanne and Lars left the hospital five days later the snow was gone and so were the county bridges. Minot, an hour south of Mohall, had major flooding from the Mouse river.\

    As thawing is delayed in Minnesota the risk of major flooding from a rapid thaw increases.Living on the 4th floor of the OFH, which is several hundred feet above the bank of the Mississippi River I'm safe. It's been so dry in South Dakota that the sump pump in the basement hasn't run for at lead two years. Will it start after a long layoff?

Takk for alt,

Al

                      Who says there aren't trees in South Dakota?