Rooftop Snow in Eastport, Maine
April 14, 2015
Photographer: Robert Jones
Summary Authors: Robert Jones; Jim Foster; Corey Bogel
The northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada were in the sweet spot for big snowstorms this past winter. In New England, Eastport, Maine was at the center of the bull’s-eye. Through late March, Eastport observed a record total of 155.3 in (394.5 cm) of snow, just since January 1. During the month of February a total of 82.3 in (209 cm) of snow was recorded -- also a record for Eastport and likely for all of coastal Maine. Especially remarkable is the fact that all of this snowfall occurred without any benefit of elevation to boost the totals -- Eastport is at sea level. It was also one of the coldest February's on record in Maine and all along the Atlantic seaboard.
A combination of accumulating snow and snowdrifts allowed my son, Anderson, to climb up high enough to look onto the rooftop of the Eastport Elementary School. Drift heights in places were over 11 ft (3.5 m). Note that school employees had to shovel snow from around the windows. Snow depth was quite variable, but in most places around Eastport the average depth of the snow on the ground was about 4 ft (1.3 m) on March 10 when this shot was snapped. It was some winter!