Is There Any End in Sight?

To many of us, it seems like winter will never end. As soon as the temperature rises a bit, it drops again. Next thing you know there's more snow.

But one of these days the groundhog is bound to find its shadow missing, and we'll be able to celebrate the start of spring.

Some parts of the country however will be able to celebrate earlier than others.

Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona will be the first to experience an early, dry spring. With recent droughts causing problems for some communities, they'll be sure to welcome the possibility of spring showers.

Southern Utah, Colorado, much of Kansas, Western Oklahoma, Western Texas, and all of New Mexico will come in a close second, finding warm, dry weather by March.

Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, much of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Southwestern Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and the southwestern half of Illinois will have a slow transition to spring.

The Northeastern United states consisting of much of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northeastern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey, Deleware, Maryland, and Massachusetts will remain cold with continuing snow possibly into early spring.

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As Promised, Here it Comes!

Clearing Snow With a Power Brush

Being called Winter Storm Maximus, a wave of snow accompanied by a band of sleet and freezing rain is making its way from the Central Plains to the Northeastern US today.

Minneapolis, Minnesota is already seeing the effects this morning with snowfall of up to 3 inches complicating people's early morning commutes.

Chicago and Milwaukee are expected to experience this snowy driving hazard this afternoon and evening; so be sure to take care driving home today.

Today's snow wont be the end of it though. Friday and Saturday snowstorms bring sleet and freezing rain to cover the Ohio Valley, Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, most of New York, and parts of New England.

While it wont be a severe crippling blizzard, snowfall accumulations in areas stretching from Nebraska to Michigan are expected to reach around 6 inches by the time both waves have passed.

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How to Tackle the Approaching Snow in Northern States

Cub Cadet Snow Blower

I hate to be the messenger on this one, but it's not over yet! Coming soon to a neighborhood near you... a lot more snow. And it's not going to be light and fluffy either.

East of Lake Ontario, it's predicted there'll be over a foot of snow coming. It's possible they may get as much as 18 inches.

The rest of the area east of the Great Lakes is expected to get several inches, possibly accumulating up to 5 or 6 inches.

This snow will be lake effect snow created by cold air moving over the Great Lakes, and the snow will be damp and heavy to shovel.

If shoveling is getting you down, you could try using an electric snow shovel in areas that are only getting another inch or so.

If you're east of Lake Ontario, it may be a good idea to research the most current snow blower ratings to find out what model of snow blower or snow thrower will fit your needs as well as your budget.

If you've already got a riding lawnmower, you could get a tractor mountable snow blower or plow blade to make the job easier.

Whatever your case, the reviews at Snow Blowers Direct can help you narrow down all of the best available models to find the best snow blower for you.

Stay warm, stay healthy, and keep clearing that snow. Eventually Spring will return, but until then, try letting some modern technology help you through the season.

How Do You Fix a Broken Shear Pin?

Most two-stage snow blowers are equipped with a fail-safe mechanism that will protect your drive shaft and the motor from becoming damaged due to excessive torque.

This occurs when something other than snow, such as a chunk of ice, gets into the blade of the auger. This is where the shear pins come into play.

A snow blower's shear pins are designed to break off to prevent damage to the auger shaft and gear case.

Here are a few helpful tips for replacing a broken shear pin:

1. Pull the wire off of the spark plug to ensure the snow blower cannot start while you're working on dislodging the foreign object from the auger. 
2. Remove any debris that could be jammed in the auger. Never remove the debris by hand - jammed objects can cause the auger to spring forward. Use a pair of pliers if possible to pull the debris loose.
3. If you notice the shear pin is stuck, line up the holes on the axle and the auger, then just lightly tap out the pin.
4. Align the drive shaft holes and slide the manufacture specified shear pin into the hole and tighten the nut onto the threaded end.
5. Reconnect the spark plug and you're ready to go. 

For more information on shear pins including how to select the correct style and where to buy, check out this article titled, "Shear Coincidence."