Updated: 03/23/2009 2:23 PM KSTP.com | Print Story
By: Chikage Windler

WINDLER: Viewer Pics - The Tale of the Shrinking Snowman

On this first day of spring, there are still plenty of signs of winter.  For instance, this morning (technically BEFORE spring began at 6:44am) we got a dusting of snow.  The trees are still bare, the grass is still brown.  But even before the season switch, some springlike warmth began to take its toll on some winter stalwarts: the snowmen.  One of our viewers, David Charles of Anoka, shared his pics of the snowman in his yard.  Check them out and hear the "Tale of the Shrinking Snowman" in this blog.

Want to read my previous blog?

WINDLER: Chik's Pics - Winter's last stand!

The Shrinking Snowman - Last Week of Winter in Anoka

This season, we've seen 42" of snow officially in the Twin Cities.  Though our biggest storms were only on the order of 6 to 8", we got enough to build snowmen on several occasions.  The little one my daughter Austen made on our back deck melted away a couple weeks ago, but David Charles of Anoka had a particularly hardy snowman, enduring the warm temps and strong March sun.

Earlier this week, he sent in a series of pictures taken during our really warm stretch from Monday to Tuesday where highs were in the upper 60s and upper 50s.  David said the snowman was shrinking, but holding on.  My question: could the snowman make it to spring?  Well, David was kind enough to send in a photo this morning with proof that his snowman, though barely above the ground, did survive to see the first day of spring.  The fresh dusting of snow prettied him up a bit too!  Though I haven't heard official confirmation, I must admit I'm a bit worried that the shrinking snowman may have succumbed to the warmth and rain this afternoon.  We made it to 47 degrees before the light to moderate rain pushed through.  I guess like Frosty, if the shrinking snowman disappeared, we'll all know he'll be "back again someday."  Hard to say if he'll make a comeback this spring, but we do have at least some snow in the forecast late next week.

Thanks again, David, for giving winter-lovers something to celebrate!

See the shrinking process in the slideshow below:

Thanks as always for reading my blog!