THE AL GORE WEEKEND NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST

NOPE, IT'S NOT FOR MORE WARMENING; IT'S FOR MORE SNOW...

BOSTON:

Storm Watch Issued For More Snow
December Record Likely To Be Set

BOSTON -- It looks like December could be one for the record books, as the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch Saturday evening for most of Massachusetts.

Boston needs only 1 more inch of snow to set a December record and the forecast makes that possible.

WISCONSIN:

The snow fell wet and heavy Friday. It fell heavier at times, but it was steady for most of the day.

As the white stuff piled up around Racine County, the people responsible for keeping the streets and sidewalks clean throughout watched their reserves of street salt dwindle and the cost of snow removal rise.

In Racine, Public Works Department officials said the city could go over budget slightly, by roughly $10,000, to cover overtime. But that’s a worst-case scenario, according to Tom Eeg, the city’s assistant public works commissioner.

Officials in the department responsible for keeping the city streets clear, budget more than $450,000 for the snow removal season — roughly $200,000 for supplies, including road salt; and $260,000 for salaries for the employees who help clean the streets when it snows.

Snow is plowed Friday afternoon along Lake Avenue in Downtown Racine. Photo by Gregory Shaver, Journal Times

The winter season started early in southeastern Wisconsin.

“This is sooner than typical,” Eeg said. “This December has been a little heavier than usual.”

WASHINGTON:

Sno-Parks full of snow, expecting more
Friday, December 28, 2007 8:12 AM PST
By The Daily News

Information on snowmobiling and cross-country ski conditions Wednesday from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Further information is available at the web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/.

Mount St. Helens

Marble Mountain Sno-Park (elevation 2,700 feet) -- 3 feet of snow, including 2 feet new, with more snow expected. Continued plowing planned.

Cougar Sno-Park (elevation 2,200 feet) -- 2 feet of snow, including 1 foot new, with more expected.

Ape Cave Sno-Park (elevation 1,900 feet) -- Starting this year, a Sno-Park permit is required at the Trail of Two Forests parking lot on Road 8303, from which it's about a quarter-mile walk to Ape Cave. No snowmobiles allowed.

For updated information, call (360) 449-7800.

Wind River Highway

Lone Butte Sno-Park (elevation 3,140 feet) -- 29 inches, with 24 of it new and more expected.

For updated information, call (509) 395-3400.

Mount Adams area

Atkisson Sno-Park (elevation 2,760 feet) -- 40 inches, with 24 new. Conditions fair.

Pineside Sno-Park (elevation 2,700 feet) -- 40 inches, with 24 new. Conditions fair.

For updated information, call (509) 395-3400.

• ER, UM... THAT'S THE NORTHEAST, THE MIDWEST AND THE WEST: ALL COVERED IN SNOW. MORE THAN USUAL.

• AND MAY I REMIND YOU THAT EUROPE IS HAVING THE MOST SNOW IN DECEMBER FOR 56 YEARS.

AL GORE: PLEASE STFU.