Minot, ND

Two weeks ago I blogged that we had set an all time snowfall record for a year, EVER! Well it just keeps coming. I had really hoped to post several blogs about our community over the Holidays but frankly I've been doing a lot of bonding with my snow thrower. As you can see from the pictures above I've got plenty to do in my yard.. BUT what you don't see is that I also run over to my mother-in-laws and do hers and then I have a listing (or two) by elderly clients that I head over to and do theirs as well. In the summer I often mow the lawns (also at no charge) for my elderly clients).

The snow has been so heavy and frequent that yesterday the Minot Super Walmart closed (and still is) until they clear the roof of snow. Many business here are in fear of failing roofs as the weight of 5 feet of snow tests their strength. We have yet another storm warning for tomorrow.

There is still some fun to be had for those brave enough to venture out into this mess. Here is a picture of the snow tunnel/fort Tina (8) and I made yesterday when the temp jumped up to 28 degrees above zero.

In case you were thinking that I was joking about the temperature, guess again. We have had several weeks of subzero temperatures and last nights storm brought the subzero temps back again.

Incoming Air Force personel, oil workers traveling to North Dakota, please NOTE: This is officially the snowiest winter EVER in much of ND including Minot ND. Again, keep in mind EVER!!! So when your friends and relatives tell you how bad it is just keep in mind this is beyond unusual. I don't know about the official temperature stats for this month but it's got to be close on the lows as well. It's going to get better, this just happens to be a new benchmark on the low end so chin-up and look forward to meeting the warmest people in the USA right here in Minot ND.

So how do you shovel so much snow? Hardware stores are reporting record sales on snow-blowers and shovels. Excavating companies had a banner building season and now this has just been an added bonus.

While a boon to the construction companies this is absolutely killing many business owners. Over the last month this has been the scene out my office window about twice a week. Shovels this size don't come cheep. Here are two pictures from my back yard. Please note I brushed the snow off the grill last week.

Pictures are property of Bob Timm, Minot ND.

In my previous post I mentioned that in our recent blizzard we had a very nasty wind chill. I had to make a correction to that post as I reported that we had a temperature of about -20 (that's 20 degrees below zero) but with a 40 mile an hour wind it was like 40 below... WRONG, as you will see from the chart below it was more like 75 degrees below zero.

If the chart is to hard to read click this url http://www.math.montana.edu/~nmp/materials/ess/atmosphere/novice/activities/windchill.gif

If you are moving here from a climate that wind chill is foreign to you please check into it. Wind chill is a deadly threat and you owe it to your loved ones to know about it if you are moving to this climate.

12/14/2008 We are experiencing our first "real" blizzard of the season. In fact this is the first blizzard I remember for awhile. It's not the snowiest storm I remember, in fact it was a bit wimpy when it comes to depth of snowfall. It has been one of the windiest winter storms but most important it is very likely the coldest storm I remember. Cold and windy make a very nasty mix. I was out a couple of times to shovel (use the snow-blower) but I didn't really "experience" the cold until I took my gloves off to take pictures. I snapped 2 and my hand was truly frozen. That never happens to me. I went back out with a good pair of gloves and here is the results. Keep in mind you can not "see" cold, which is what this blizzard was all about but you still might perceive the cold from these pictures. Oh before I forget, I believe it was about 20 below zero with a wind chill bringing it below 75 below of more.

I had to include the above picture because of the sign in the background. It's one of my favorite resturants in town, Tio Lalo's Mexican Resturant.

Last of all please note that these storms are really dangerous. There is a couple of names for people who wander out in blizzards: stupid, but that name usually doesn't stick long which brings us to the other name the same people earn, dead.

AIR FORCE & OIL FIELD WORKERS BEWARE!

Homes for sale under $100,000.00 as of 12/08/2008 = 4
Homes for sale between $100,000.00 and $124,999.00 as of 12/08/2008 = 17
Homes for sale between $125,000.00 and $149,999.00 as of 12/08/2008 = 12
Homes for sale between $150,000.00 and $174,999.00 as of 12/08/2008 = 10
Homes for sale between $175,000.00 and $199,999.00 as of 12/08/2008 = 14
Homes for sale between $200,000.00 and $249,999.00 as of 12/08/2008 = 16
Homes for sale over $250,000.00 as of 12/08/2008 = 30

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE EXPERIENCING A HUGE HOUSING SHORTAGE!

If you are thinking, "Well I will just rent" guess again. Never in Minot's history have we had 100% occupency, UNTIL NOW. Of course a couple of rentals are bound to come up here and there but

remember this:

1) 1,000+ troops and their families ARE coming in the next 4 weeks, not maybe, they ARE

coming.

2) The oil field is expected to bring in several thousand workers in the next 6 months and

they have been coming in at an alarming rate already.

3) Base housing is full.

One more thing to think about:

With 100% occupancy landloards are screening applicants to the max. If you have a credit glitch, smoke, or have pets, you are in for a rude awakening if you think you will find an appartment ahead of those that do not have a credit glitch, smoke, or have pets. If you are planning on purchasing a home you need to start today, not the day you get here. Did you know that EVERY Minot area listing is on Realtor.com? Did you know that you can work with me no matter who has the house listed? Are you aware of near by communities that other Base personel live in? Call me, I can help with all these things and you need to start now. Does your spouse need to find an employer? will you be looking for an insurance agent or lending instatution? Call me, I'm here to help.