Those uninitiated by a real Hanover winter might think that the hibernation of the omnipresent Uggs and students strolling in T-shirts means spring has come early this year. While most students have welcomed this past week's mild weather, warmer temperatures have meant difficulties for the Winter Carnival snow sculpture and worse skiing conditions.
Temperatures reached 50 degrees over the weekend. Although it was not exactly scorching, the weather was warm enough for Dartmouth students to start shedding their winter clothes.
According to the National Weather Service in Burlington, Vt., the current weather is not atypical.
"It is not particularly unusual to reach 50 degrees. It is just a way of averaging out the cold weather," a NWS representative said. "It's just the natural variability that is built into the climate. Our climate is made up of several extremes."
The warmer than usual weather has meant modifications to the design of the snow sculpture, reducing the size of the mast and rearranging the building plans.
"We wanted the stern of the ship to be a bit higher," sculpture organizer Dan Schneider '07 said when asked about adjustments to the sculpture's design.
The change has meant slight delays but building is back on schedule with organizers delaying part of the sculpture's construction until later this week.
"We are not carving the sunny side of the ship until closer to the opening ceremony," Schneider said.
Schneider stressed the snow sculpture is in no danger of melting, although organizers have had to take steps to protect the sculpture, including hosing the ship down when the temperature is below freezing late at night, he said.
Despite the lack of snow, building on the sculpture is progressing well although help is still needed to complete it by Thursday's opening ceremony.
For most students, the warmth has been a welcome change from subzero temperatures, and they are hoping for more sunshine.
"I'm loving the warm weather, but I hate the muddy Green. If it's going to be warm, then it should continue being warm so all the snow will melt. Then we could have spring in February," Nancy Zhao '07 said.
Other students would prefer the snow remained, as approximately two months of the ski season have yet to come.
"I think it's been a little bit too warm lately. I mean, I'm not saying I want it to be three degrees, but this is ridiculous. The skiing is getting icy. I want snow," Dave Raines '07 said.
Students from colder climates have also been disappointed by the lack of snow.
Maine native Evan Michals '07 is less than impressed.
"I know this weather isn't normal so I don't know how to feel about it," Michals said.
With snow forecasted for later on in the week and temperatures expected to drop, it seems there will soon be a return to more familiar Hanover weather. But the next spell of cold weather is not expected to be as severe as the subzero temperatures that occurred in mid January, the NWS representative said.
