FARGO, N.D. - This has been probably the worst winter in my memory for dogs tracking mud into the house.
Early in January, Fargo’s first significant snow turned the back yard into a lovely, clean, frozen whiteness. Early January was frigid so dog paws were cold but clean for about three weeks.
In late January, our region had an unusual period of four consecutive days and nights above freezing, which melted much of the snow and exposed the mud underneath. February was a circus of thawing and freezing more typical of an Iowa winter than a Northern one.
Naturally, March has delivered us a new weather pattern featuring consistently below freezing weather but with (so far) very little snow, ensuring at least several more rounds of thawing and freezing and mud-tracking. Any additional snowfall at this point in the winter will be only a temporary fix.
The dog’s paws, and my basement stairs, will continue to be a muddy disaster for probably another six to eight weeks.
