Spokane Snow a Record, and a Real Problem

The record-setting December snows in Spokane, Washington are no longer amusing. They have caused untold numbers of collapsed roofs, the most recent being an ice rink, a fitness center, and a church. Now the snow has proven fatal as an 85-year old woman was killed by snow sliding off her roof. Snow plow drivers are being threatened and attacked. I just posted some raw video of the latest roof collapses to the right, and copied it below.

Data on records is somewhat hard to come by, but NOAA says that 26 stations broke their all-time daily snow records during December 2008, with many of those out west. 95 broke their daily December snowfall records, and over 2,000 stations broke their snowfall records for any particular day during the month. Of course, none of those records include the big story, which is this statement released to the Associated Press (though they could be waiting for the "official end of the month"):

Looking at that last statement explains why so many roofs have collapsed -- they have literally never been under that much snow.