John Shibley / LSSU
One year ago, Sault Ste. Marie was in the midst of a weeklong heat wave, capped by a record-breaking high of 83º on March 21. Lake Superior State University’s annual Snowman Burning, a ceremonial banishing of winter on the first day of spring, was a mere formality. Many students attended in shorts and T-shirts.
But this year, Old Man Winter won’t go so quietly.
With subzero temperatures, snow and strong winds in the forecast today and tomorrow, the burning was been postponed until Friday, the school announced. The National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook and Lake Effect Snow Advisory.
The event, which was started in 1971 by a campus club, has been postponed just a few times in its long history, says LSSU’s Tom Pink. “In the old days, we would hold it no matter what. Now, liability concerns have us erring on the side of caution.”
Afternoon temperatures in the Soo hovered in the high 20s today, made much colder by wind gusts that topped out at 30 mph.
LSSU Snowman Burning: Friday, March 22, 12 p.m., Walker Cisler Center. Open to the public.