Someday we’ll laugh about this: January 2011 will enter the record books for the most snow in 116 years. That's great news for sellers of snowblowers and shovels as well as stores that carry sleds, snowshoes and other snow-related equipment. But bad news for those of us who have to shovel the snow ourselves. 

The state’s climatologist made the call on Thursday in New Brunswick, which is used as the yardstick for measurement.

With 16.1 inches of fresh powder, this month has toppled a record set in 1894, said David A. Robinson, chairman of the department of geography at Rutgers University. 

A total of 30.9 inches of snow has fallen in New Brunswick in January. That’s a lot for January, and a lot for any winter month. In fact, there’s only been one other month with that much snowfall in the record books. And that was just last February, Robinson said.

Great for kids, but a pain for everyone else. Literally. Doctors' offices are seeing an upsurge in the number of injuries involving muscles pulled while shoveling.   

If you’re keeping track, we’ve had 50.4 inches of snow so far this winter (remember the December blizzard?).  Ranked ninth, we’re already in the Top 10 for the snowiest winter season and only 8.6 inches away from taking over second place.

But hang on to your snowboots. Friday and Saturday there's a good chance we'll have snow showers. And early next week there's the potential for another snow event. “Too early to tell how big, how much ....,” Robinson said.  How tiring.