Weather.... late 2009

[Lori S.]

It snowed about 4 cm here starting Friday afternoon, and the temp dropped from about 0 C to -5 C... as usual, road crews were conspicuous by their absence.  (Every small snowfall virtually paralyzes the city... nothing new there.)  By the end of the work day, the icy road conditions turned the trip home for many into a several-hours-long affair, e.g. 3 hours for a 40 minute bus ride!  The "winner" on our floor seemed to be one young woman - it took her 5 hours to get home!  After abandoning the bus, which was stuck in traffic on one of the main routes due to cars that couldn't make it up hills or around accidents, she had to walk the remaining 25 or so blocks.  The local news reported over 580 car accidents!
As for me... (hmm, maybe I should put this in the Whine & Complain thread)... I had taken Friday off, as my sister was here visiting, so we were out and about in the downtown area, then took a very looooonng drive to a restaurant not too far away.  So, coming out of the restaurant a couple of hours later after a very nice chef's menu, I slipped on the icy road (remember? No road crews) and fractured my ^$%#@$*&%# wrist!  And then, made the 20 minute drive home in 2 hours in crawling, bumper-to-bumper traffic!   
If I ever again hear anyone say again how much they like the climate here, I will be forced to beat them about the head and shoulders with my cast!!!   

[Paul T]

    Should we put out a Radio warning in your area, just to warn people of impending beatings? 

Commiserations, Lori.  A broken wrist cannot be an easy injury. 

[johnw]

Lori - Sorry to hear about the nasty fracture.  It seems the first snow on warm ground causes a rash of accidents even here.  It's a wonder any of us survive the climates of this country, I often wonder what the h... I'm doing here. 

Today I drove to the Annapolis Valley dressed accordingly.  The temp gradually dropped as I was walking through a garden.  We wandered around for an hour and my teeth started chattering but the gardener seemed oblivious. Saw a lot of interesting plants though, nice Acer davidiis, Ilex x Sparkleberry at its peak. By the time I got in the car and turned the heater on full blast it was 0c with a stiff wind blowing.  It looked like fog ahead but it was very fine snow blowing about but melting as it hit the ground.  As I drove over the last hill before the coast the ground was white just where I had planned to stop to gather some Bayberry branches - gave up as too slippery in shoes. I was happy to get back to the coast but the temp started dropping here and it is now just at freezing but feels like -20 with the humidity.

Looks like the entire country is in for a bit of cold in the next few days.  Heavy rain on Thursday here with a high from 14 to 18c, a real roller coaster ride from now on.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Oh Lori, I'm so sorry to hear of your accident. I know a broken wrist can be very painfil as well as a blasted nuisance. I wish you well for a speedy recovery (6-8 weeks until you lose the plaster?). And to all our Canadian and American friends, you be careful out there - as someone said. And wrap up warmly. (Teach your Granny, they yelled in answer).

[angie]

Lori  - your post was the first one I read this morning. Looking out the window at the grey skies and after a horrible night of high winds and rain i thought what a day, but reading your post I have stopped feeling sorry for myself and I am thinking of you. I hope your wrist doesn't take to long to mend and its not to sore .
I do think Canada must be a amazing place to live a is so beautiful. keep cosy today.
Angie

[David Nicholson]

Don't think of it as a broken wrist Lori, more of a chore avoidance mechanism Hope it's not paining you too much and that you keep that kind of weather on your side of the pond.

[maggiepie]

Lori, am so sorry you fractured your wrist, I hope it heals quickly and cleanly for you.

[Sinchets]

I never understand why the citizens and authorities in places, which generally do have lots of snow in winter aren't more prepared for snow. We have not had any major snow here yet, but by law we had to have our summer tyres changed for winter tyres from November 1st. What are people thinking taking cars out that will not cope with snowy roads when surely the forecast predicted snow?

[Maggi Young]

Poor Lori,
hope you are soon mended!


Simon, can you imagine the outcry there would be in the UK if someone even suggested that the populace might make such preparations for bad weather as to buy and fit winter tyres?!!!
In a country which can have the rail system crippled by " the wrong sort of leaves on the line" it is a vain hope that the people  might accept any responsibility for their own well-being in winter conditions. No, it is expected that the "someone" must provide every last comfort, make every provision for personal safety etc.....most folks nowadays don't even have the sense to go put on an extra jumper when they feel a bit cold..... bunch of brainless wimps, moat of 'em!

[Anthony Darby]

I never understand why the citizens and authorities in places, which generally do have lots of snow in winter aren't more prepared for snow. We have not had any major snow here yet, but by law we had to have our summer tyres changed for winter tyres from November 1st. What are people thinking taking cars out that will not cope with snowy roads when surely the forecast predicted snow?

The trouble is our weather is totally unpredictable. No point in changing to winter tyres when you may only get one fall of snow.

[Sinchets]

Poor Lori,
hope you are soon mended!


Simon, can you imagine the outcry there would be in the UK if someone even suggested that the populace might make such preparations for bad weather as to buy and fit winter tyres?!!!
In a country which can have the rail system crippled by " the wrong sort of leaves on the line" it is a vain hope that the people  might accept any responsibility for their own well-being in winter conditions. No, it is expected that the "someone" must provide every last comfort, make every provision for personal safety etc.....most folks nowadays don't even have the sense to go put on an extra jumper when they feel a bit cold..... bunch of brainless wimps, moat of 'em!

I fully agree, Maggi. It should be up to the individual to be more prepared and to leanr how to drive their car on snowy roads- even if snowfall is very infrequent. People ahould alo accept that snowy roads are a lot easier to drive on with the right tyres and a suitable decrease in speed, than roads covered in salted, gritted slush. I always wonder what happens to all the rock salt after it has served its purpose? What effect does it have on salt levels in the local environment? Luckily it isn't used here and if your car doesn't move in deep snow- well you don't go anywhere 

[Michael J Campbell]

When I got my first car which was a long long time ago we used to put chains on the tyres when it snowed.

[Lori S.]

Thank you for the words of sympathy!  Grrrr, this is mainly an annoyance, really!  Oh well, much better for such a thing to happen now than in gardening/hiking season.

Snow tires became compulsory in Quebec last winter, not sure if that is the case in any other province... I believe it was in the aftermath of a really horrific accident.  The backlash, oddly enough, was that all supplies were diverted to Quebec, and it became impossible to get them here!   We were happy to get some this fall, though, and I certainly feel better having them.  (If only my boots would have had super winter traction!  )

I was surprised to learn that it is actually illegal to drive through the mountain parks here without snow tires or chains "whenever the roads are covered in ice and snow".  (The bit of the No. 1 highway from the east edge of Banff to Lake Louise is excepted.)  Have never heard of it being enforced, although perhaps if you do have an accident, you are ticketed. 
http://www1.travelalberta.com/en-ca/index.cfm?pageid=93

[mark smyth]

someone may have said this already but the UK aslo comes to a standstill when we get snow. Gritting now only happens on main roads. My mother hates snow and ice.I have never broken anything fingers and toes crossed.

[Michael J Campbell]

We only get snow about once in ten years if we a lucky/unlucky and then it only lasts about two hours.