The
Squamidian Report – Nov. 27 / 10
Issue #444
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
Yeh, I know, we talk about the weather all the time but this is Canada and that’s what we do here. And this is my column and unless someone can come up with something else for me to write about, I’ll write about the weather. So, does anyone remember all the way back to last weekend when the media was reporting a major unending snowfall pounding the west coast… well, that was mostly just the media trying to make a story were there wasn’t one and getting it all wrong as usual. What there was, was an Arctic High sitting over BC that was creating record breaking low temperatures and what are called Arctic Outflow Winds. Two things happen when these conditions set up. Firstly, where the cold Arctic High meets the warm moist Pacific air, precipitation forms, in the form of snow. So, many areas received a dusting of snow. The town of Squamish actually got none but up here in the Highlands we received about half an inch. The greater Vancouver area sits closer to open water and received between nothing and 4 inches depending on location. The second thing that happens is caused by the outflow winds. They race down and out the steep mountain valleys and hit the open waters of the Straight. Howe Sound is one of those valleys systems and the outflow winds race right across the Straight where they pick up moisture and then run smack into Vancouver Island. As the icy winds are forced upward they drop that moisture as heavy snow. This is the same snow squall machinery that creates ‘Lake Effect Snow’ around the Great Lakes. So, several areas along the east side of the Island did get a fair amount of the white stuff.
The Arctic High built deeper and colder and by early this week we were having some rather chilly temperatures. Where we should have been sitting at about +8 or so, we were instead experiencing -12 as daytime highs. Now remember those outflow winds? The cold arctic air was racing out the valleys and creating wind chill factors down around -25 in the valleys. The calculated wind chill up on top of the mountains was about -50. Anyone skiing up at Whistler needed to be fairly well bundled up. Those icy north winds were blowing so hard that anything not anchored down simply blew away. Some gusts made the house shake, or at least it felt that way in our imaginations. Some things that were anchored down blew over anyway, like trees, and they landed on hydro lines. Our power went out one evening for about an hour. Due to the heat sucking effect of the blasting winds our house was starting to cool down when the hydro came back on. We were lucky, many parts of Vancouver Island were without power for a day or so but that’s normal over there and they are used to it.
The kids had been over for dinner the evening that the power went out. Luckily it was after dinner was over. We then sat around the candles and practiced that old and fading skill called ‘conversation’. It was actually quite an enjoyable evening. However, the only candles we had were those fancy ones that are meant for decoration and special occasions although we don’t actually have any special occasions. Next day while down getting the mail I picked up a pack of utility candles at the grocery store. As I was walking toward the checkout a guy looked at me and remarked that my power must have been out (as it was in most of the town). Then, when I placed the candles on the grocery store counter, the clerk remarked that my power must have been out. I guess buying candles is a common occurrence the day after a power failure.
The Arctic High did not last forever and by Thursday it was being pushed back by a warmer, moist Pacific air mass. That meant precipitation… forecasts started out with figures like 35 to 40 cm, then the downgrading began. By the time the snow started to fall the amounts had been downgraded to 5cm. Vancouver ended up getting about 10 again and that was more than enough to bring traffic to a halt, including the public transit system. Even the new sky-train ground to a halt and it had been built to move people from the airport to the downtown during the Olympics. Good thing they didn’t get any snow during the winter games because there would have been a lot of embarrassed VIPs over that one. Here in Squamish our 5cm quickly became 15 or more and I finally had a chance to try out those replacement skid shoes on my blower. They worked great, slid over the abrasive concrete smooth as silk. By Friday morning any remaining flurries had turned to the occasional shower and most of the snow has turned to mush. However, the week had set new cold records for the west coast as well as new Nov 25th snowfall records for Vancouver. The whole thing was kind of fun.
The Ice-wine industry in the Okanogan benefitted nicely from the cold snap. The wine growers there usually have to wait till mid January and then hope for temperatures that are cold enough to freeze their grapes. By the time that happened there would normally be a lot of winter damage and deterioration. This time they were able to do their harvest 2-months early and well before any of the usual winter damage could occur. So, global cooling has actually been beneficial to some farmers.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello Everyone!
We’re nearing the end of November and the weather here in Southern Ontario is just fine! It’s still a tad wet now and then but that’s better than snow if you ask me. I’m hoping that the snow will hold off for another month but fat chance of that I’m sure! The weather reports that most parts of Canada have snow on the ground right now and that this area is still without. How sad is that? I guess now many Canadians are wishing they lived right here in KW. Doug let me know that they were experiencing a wind chill factor of -25c a couple of days ago and that’s out in an area that as we all know usually has a moderate to mild climate this time of year. Oh well, I’m sure Doug’s wishes will be answered this year and he’ll get his snowy winter. He’s wanting to get some use out of that Toro snow blower this winter so he can stir up his neighbours curiosity once more. Did I say curiosity? I think jealousy would be more like it! LOL! That little beauty of a snow machine will put Doug’s snow right onto the lawns of a few close neighbours if he takes a notion to point the spout in the right direction. However, Doug is much too nice a gentleman to do something like that! Maybe he’ll inspire a few of his neighbours to purchase a blower of their own this year.
I wonder if Doug’ll have to arm-wrestle Sue for the right to operate the blower now that she’s retired? I’m sure she’d like to get out and have some winter fun with Willow and the blower too! On the other hand, she may be busy hitching Willow to a one-woman sled and going for joy rides around the town. Sounds like Willow has plenty of power to do just that and she’d probably enjoy the challenge. If that fails, maybe Doug would be kind enough to pull Sue and Willow on a sled for a few blocks even if it means hitching a sled to the Toro, ya never know, it just might work!
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I managed to get up the energy this morning to put up the Christmas tree and get the lights on it as well. As you all noticed with last weeks Ontarion we like to get our decorations up fairly early in the season. I’m sure Carole will agree that this is (I think) the earliest we’ve managed to get the decorating done. In the past few days, I’ve noticed that a few of the neighbours have put their lighting up. I like to think that maybe I did inspire them to do so by getting our lights etc up over a week ago. At least none of the neighbourhood hubbies complained about having to follow my lead or that is, as far as I know! LOL! I could be dreaming and the truth may be that nobody even noticed my early lighting after all! That’s ok, it made Carole happy and like I said I didn’t have to do all that work on a cold blustery day as I have in most years past! It’s done and now I can rest on my laurels until Boxing Day when tradition demands that I take it all down and stow it all for another year. Those “Rubbermaid” tubs sure are handy for storing bulky decorations in and they stack so neatly up on our mezzanine in the garage. We’d be lost without them I’m sure!
Well, have fun decorating and next year see of any of you can beat us to the punch!
That’s all for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report!
Bye for now… GREG.
PS: Something To Think About>
Our armed forces members that won’t be making it home for Christmas this year! Let’s send them our prayers!
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Have a good one..
the doug
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