The
Squamidian Report – May 12 / 12
Issue #520
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
‘They’ have been promising a warm-up in our temperatures and an improvement in our overall weather since early February. Time after time ‘they’ have indicated that “by the weekend” or whenever, the sun will come out and the temperature will rise, perhaps even up as high as ‘normal’. I’ve never been able to figure out what they base their optimistic predictions on because all anyone needed to do was look at a meteorology map of the Pacific Ocean and they would seen the whole thing from the equator on north to be covered in counter-clockwise swirling masses of heavy cloud and storms and the jet stream dipping way, way down. Well, this time it actually could happen. There is a high sitting just off the US coast that is pushing the cold air and overcast north, to about half way up Vancouver Island. That means that the southern part of the Island and the mainland east to the Rockies might, just might, warm up. For a few days if we are lucky but we’ll take it.
But of course this opens the door to a possible problem. You see, the snowpack up in the BC mountains is sitting at about 150% of normal. This is the result of very high snowfalls over the last few years, plus below normal temperatures that have kept the snow from melting. It has been 3 years since the snow that normally melts up below the tree line has melted, and it has just kept on piling up. Areas that normally have 20 feet of snow sitting on the ground now have 30. Areas that normally have 40 feet of base (not to be confused with new, uncompacted snow) by late winter now have 60 ft of the stuff. So, IF the temperatures were to climb way up to ‘normal’ or even higher, there is a lot of snow waiting to melt. The possible problem is the threat of flooding in low lying areas along rivers and streams. So far its only a threat because it would take more than just warm temperatures to force the snowpack to melt. It would take warm temps and heavy rains at the same time. Warm sunshine would only melt the surface of the snow and the melt water would sink into the snowpack and be held there in a big deep sponge to be released slowly. We shall see.
Speaking of deep snow packs, the North Cascades Highway just south of the border in Washington State has just re-opened. This highway is part of a very popular motorcycle loop during the riding season. The Washington highways department does not keep it open during the winter, they simply can’t keep it clear of snow so they let it get buried and then dig back out each spring. This year was one of it’s latest openings ever. The snow was just too deep to dig it out any sooner. Snow depth indicators showed that for most of the winter, parts of the highway were covered with 60 ft of snow. Kind of explains why they don’t try to keep it clear.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello everyone!
Well, with the weather being a bit cooler and bringing a small percentage of rain every few days, the grass is growing like crazy! I’ve cut the lawn twice this past week and it’s in need of it again! Guess I’ll give it another cutting tomorrow! I only do the edging and trimming every third time I cut it but it looks like this year it’ll be every second time if this trend keeps up! Adam gave me a beautiful new TORO whipper-snipper last father’s day and it’s been getting a workout ever since. The Scott’s Turf Builder with dandelion eliminator in it has finally kicked in! Most of my yellow beauties have died off and there is just remnants of them left. From a little more than 15 feet away, the lawn looks healthy and weedless indeed! If I take a half hour and dig out the rest of the stubborn buggers it’ll be totally devoid of those menacing weeds at least for this year! It’s difficult to keep the dandelions out of our lawn when we live right next to the Hydro Right of Way that’s covered with millions of the darned things. Oh well, yard work is my thing and it’s satisfying to see the results of a half day’s efforts when I finish it! I’ve got a neighbour only on one side and he’s so busy with his business that he only cuts his lawn once every 4 or 5 weeks. He’s got two huge pine trees next to my driveway and the dropping from them not only mess up my driveway and car if I park under the overhanging branches, they also kill his lawn in about a 12’ diameter circle under each of his trees. When he does get a chance to cut his lawn he uses his electric weed eater because his third new lawn mower in as many years has died once again. I don’t know what he or his teenaged sons do to their mowers but they always seem to break down on them. Maybe if they’d use their mower more than twice a summer they’d be able to keep one going! No matter where we live, we always seem to get one dud of a neighbour beside us! Oh well, at least they don’t park their cars on the front lawn. They actually park in their double garage most times! I’m still waiting for Doug and the rest of our Lotto Group, including me to win The BIG One so I can buy a few acres with a nice bungalow on it and also a nice 30 x 50 steel building for my garage! That way I’ll have room for my collection of vehicles and toys that the Lotto Win will bring! LOL! Can’t wait! C’mon Lotto MAX!
Speaking of toys, I still haven’t ridden the motorcycle so far this spring! I’ll have to get out to the MTO and pick up my license sticker one of these days so I can see if I still remember how to ride! The last time I had the bike out was January 11th of this year. I did that just so I could say I’ve ridden a motorcycle in the middle of winter here in Canada! LOL! Well, that’s enough motorcycle talk out of me! Surely you’d think I’d have better things to talk about than treading on Doug’s territory wouldn’t you now? LOL!
With the weather being as nice as it’s been the BBQ is getting a work out once again. I know it’s ok to BBQ all year round here especially when we have a nice roof over our patio but I don’t really like standing out in the cold of winter even with a coat on to cook on the Q, so I save that activity for the nice weather. There are several items I love to cook on the BBQ and this time of year my favourite is whole chickens on the spit! I think I’ll do my first one of the season this coming Sunday seeing as how it’s “Mother’s Day”! I’m sure it’ll make for a lovely meal to celebrate such a special day!
That’s it for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report!
By for now… Greg
PS: Something To Think About>
A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall, the police are looking into it!
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Have a good one..
the doug
The Fine Print!
The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.