Saturday, 8. March 2008, 21:46:36
snow, storm, Ottawa
Another winter storm is busy battering the city and most if not all people are staying home and inside. The brave or is it the foolish are out shovelling and trying to clear their lanes and walkways of the 20+ cm's of snow that has already fallen.
Here are some snowy facts about the city:- Ottawa is dubbed the "snowiest world capital".
- During an average winter, Ottawa gets about 236 centimetres of snow.
- Before the first flake flew in this current storm, Ottawa received 358 centimetres of snow this winter. That's nearly 11 feet.
- March 2, 1947 is the snowiest single day on record. Environment Canada recorded a dumping of 40.6 centimetres that day.
- With more than 3.5 metres of snow this winter, Ottawa has experienced the second snowiest season in recorded history.
This latest storm has caused more than a few problems; travel delays leaving the airport clogged with stranded passengers, roads and highways that are slick with ice and snow covering it all, Police and road clearing crews are as usual asking people to stay off the roads. With winds gusting to over 70km/h visibility is quickly reduced to zero.
Walking isn't easy either. Sidewalks are clogged with snow and ice making them more treacherous for pedestrians than the roadways.
Weather people are predicting this storm to have moved on by Sunday and that means despite the clean up crews efforts the commute to work on Monday is going to be very slow going.
This
Hill Cam image was snapped a few seconds ago. You can't see much with all the snow it simply illustrates what my own windows currently look like.
Even with all the snow falling and knowing its got to be shovelled sooner or later; it is very nice outside. I added a few photos from earlier today into my "
Ice and Snow" album.
Friday, 7. March 2008, 03:42:06
weather, Ottawa, snow
Just when the sun popped out, news came of yet another storm getting set to bury us over the weekend. Environment Canda issued a severe storm warning for Friday and Saturday that will leave behind anywhere from 30 to 50 cm's of snow. Not only will it be snowing but the wind will be gusting at up to 60 km's/h causing near white out conditions.
Storm totals may be near 30 centimetres along and east of a line from Long Point to the Golden Horseshoe then to Petawawa. There is potential for 30 to 50 centimetres of snow over the Niagara Peninsula and parts of eastern Ontario.
Oh joy!
Sure it all looks pretty enough. A fresh blanket of white covering the trees, cars, buses, anything that sits still for more than 5 minutes. One of the big problems with it all is the havoc that this much snow wreaks on transportation. Getting around the city is hard enough now. Snow clearing has been an on going event for the past month and despite their efforts ...its not easy. Take a close look at the
second photo. Notice all those buses sliding off the road, just try to imagine how many people were late getting home that night.
Another problem with all this snow is where to put it. With the amounts of snow that have been falling a number of streets have become congested to the point where emergency vehicles simply can't travel down them. Toss in a car parked on the road and only pedestrians are able to use the roadway.
As a result of yesterday's 29 cm snowfall and in anticipation of another significant winter storm system expected to arrive in the Ottawa area tomorrow, snow banks on downtown residential streets may restrict traffic flow. As a result, snow removal from downtown streets will begin immediately to ensure sufficient road access for emergency vehicles, public transit, garbage and recycling services, and general traffic.
To help crews clear snow easily and effectively, vehicles that remain parked on the street during this restriction will be towed, but at no expense to the owner.
Even more snow ...just what we all needed.
Wednesday, 5. March 2008, 22:49:32
winter, Ottawa, snow, CBC news
"After more than 20 centimetres of snow fell Tuesday night and Wednesday, it's officially Ottawa's second snowiest winter on record, with 345 cm so far. Environment Canada is predicting another snowstorm on Saturday."
Clipped from the CBC local Ottawa newsIf it isn't snowing you simply aren't in Ottawa! Winter has yet to release its grip on the city and while I know this is Canada and it does snow ...enough is enough. Spring and Summer can't come fast enough now for me. I miss the sunny days, the lazy hot weekends and cycling down the river pathways.
Unable to sleep last night I sat and watched the snow swirling about as it fell, caught in the wind to create drifts across the street. At times it was rain mixed with snow, changing to hail and back to snow again through it all the wind kept blowing. Early morning brought on a calmness that wasn't present in the dark yet the snow continued to fall.
Another storm has been predicted to hit us by Saturday and should be leaving us with 20 cm's more of the white stuff to clear away. At this rate the snow bank in front of my house will be over 12 feet high.
Yes, bring on the Spring and Summer.
