Grumble, grumble. Mutter, mutter. Before going any further: to those persons who have been wishing for an abundant snowfall; a pox on all your houses, down to the seventh generation. To the woman who stood in the bus shelter, shouting into her cellphone; we can all hear you JUST FINE.
posted in travel, Wx | Comments Off on Let it snow (as a curse) | 298 words
posted in Wx | Comments Off on Visual proof of a change of season | 267 words
There, but for the wisdom of the Weather Channel go I. After the recent night of high wind and rain (this summer), I started to feel pretty smug about how resistant to the elements I’d become. Slept the night away, etc. Well, summer might be over, but the interesting parts of weather may not be.
posted in Wx | Comments Off on High winds in other places, please | 266 words
Smack in the middle of Canada’s most ephemeral season, one can only wait for the arrival of warm weather. Every year, we go through the same song and dance; we salute the new foliage and lawncover, while our breathe provides a visible flag while waiting for that early morning bus. As recently as yesterday, in a neighbouring province, my sister recorded snowfall (she called it hail, I call it nasty weather). If I was prone to planting tomatoes, I’d be convinced that the frost was meant to vex me alone.
posted in environment, Wx | Comments Off on See the air and feel the warmth of the water | 266 words
I finally have proof that rain falls. Back, just before the onset of winter, I installed a weather station at home, and as nature would have it, cold precipitation is difficult to measure. With great aplomb, I’ve barricaded the house with shovels and piles of snow. My boots have kept me feet dry (mainly). And there has been this niggling doubt about the ability of my equipment to measure rainfall. The statistics have been harsh; no precipitation recorded for the last three months.
posted in science, Wx | Comments Off on If you can measure it, then it exists | 262 words
Part of the Canadian persona is a fascination with looking out the window and observing weather. Not “the weather”, because we live in a country that has dynamic as the best descriptor. We can generalize. I’m trying to do my part by adding some measurement to the game. On the day where Environment Canada unveils the top ten stories for this year, my weather station is about to go live.
posted in technology, Wx | Comments Off on Final tweaks to my own weather system | 269 words
For anyone that wants to bet on the snow depth (there are some folks that will bet on anything), today has thrown a curveball, weatherwise. At a time when temperatures are usually far below the melting point, the thermometer indicated a balmy 11C today. With the unseasonable high came fog. Lots and lots of fog. Seeing much beyond the end of one’s nose was a challenge, even with glasses.
posted in pets, Wx | Comments Off on Tales of fog and dogs | 262 words
I’m safe, at home now. The risk of falling has ended. You see, we’re in the midst of a thaw, and the city is in the midst of a budget crisis. Ergo, no abrasives or saline for pedestrians. My trek from here to the bus stop (and back) was equally suited to testing my ability at walking in zero gravity. Shuffle, shuffle, very carefully. If not, prepare to be very wet and cold, for water at the freezing point has little else to offer the supine citizen.
posted in health, Wx | Comments Off on Slide with style | 270 words
Sometimes the snow comes too late to be anything but a bother. Although the probs have told us to be ready, even if we don’t know the hour or the day, this afternoon’s snowfall just made the daily transit last longer. Well, about double the usual 45 minutes, but by the time the third bus of the ride has been delayed or lost, and the battery on the neigbour’s cellphone is too low to give a clock reference, it doesn’t really matter.
posted in travel, Wx | Comments Off on Too little, too late | 259 words
Let the record show that despite my best efforts, winter has returned to the area. My procedural devices, such as installing a weather observation station, refusing to shortcut the lawn and dressing inappropriately for the weather did not keep the first snowfall of the season at bay. I shall have to develop other, more effective techniques for the future. We didn’t get the big storm that the weather channel promised, either.
posted in Wx | Comments Off on Change of scenery | 278 words
