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Second snowiest winter in recorded history
Ottawa has experienced the second snowiest winter in recorded history.
The storm dropped 27 cm of snow at the Ottawa International Airport. The Gatineau airport got between 16 and 18 cm of snow.
CTV's weather specialist J.J. Clarke says the region should expect a few more centimetres of snow throughout the day.
Clarke says the storm should blow through the region by 4 p.m.
Hoping for sunshine
The mounting snow banks and long winter has many people planning a quick sunny getaway.
"Hopefully at this time next week, I'll be golfing and will be the envy of all my friends," said Roger Michel, who's planning a trip to the Bahamas.
But even those who planned to get away from Ottawa's snowy climate had problems escaping Wednesday.
Fifty per cent of the flight departures out of the Ottawa International Airport were cancelled, partly due cancellations at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
"In terms of the weather here it's a combination of volume and ice," Krista Kealey of the Ottawa Airport told CTV News. "It makes things challenging."
Morning commute disrupted
Blowing snow, ice pellets and freezing rain slowed down the morning commute for many trying to get to work, school and other appointments on time.
The snow storm particularly disrupted OC Transpo, causing buses to run 10 to 15 minutes late.
Winter's not over yet
The system that slammed into eastern Ontario and western Quebec is now heading for the Maritimes.
As this storm leaves the region, weather forecasters warn residents that another storm is expected to hit the region Saturday. :rolleyes:
ctvottawa.ca (http://www.ctvottawa.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080305/OTT_WINTER_WATCH_080305/20080305/?hub=OttawaHome)
Wed Mar. 05 2008
SongDragon
03-05-2008, 05:29 PM
The system that slammed into eastern Ontario and western Quebec is now heading for the Maritimes.
Oh goody, something to look forward to. Yours truly in Nova Scotia...
~Song
Amy in Vermont
03-05-2008, 05:36 PM
...it all stops here on the way from Dee to you, Song!
It does seem we're all situated just right to be in the line of progression for these wonderful things. :rolleyes:
On a brighter note, clocks go ahead an hour this Sunday!
Denise
03-06-2008, 08:28 AM
This winter has been brutal for sure... check out my "Winter Sucks" album on my MySpace... blah...
I've been here 18 years and never remember a winter as bad as this one has been... :(
I'm sick of shoveling, then hurting, then shoveling, then hurting........
Mary6906
03-06-2008, 08:51 AM
Yeah, I hear ya, Denise.... the snow sometimes sure looks pretty.... but this winter, it's getting old really fast!! I'm starting to get too old to be doing all this shoveling (although sometimes the fresh air is nice) .... but the recouperation time takes longer these days!
Better get my errands done this morning. Looks like another hermit weekend ahead.
Winter storm watch for: City of Ottawa
Issued at 5:02 AM EST FRIDAY 7 MARCH 2008
..WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO GIVE HEAVY SNOW SATURDAY..
A STORM CURRENTLY IN ALABAMA WILL PUSH NORTHWARD TODAY THEN GIVE SIGNIFICANT SNOW TO MOST OF SOUTHERN ONTARIO. IT APPEARS THAT THE SNOW WILL COME IN TWO DOSES. THE FIRST SHOT WILL BEGIN AS EARLY AS THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO AND LATER TODAY IN EASTERN ONTARIO. WE MAY HAVE A BRIEF REPRIEVE OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING WHERE SNOW MAY BECOME LIGHT AND MORE INTERMITTENT. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS THEN EXPECTED IN THE SECOND SHOT BEGINNING MIDDAY SATURDAY IN THE SOUTHWEST AND IN THE AFTERNOON OVER EASTERN ONTARIO. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE SNOWFALL DURATION WILL BE ABOUT 36 HOURS BUT THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING.
Marcia Drummergal
03-07-2008, 02:16 PM
We've got about 5 inches on the ground from this same storm with the possibility of a foot before all is said and done. Sending it up your way Dee, just because we love ya!
I was one of the "lemmings" who left work early today. At least that was what someone on a talk radio station said we were. But hey, I made it home safely and have a nice warm fire going.
Marcia :)
We've got about 5 inches on the ground from this same storm with the possibility of a foot before all is said and done. Sending it up your way Dee, just because we love ya!
Well thanks Marcia, but please don't love me so much! :o Holy crud, this storm track is always the same – originating in the southern states and running up directly over us to the Maritimes. I bet Amy's going to get hammered with this one in New England too.
Hard to believe Spring starts in two weeks.
I am sending you 'quiet weather vibes' Dee.
Eva
Send a few our way, too, Eva...they cancelled our 'winter storm warning'--and replaced it with a 'blizzard warning'!
In the 18 years we have lived here, this is the first time I have ever experienced the threat of a blizzard...the snow has been falling steadily, very fine powder and blows into everywhere outside. Up to about 5" now, and still coming with more heavy stuff on the way tonight.
I'm glad Marcia is home, and I just made a delicious pot of chili.
I'm all prepared for a siege.;)
Send a few our way, too, Eva...they cancelled our 'winter storm warning'--and replaced it with a 'blizzard warning'!
In the 18 years we have lived here, this is the first time I have ever experienced the threat of a blizzard...the snow has been falling steadily, very fine powder and blows into everywhere outside. Up to about 5" now, and still coming with more heavy stuff on the way tonight.
I'm glad Marcia is home, and I just made a delicious pot of chili.
I'm all prepared for a siege.;)
Oh, of course there are 'quiet weather vibes' on their way to you too.
Think of me when you eat chili. I'm hungry again.
Eva
Thanks, Eva...do you notice, we've actually managed to turn this into a food thread too! LOL:D
I am sending you 'quiet weather vibes' Dee.
Eva
Can you send them with pizza please? (Since this is now an official Food Thread.™)
Region to get slammed by winter storm
The latest winter storm is expected to hit eastern Ontario and Outaouais Friday night. It is expected to drop light snow Friday and heavy snow on Saturday.
Environment Canada says the storm is expected to drop at least another 30 centimetres of white stuff on the region.
Gusts of winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour are also expected.
Travel disruptions expected
With March break ending in Quebec and starting in Ontario, the storm is expected to put a wrench in many people's travel plans.
Airport officials are anticipating delays and cancellations this weekend and are warning travellers to check with carriers before heading to the airport.
Krista Kealey of Ottawa Airport Authority told CTV News this is one of the airport's busiest weekends.
"It's the end of the Quebec break so we'll have a lot of return passengers and also a lot of people trying to get the heck out of here before the snow hits," Kealey told CTV News.
She says delays and cancellations will be caused by weather conditions both in Ottawa and other areas.
And bla bla bla. . . .
ctvottawa.ca (http://www.ctvottawa.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080307/OTT_WINTER_BLAST_080307/20080307/?hub=OttawaHome)
Marcia Drummergal
03-08-2008, 08:58 AM
Biggest snowfall we've had in quite some time and it's not over yet! I don't really know how I'll get out of the driveway to get to work Monday. Hopefully I can persuade the guy across the street with the snowplow on his truck to help out. Here is an interesting picture I think. We have our deck chairs leaning against the table creating kind of a snow cave.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c57/margal1/Misc/chaircave.jpg
The next shot is of the deck and backyard. There ARE pretty birds out there, cardinals, woodpeckers and bluejays. Unfortunately, when I open the sliding doors it scares them off. I can't stand there with the cold and snow coming in long enough for the birds to reassemble. So you'll just have to take my word for it!!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c57/margal1/Misc/backyard.jpg
Cool photos, Marcia. (No pun intended.)
Between storms I made it to the mall next door for a couple of things I needed. Had to walk on the side of the road tho since the sidewalks were filled up by the blowing white stuff. Now the second wave has begun. Hopefully the roof doesn't get blown off my apartment. :eek:
It IS very pretty Marcia...
Eva
Oak Kitten
03-08-2008, 05:09 PM
We've had crazy weather today. Driving over to the Eastern shore this morning there was fog and light rain. Then the clouds broke and the sun came out for a while. Then it got really dark with downpours - just as I was leaving the hairdresser's, of course. Then the clouds broke again and the rain stopped. Did some grocery shopping. When I came out of the store, the wind was wild, nearly ripped the shopping cart out of my hands. All the way back home the wind was ripping road signs right out of the ground and tree branches were flying. Got home okay, things appear to have calmed down. Mr. Oak just called from Pennsylvania, where he is chaperoning the church youth group. The power got knocked out at the church where they are staying, and now they are trying to decide whether to wait to see if it comes back on or drive back to Maryland.
I wonder if any of this has anything to do with the fact that I watched "Twister" last night on TV?
Oak
Amy in Vermont
03-08-2008, 05:40 PM
......the stuff coming out of the sky here for the last few hours resembles.......
....no.. NOT icing....
................................JELLO!............ ..................
It's neither solid or liquid. Its running off the roof, and accumulating on the roads. It has a unique sound.... a sort of slurping noise as it hits. But unlike sleet, it doesn't bounce... it just melds into the existing accumulation on the ground.
They say this is gonna tuen to snow overnoght... what FUN!
Sounds like "The Revenge of The Blob"!! Amazing stuff, snow...I heard the Eskimos have about 50 words for different kinds of the stuff...none of which are pronounceable I suppose.
Massive storm moves out of Central Canada
The Canadian Press
A massive winter storm that's dumped up to 45 centimetres (17.7 inches) of snow on Ottawa and Niagara Falls is moving out of southern and eastern Ontario today.
Closed highways, hundreds of traffic crashes and scores of delayed or cancelled flights have been left in its wake.
At least four flights bound for Pearson were diverted to North Bay yesterday to wait out the storm, one reportedly from Germany.
Environment Canada senior meteorologist Ria Alsen says the storm will finally leave Ontario and Quebec later this morning, and the Maritimes this evening, but it will likely be Monday before it exits Newfoundland.
In terms of size, duration, precipitation and wind, the storm is a monster.
The Ottawa and Niagara Falls areas have been hardest hit in Ontario with more than 45 centimetres of snow, pushing yearly totals to near record levels.
There have been scores of traffic accidents across the province and even some power outages in Toronto.
There have been hundreds of flight delays and cancellations in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
Due to higher winds and blowing snow, the situation is even worse in Montreal and Quebec's Eastern Townships where more than 40 centimetres of snow has fallen.
It's messier yet in the Maritimes where the snow has mixed with freezing rain in many areas.
Alsen says concern is rising among Natural Resources officials about the prospects for spring flooding in Ontario.
Massive storm moves out of Central Canada (http://www.ctvottawa.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080309/storm_update_080309/20080309/?hub=OttawaHome)
Well at least my roof is still intact . . . for now. :o
ponytail
03-10-2008, 02:32 PM
I just said a prayer that it will stay that way! "Spring flooding" is a familiar phrase in these parts, and tons of snow melting is no fun (though I'd have a hard time choosing between that and having to shovel it!):rolleyes:
I've already begun building my ark. I will need two of each of you when it's ready. Clones will do, but no evil twins allowed.
Don't put away parka yet, chief weather watcher warns (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/03/10/phillips-winter.html) :rolleyes:
Eastern Canadians shouldn't pack up the snow gear just yet because the winter that won't end isn't going away any time soon, the country's top weather predictor said Monday.
"What a winter it has truly been," Environment Canada's senior climatologist David Phillips said Monday as people in Eastern Canada cleaned up from a weekend storm that dumped up to half a metre of snow on some parts.
He warned that the monster storm isn't likely the last big snowfall because 20 per cent of Eastern Canada's snow comes after the first day of March, while 15 per cent of that comes after the first day of spring.
"Don't put away the snow shovel. Don't put away the parka or the balaclava or the booster cables because winter is always slow to leave Canada and spring is reluctant to arrive," he said.
This winter has lived up to a prediction Phillips made in November, when he warned Canadians would face the worst winter in roughly 15 years.
Ottawa and Montreal are on track to break records set in 1970-1971, while Toronto could break a record set in 1939.
"I'm kind of hoping we break a record. It will give us a badge of courage … 'I survived winter 2007-2008,' " he said.
One of his favourite stories of the winter has been the snowfall in Ottawa, which has the odd distinction of being the world's snowiest national capital.
"I must admit I thought that record would never be broken," Phillips said of the 444.6 centimetres of snow that fell 36 years ago.
Phillips said while he takes no delight in the misery of a tough winter, he's pleased with the accuracy of his prediction because people usually only remember the failures of weather forecasters....
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/deemark/Photo%20Shoebox%20VII/suicidalsnowman.jpg
SongDragon
03-12-2008, 07:15 PM
Ergh.
Here in the maritimes we start out with snow and end up with slush-covered ice. Not that bad if you don't live on a hill! Of course, we do. I try to get up to meal hall and it feels like I slide back an inch or two for every step I take when it gets slick. It's also steep and the college never cancels classes (most people live either on campus or within walking distance) so it's up to teachers to cancel classes--most seem oblivious, but it's never consistent, so it feels like you're in and out the door all day as one class is cancelled and the next isn't.
*crosses fingers*
But it has looked good since Sunday/Monday, so maybe the storms have finally ceased?
I sure hope so. I mean they stopped us from sledding, so now the snow is just... ick.
~Song
THEY STOPPED YOU FROM SLEDDING?!!!!!>?? Who They? What kind of sadistic ogres would stop anyone from sledding where there's good snow and a hill??? I think you should stage a sled-in!! Of all the nerve!
SongDragon
03-13-2008, 11:44 AM
Well, there's an awesome sledding hill right next to the library. It's steep, and there are trees, but not enough to worry about unless you decide to curve your sled on purpose into them. It's the best sledding hill in town (people go down it on trays "borrowed" from meal hall if they don't have a sled). It has a long flat bottom before the plateu (normally the front lawn) meets up with the main road--not a problem, you'd stop way before hitting it, even in the iciest conditions.
So I came back from Christmas vacation with a sled. A roll-up sled, to be specific. So one night Tyler and I went down to try it (it was really icy). I found it funny that the sign normally there ("Slide at your own risk!") was missing, but I didn't worry about it (yes, I was sledding at night, but don't worry, there were lights all around). I decided I'd go first (Tyler is heavier and taller than me, by a lot, and might actually have made it to the road in these conditions, and if he fell he'd fall harder, so I wanted to "test the waters" so to speak).
I was almost ready to go when a security guard came up and told me I couldn't. I must have looked stunned because he pointed at the new signs: "Sliding, snowboarding, skiing, [etc] are strictly prohibited." Well that sucked. Very, very angry SongDragon.
:mad:
One day those guards aren't going to be around and I'll just run down there with my sled... Hopefully I won't be deported or expelled or both.
~Song
aabram
03-13-2008, 12:55 PM
Sorry you couldn't have the fun you wanted, Song. There's always a hidden problem somewhere :( I used to love sledding when we were kids and there was just such a sledding hill in Greenwich Park (London). Oh, for those of you who don't know, ..... we had snow then..... :D
Annabel
DaveM
03-13-2008, 02:42 PM
Fiberglass or metal cafeteria trays make great sleds. So many were appropriated from my brother's college for this purpose every year that the school held a "Caf Tray Amnesty Day" each spring in the hope of getting them back.
SongDragon
03-13-2008, 11:37 PM
DaveM, they won't be getting these ones back!
:D
In all seriousness it wasn't me, but one of the times, walking to class, I had to burst out laughing because I suddenly realized what I was stepping over (right above the sledding hill) was tray-bits. Shattered tray pieces all over the ground.
Perhaps that's why they won't let us sled anymore... They think they're protecting their trays...
:rolleyes:
Not that I'm against giving them back their plates and cutlery and mugs and so on and so forth--as soon as they consider lowering the cafeteria prices. Honestly, our meals cost more than if we ate out (not talking high class, though, so don't get me wrong) every night.
Ah well. The woes of university.
~Song
DaveM
03-14-2008, 01:02 AM
Don't worry, Song....we won't tell.
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