12-21-09-Some winter observations

This is my 56th winter on this, the 3rd planet from the sun. Some times it feels longer than that. I live in what is called, by those in the know, The Great White North.
Now you would think, with a title like that, 3-4 cm's of snow would not bother any one, right.

WRONG.

Up until 2000, I had spent 90% of my working career out doors, and in the Northern parts of Canada. I have spent the last eight years, either in an office environment, or motor vehicle of some sort, but still manage to get "out".

Some observations i have made over the last eight years, were i actually managed to to be home every day, winter wise.:

- -5 Celsius in Toronto feels like -40 in Thunder Bay.
- -5 Celsius in Thunder Bay, is a nice July afternoon.
- In Thunder Bay, it snows every other day from November to March.
- In Toronto, 2cm of snow paralyzes the city.
- In Toronto, any thing over 3 cm of snow is called a storm of the century, and has 24 hour media coverage.
- In Thunder Bay, unless it snows more than 3 feet, no one even mentions it. Even then only if asked about it.
- In Toronto, 300-600 vehicle crashes will occur each "storm".
- In Thunder Bay, there are 300-600 cars.
- In Toronto, at any given time, one of the big 400 series highways will be closed.
- In Thunder Bay, they only have one highway, and it stays open most times. If there is an accident and its closed, we drink.
- In Thunder Bay, they plow snow only if requested.
- In Toronto, you can't request, the power is out.
- In Toronto, they remove the plows from the trucks in April.
- In Thunder Bay, they stay on, just in case.
- In Toronto, they run out of shovels and snow blowers right after said first "storm of the century".
- In Thunder Bay, every other store sells blowers and shovels.
- In Toronto, you might get your ski-doo out 1-2 times a year.
- In Thunder Bay, they stay in the back of your pick up, all year round, just in case(see snow plows).
- In Toronto, no one adjusts their spend for winter driving.
- In Thunder Bay, you guessed it, its always winter driving, so no adjustment is needed.
- In Toronto, only York Region never cancels school buses.
- In Thunder Bay, the bus is kept pretty busy.
- In Toronto, Pearson Airport closes the day before a storm.
- In Thunder Bay, they put skis on the planes, and carry on.
- In Toronto, the trains run late or not at all, due to switches freezing etc.
- In Thunder Bay, the train is always late.

Basically what i'm trying to say is, i think its hilarious to watch the TV stations go nuts with storm coverage, or what they call a storm. They seem to be the only ones interested.:-)

Thanks for listening.

DJB

Dec 15, 2007-Wether the Weather

Hello faithful reader.

Well, i have finally had enough of local news and weather channels and their "Storm Watch" doom and gloom reports.

Ten minutes of super hype, for a meager amount of snow, say 1-3 cm's, that may or may not show up.

I can not believe how worked up the GTA of Southern Ont gets over these "storms". I worked for a survey company for close to 34 years, and most of my work was done away from the office, in Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta. I have also worked winters in the East Coast.
It is not unusual in the North, to have snow in Winter. Trust me, it does and will happen.
Usually 3-5 cm's a day is common from Nov to Jan, at least, if not more, then it settles down a bit, snow still but less often. Local news might mention it in the daily weather forecast, but believe me, they do not make any big deal out of it. Heck the snow plows don't even come out for any thing less than 5 cm's. You just drive on it.

Here is a typical Northern news lead, as i remember it.

"Oh BTW we should get about 10 cm of snow tonight, say how's are hockey team doing these day, Ken".

That's the Northern way. It should be adopted here. If i see one more reporter standing out side, toque on and saying how bad it is out side, when you can still see pavement, I'll scream.

One or Two cm's of snow, can and will, paralize Toronto and the 400 series of Hwys. No one slows down, and the OPP will respond to a crash a minute. People its winter. Has been around here for 1000's of years if not more. Trust me, in that it will snow between Nov and April every year.
Get those snow tires on, slow down or stay home.

And please no more super hype news stories about what is inevitable any way. Half the time, when i am hoping for a snow day, the sun will shine, and Buffalo gets it.:-)

Sorry for the rant. I'm feeling better now.

Thanks for listening

DJB