When I read that last night, I knew what was coming — white hell.
3:08 PM EST Tuesday 08 December 2009
Winter storm warning for Ottawa South – Richmond – Metcalfe upgraded from Winter storm watch..Snow heavy at times accompanied by strong easterly wind beginning tonight..
This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.
Strong easterly winds near 60 km/h will accompany the snow tonight and Wednesday significantly lowering visibilities in blowing snow. Periods of heavy snow are also likely. Snow amounts will range from 10 to 15 centimetres with 20 centimetres or more towards Ottawa Valley. Lesser amounts are likely along the shore of Western Lake Ontario as snow could be wet.
It was cold but nice yesterday night and for a second, I humored myself with the thought that the Weather Channel could be wrong. Of course, it wasn’t. It never is. Weather is what Canadians predict best.
The wind was extremely strong this morning and I could barely keep my head up while waiting for the bus. Mind you, I had time to practice — it was 30 minutes late. This drives me nut: you’d think Canada is well-prepared for snow storm… not quite. It’s always a total chaos every time it happens.
It snowed all day and it is still snowing tonight. Guess it’s winter now.
I’ve been waiting for this post since you tweeted about the snow warning 😛
That is a hell lot of snow 🙂
.-= Nigel Babu´s last blog ..Pushing 150 kg =-.
I thought of you 😉
Yep, it is. About 20 cm so far I’d say… shoveling was tough!
First snowfall – always chaotic – crazy drivers, slow traffic, snow plows late…
Looks like you were dumped on worse than we were!
.-= Beth´s last blog ..For M & M =-.
YAY you finally got snow! the ski mountain at tremblant can finally open. and who knows what geologists will find if the snow in canada ever melts. there are probably mastadons running around under all that protective ice.
.-= Seraphine´s last blog ..Every Negative has a Corresponding Positive =-.
It was down to -13C in Tulsa last night, a record for this date. It is -8C now. I stayed in. It was too cold to wrestle with my chair. Me and Smokey snuggled up. We have no snow. Yours is pretty but I’ll let you have it.
.-= Tulsa Getleman´s last blog ..Bill’s Jumbo Burgers =-.
And now you can make a snowman ! 😉
.-= Sidney´s last blog .. =-.
You never stand around waiting for the bus – best way to freeze. The trick is to walk from stop to stop to keep warm. The stops in Ottawa aren’t that far apart (not like Toronto).
The only snow I’ve seen so far is a bit on the top of the mountains just outside Madrid early last week. It melted two days later.
Today, the high is calling for 14C and mostly sunny.
.-= richard´s last blog ..Blancanieves Boulevard =-.
I think I biked to work :p How I miss this beautiful Canadian weather…I hate waiting for a bus in the snowstorm as well because they’re never on time and everybody’s driving like a turtle on the highway!
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snowwwwwwww!
Can you send some snow over to Mauritius? Pleaseeeeee? 😛 Here the weather is terribly hot and humid. Christmas under the scorching sun is not fun at all!
@Beth – We got more than what we expected – definitely at least 20 centimeters, probably more. Not bragging, I swear!
@Seraphine – I’m pretty sure there are at least a few thousands lost pairs of gloves underneath, for sure.
@Tulsa Getleman – Pretty but a pain to shovel… we had to do it twice yesterday, and probably some more today!
@Sidney – 😉
@richard – Where I live (around the Experimental Farm), bus stops are actually far apart and on the side of a major road, so it’s not very safe to walk from one stop to another. I do that in other more pedestrian friendly neighborhood though.
@Bluefish – I know, it’s frustrating because even though you leave home earlier, you are still late… and it’s not even your fault!
Zhu, I love these pictures. The bright colors popping against the snowy background — so so so pretty 🙂
May your Christmas be white 🙂
.-= Agnes´s last blog ..Shiny happy people laughing, meet me in the crowd, people… =-.
下太多雪不好,不下雪也不好。
哟,凡是最好适可而止。
.-= London Caller´s last blog ..Marilyn Monroe / 玛丽莲·梦露 / Marilyn Monroe / マリリン・モンロー =-.
So jealous! Still waiting for our first winter storm down here. Nice pictures.
.-= Soleil´s last blog ..Day +1 =-.
Beautiful snow scape!
But I can’t endure the chill. California’s weather is still the best for me…
.-= Khengsiong´s last blog ..Deserted Towns =-.
Makes me homesick. Copenhagen snow and ice gets washed away by rain before you can plan a decent hockey game on the so-called “lakes.”
I can imagine! Even the hills in the Bay Area are getting snow which is highly unusual. Whoever has heard of White Christmas in Silicon Valley?
.-= Shantanu´s last blog ..The Fragrant Island =-.
I didn’t bike on the day it snowed, but after that, I did. Last night was -18, but its nice when you are on the bike. 🙂
.-= Priyank´s last blog ..Three years in Toronto =-.
Hubby and I are ones of the few who bike (have biked) on days of heavy snow. It’s some case of extreme sport combined with courage and a touch of craziness. But we mainly do (did) this because the transit system in our town is awful.
Don’t worry for me though, I won’t be biking this winter with my big belly. 😉
.-= N´s last blog ..Larmes de bonheur =-.
I like getting to observe the white hell/beauty from afar.
The picture on the bus is awesome. Love em all, but that one especially.
.-= Seb´s last blog ..I’m (totally) going to save the world. =-.
@Angele – Sure. But only if you send us some hot and humid weather! 😆
@Agnes – I think the white background is the hardest thing… it really lacks colors in the winter.
@London Caller – Moderation is something Canada doesn’t know… we go from -30C to +30C!
@Soleil – Thanks! Snow is fun but not so cool when you still have to go to work etc.
@Khengsiong – It’s already more than chilly here!
@AM –
@Shantanu – That’s weird! I have never heard of that.
@Priyank – Yuck, I find it too slippery. It’s very icy right now, it froze right away.
@N – Really? I have never dared… I live far from downtown and the major roads are already too dangerous in the summer. I’d be too scared!
@Seb – This one is weird! I was happy to finally catch a bus, it was very cold.
This post kind of made me miss winter in Minnesota. The big snow banks, running for coffee in the freezing wind, everything looking like Christmas. They’re predicting snow in Brussels this week, but it won’t be anything like what you see in Canada or the Northern U.S.
.-= Tanya´s last blog ..Worst Corkscrew Ever =-.
I know this is white hell for you, but it’s a winter wonderland for me. I just want one day of this…or a week. It may happen…we’re making plans to visit Boston after Christmas! 🙂
Thanks for sharing these pics. It’s all sunshine and 80s here. 🙁
.-= Lil Red´s last blog ..give me the beach! =-.
we have load of delicous snow in the mountains, yummy!
The pictures are breathtaking! I must confess that so much snow impress and scare me a little.
.-= Cornflakegirl´s last blog ..The soundtrack of writing =-.
Oh yeah…
Winter is definitely there and here too.
We do not have snow, but it is a bit cold (3ºC) and humid.
Loved the pics, girl :D!
Cheers
.-= Max Coutinho´s last blog ..Some Women kill me… =-.