The Weather Outside

I’m not complaining but it’s been a wierd winter in Canada.

Normally, January in Toronto is unpleasant. Normally, I’m ankle deep in slush, slip sliding my way on sidewalks and constantly shovelling snow from my driveway. Normally, I’m thinking “Why am I here vs. there” on Vancouver Island where the winters are so much milder?

But this is not a normal winter.  Toronto has been positively balmy all week with above zero temperatures.  It’s 3°C outside and my driveway has been rain-washed clean and clear for days.

Meanwhile on the East coast, Newfoundland is expecting 75 cms of snow and 120 km winds. This on top of a 30cm snow dump from last week.

On the West coast,  serial snow storms have crippled parts of Vancouver city. Metro transit delays were so bad, they told morning commuters to ‘just give up and go home.’ On Vancouver Island heavy snow (10-20 cm where normally they’d have none) and hurricane force winds have closed schools, delayed traffic and cancelled all ferries to the mainland.

The B.C. weather was so bad, a special appeal* was sent to would be criminals to avoid doing ‘Bad Things’ and ‘being nice for a change.’

Canadian police are so polite.

In my other home town of Ucluelet, snow blanketed the area.

This video shows the Wild Pacific Trail. It’s beautiful but surreal with all the snow covered scenes. It’s familiar but unfamiliar at the same time.

Meanwhile, as I’m  writing this post, a weather alert comes through for Toronto and region.

“Snow expected this week-end with strong winds and falling temperatures. This could be the start of the more “typical” winter weather as colder conditions lock-in for the second half of January.”

Well. That’s. Just. Great.

Toronto, Canada. January 2020

* Clarification: The Nanaimo RCMP didn’t really issue this tweet.  It originated from a fake handle by a satirical group. Nonetheless, other divisions re-tweeted and endorsed the feeling. Canadian police are not only polite, they’re nice too.

Featured photo by Ukeedaze.