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Wednesday 29 January 2020

Weather and status report

Winter has a firm grip on eastern Canada. We’ve come through weeks of snow every day, to sunny days, to milder temperatures and rain. The weather continues to surprise us. However nothing compares to what happened recently in the province of our birth, Newfoundland.


Hurricane force winds combined with a heavy snowfall, dumped 93 centimetres, 36 inches, on the community where I grew up. You can imagine the height of the snowbanks after the drifting. They already had lots of snow prior to the blizzard. The result was a State of Emergency in effect for 8 days as the capital city cleaned up the snow from the narrow streets of St. John’s. Prince Edward Island has had an easy winter by comparison.


I prefer to stay inside rather than fight the elements this time of year. Reading, writing and genealogy fill my days. Walking outside is preferable to the treadmill but those excursions are limited by the elements. I have no desire to venture forth on a sunny day when the temperature feels like it is in the -20s C. While I am warm enough when I’m walking, it can take the remainder of the day to alleviate the chill that seeps into my bones when the temperatures are so low.


My husband and I attempt to embrace winter but usually it embraces us.


Questions and answers:


Hootin’ Anni at http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/  asked if it was saltwater in my last blog post From the shore.


It was frozen saltwater in the photos. The cargo vessel and the icebreaker were in Summerside Harbour in Prince Edward Island. The port is in the Northumberland Strait between the island and mainland Canada. The sea around the island freezes every winter.


Joanne at http://cuponthebus.blogspot.com/ asked about the same post:

Was that a regular route for Trinityborg and Cornwallis on regular duty seeing her through? 


Cargo vessels, such as Trinityborg, make regular visits to the port at Summerside during the other three seasons. There was such a vessel in port over Christmas and while the harbour had loose ice, the vessel could get out of port when the wind took the ice out to sea. Trinityborg came into port before the harbour froze which was later this year than it has been for a number of years.


The home port for Cornwallis is Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She comes to the aid of any vessel which needs her assistance. 


This time of year, icebreakers on the east coast of Canada spend much of their time in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. They provide a path through the icy Gulf for the ferries to and from Newfoundland. The bridge to the mainland from Prince Edward Island means sea traffic is nil here when ice encases the island.


The following article has satellite photos of the ice around PEI in February and April 2015. 


The photos are here.


20 comments:

DJan said...

Now that does seem awfully cold, and it would take a long time, even when exercising, to get warm again! Those are days when indoor activities are more sensible. Thanks for the information about Newfoundland. I thought of you when I read about the blizzard.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

There is nothing we can do about the weather we are given, but to accept it as is. I do feel for Newfoundland, WOW 36 inches of snow. You run out of room, where do you move it too. One year we had back to back storms and had around 36 inches of snow, it was difficult to dig out. I am a wimp when it comes to walking out in the cold temperatures, the wind hurts my eyes. Wishing you a happy day!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I don't think I'd be outside in those temperatures either! I can't even imagine 36" of snow; an inch or two is enough to bring everything to a halt in England!

Secondary Roads said...

So far we've not had much snow trouble here in west Michigan. We had a couple of days where driving was scary, but all-wheel-drive work very well. I enjoy reading about your island life. That's something I'm not acquainted with.

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you.
I hope our respective seasons loosen their tight grip. Soon.

Barb said...

I'm so accustomed to harsh winters that if we don't get snow and cold it seems unusual. However, sometime in April, I'll start to wish it would stop snowing. What usually keeps me inside is wind which makes the chill and subsequent chance of frostbite greater. Your Header is beautiful!

Ruth Hiebert said...

I really don’t mind winter, as long as those temperatures don't drop too low. Those bone chilling winds can also do a number on me.

At Home In New Zealand said...

I think you are very wise to stay indoors when it is that cold outside. I cannot even begin to imagine what that would be like, but I do know that when your body core gets chilled it can be dangerous and take a long time to bring back up again. Take care, and enjoy your indoor activities :)

William Kendall said...

The Rock really did get hammered by the snow.

Joanne Noragon said...

Thanks for the explanations.

Barbara said...

Love the Q&A. I've heard about that weather. I can't even imagine. Stay safe.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Newfoundland seems to have but two kinds of weather, bad and worse.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

That is way too much snow Marie, the link was incredible to see and read. You are doing the right thing working with the temperatures, you do not want to get chilled to the bone. Hopefully it won't be too long before it warms up enough for you to get out and do what you enjoy the most, walk 💙

Debbie said...

i am also ok with staying inside and we don't have any snow, there is just not much to do. i am not able to walk like you can!!

i thought about food right away, i hope you were all stocked up!!!

Liz Hinds said...

I would definitely stay in. Warm and snug.

Rhodesia said...

I would not survive in those temperatures. We have had -20C in our barn one winter when we were snowed in for 3 weeks, but that was just one year in the 15 years we have been here. This year so far is quite the opposite and we have only had very few light frosts. Having said that February is usually our worst month and we have had snow in April and frosts in May!!
Have a good day, Diane

Retired Knitter said...

On the mid-Atlantic east coast of the US - we have had some cold weather but nothing like you. But February is usually our coldest month so we shall see soon enough.

Rose said...

I cannot even stand the thoughts of 36 inches of snow! I would be just like you about staying in away from the cold...

Danielle L Zecher said...

We were all watching the videos and looking at the pictures from that snowstorm. I have a hard time even comprehending that much snow. I'm glad you haven't been hit quite as hard as that. I struggle with spending much time outside during the winter, and we don't get nearly as cold as you do, so I can definitely understand not wanting to spend much time outside.

baili said...

you winters sound terribly harsh dear Marie

what i like always is your positive approach towards everything you share about :)

i really hope season take breaks and you get some sunshine time to time to loosen the effect of extreme weather