What Is The Weather Today II (No Mercury Jockeying)

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I find this hard to believe.

The winter of 2007-2008 had something like 420 cm which almost broke the record of 1970-1971 which was 441 cm. In 07-08 at one point there was almost 1.5 m (5 feet) of lying snow in my backyard, almost at the same level as the top of my fence. The snowbanks along the streets in my neighbourhood were also higher than today.

There is a lot right now (definitely the most I can remember since then), but it is not really as much.

I thought that was hard to believe too. We got two big dumps last week, but close to nothing prior to that. I’d question the validity of the info I saw.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Tancredi

I'm here, don't worry. I've read all your messages, all your descriptions, and seen all your wonderful photos. I haven't written in the past few days because I haven't had much time. I'm absolutely blown away by your stories—maybe I've even been left speechless. Especially because here in Europe, unlike in North America, we're experiencing yet another year without winter. In Italy, even in the north, snow in the plains and along the coasts has become a very rare phenomenon. Over the past few years, it has almost completely disappeared from northern cities and from those along the Adriatic coast. The south... well... it's basically just the gateway to hell now.

Your photos move me, but they also make me angry. Europe is a global warming hotspot, and it's turning into the doorstep of the tropical zone. :inferno:

But I'm taking this opportunity to ask you Canadians a question: from your photos and stories, it seems like winters in North America are still as cold and snowy as they used to be. Am I wrong? In Canada, have winters in recent years become warmer or colder? Snowier or less snowy? Because it feels like the curse of global warming has hit Europe and the Arctic and Antarctic regions the hardest, while Canada and the United States still seem like a winter paradise—at least when it comes to cold and snow.

SignalHillHiker


Actually, looking at your photos, I need both hands

The statistics definitely show that it is a little bit less cold than before and that there is less snow. But it's not to the point where you could say "there is no winter". People seem to remember the extremes more like when it was super cold or the snowbanks were super high, but this is what stands out in your memory. It was not necessarily like that all the time. Plus when you were a child the snowbanks seemed taller because you were smaller.

I remember Green Christmases as a child in the 1970s. It did happen every once in a while. Yes, it happens more often these days but it's not like we didn't have mild winters back then.

We also plenty of summer heat and humidity back then as well.

[harls]

This was March 8-9, 2008 when we got 52 cm of snow



Here's what that street looks like without the snow:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kY6UpASqTU1xRYEB9

[harls]

..and this was in Ste Foy over a year later, where they blow all the snow onto your yard.

[Architype]

^ People pay higher rents to avoid that, but I still have good memories of snow as a child.

Vancouver streets seem back to normal, with little or no trace of snow now. It's nice today, but with lots of rain in the forecast.






(my photos Feb 17 2025)

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I find this hard to believe.

The winter of 2007-2008 had something like 420 cm which almost broke the record of 1970-1971 which was 441 cm. In 07-08 at one point there was almost 1.5 m (5 feet) of lying snow in my backyard, almost at the same level as the top of my fence. The snowbanks along the streets in my neighbourhood were also higher than today.

There is a lot right now (definitely the most I can remember since then), but it is not really as much.

I remember there being an absolutely crazy amount of snow in 2007–08 but it accumulated steadily over several weeks, whereas this was a ton of snow in a very short period of time.

I honestly don't recall ever seeing so many parts of Montreal look so impassable. Downtown was okay today, as were most major streets on the Plateau, but in my neighbourhood none of the sidewalks have been cleared and even most streets have barely been plowed, especially with the blowing snow.

[harls]

That looks brutal, Kilgore. Tow truck drivers will be raking in the cash in MTL.

City of Ottawa is saying it will take 2-3 weeks to clean this storm up.

[flar]

I kinda wish it snowed that much here (just once). We only have 8 cm on the ground, so it's nothing unusual, but at least it's enough for kids to go tobogganing.

The cold is back, lows of -17 and -18 the next two nights. EC has issued an extreme cold warning

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Tancredi

I'm here, don't worry. I've read all your messages, all your descriptions, and seen all your wonderful photos. I haven't written in the past few days because I haven't had much time. I'm absolutely blown away by your stories—maybe I've even been left speechless. Especially because here in Europe, unlike in North America, we're experiencing yet another year without winter. In Italy, even in the north, snow in the plains and along the coasts has become a very rare phenomenon. Over the past few years, it has almost completely disappeared from northern cities and from those along the Adriatic coast. The south... well... it's basically just the gateway to hell now.

Your photos move me, but they also make me angry. Europe is a global warming hotspot, and it's turning into the doorstep of the tropical zone. :inferno:

But I'm taking this opportunity to ask you Canadians a question: from your photos and stories, it seems like winters in North America are still as cold and snowy as they used to be. Am I wrong? In Canada, have winters in recent years become warmer or colder? Snowier or less snowy? Because it feels like the curse of global warming has hit Europe and the Arctic and Antarctic regions the hardest, while Canada and the United States still seem like a winter paradise—at least when it comes to cold and snow.

SignalHillHiker


Actually, looking at your photos, I need both hands

Glad to hear you’re ok.

Yes, I’ve been watching snow conditions in the Austrian Alps and until this past weekend it seems the snowpack was almost nonexistent. The snowpack in most of BC is somewhat below normal for this time of year.

[Zepfancouver]

Montreal breaks record with over 70 cm of snow in 4 days.

Took my sister most of the day to free her car from her driveway.


https://makeagif.com/i/6CbUqb

[Nicko999]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Montreal mayor Valérie Plante says the city hasn't had such a significant amount of snow in such a short period of time since the 1950s.

More like 1898 or ever.

We had 37 cm yesterday. That is on top of the 34 cm from Thursday. 2 storms that were top 10 all-time in a matter of 4 days.

https://x.com/ECCCWeatherQC/status/1891627093265351061

Thierry Goose
@ThierryGooseBC
·
39m
#Montreal's historic snowfall!

➡️ 72.4 cm of snow in 4 days, largest 4-day snowfall since records began in 1871, tying January 19-22, 1898!

➡️ 36.8 cm on Feb. 16, 7th largest 1-day snowfall and 2nd in February since records began.

➡️ Snow depth of 103 cm at McTavish! #QCstorm

Originally Posted by le calmar

It’s the thickest snow cover in 24 years in Ottawa.

We are still not where we where in March of 2008. I have some references that I use. Backyard fences were fully covered (only time I've seen it happen) while they are about 75% covered right now.
We could be on our way if things do not moderate.
While 2007-2008 had way more snow, it had way more episodes of mild spells melting the snow cover.
We've had 2 HOURS above zero since the start of the month.
As a comparison, during the famous 2008 winter, February saw 9 days above freezing.

[harls]

Originally Posted by Zepfancouver

Montreal breaks record with over 70 cm of snow in 4 days.

Took my sister most of the day to free her car from her driveway.


https://makeagif.com/i/6CbUqb

You are going to GIF Tancredi a heart attack, Zep.

[Nicko999]

Nice pics Kilgore. I just couldn't do it with the wind and cold.

-10C with a wind chill of -21 and sunny. The winds keeps blowing the snow everywhere it makes the shoveling more difficult since a path you might have cleared will get snowing in even if it's not actually snowing. Once again, extremely rare to get snow (and especially a massive storm) at such frigid temperature. Blowing snow had been a massive problem this year.

Low of -14C (wind chill of -27) this morning.

The warmspot were Agassiz and Solander Island, BC at 10.4C

Warmest low was Solander Island, BC at 6.5C

[Zepfancouver]

Originally Posted by harls

You are going to GIF Tancredi a heart attack, Zep.

With less and less intense winters for the past few decades, when we do get a (now days) big snowfall, heart attacks are felt by locals and Tancredi.
To answer Tancredi's "have winters in recent years become warmer or colder?"
In my mind, there is no doubt, warmer.

[mcminsen]

Beautiful day. It was misty and overcast in the morning and then it cleared off in the afternoon.

Monday's high at Vancouver Harbour was 8 C, the low was 5 C.





Downtown Vancouver, Feb.17 '25, my pics
...

...

[Tancredi]

Originally Posted by Acajack

The statistics definitely show that it is a little bit less cold than before and that there is less snow. But it's not to the point where you could say "there is no winter". People seem to remember the extremes more like when it was super cold or the snowbanks were super high, but this is what stands out in your memory. It was not necessarily like that all the time. Plus when you were a child the snowbanks seemed taller because you were smaller.

I remember Green Christmases as a child in the 1970s. It did happen every once in a while. Yes, it happens more often these days but it's not like we didn't have mild winters back then.

We also plenty of summer heat and humidity back then as well.

In fact, Canada is much colder than Europe, you start from a more favorable situation. In Europe it has always been much milder and also global warming is affecting our continent more strongly than North America

Originally Posted by whatnext

Glad to hear you’re ok.

Yes, I’ve been watching snow conditions in the Austrian Alps and until this past weekend it seems the snowpack was almost nonexistent. The snowpack in most of BC is somewhat below normal for this time of year.

Thanks!
Yes, in recent years the Alps and Apennines have recorded a sharp drop in snowfall

Originally Posted by Zepfancouver

Montreal breaks record with over 70 cm of snow in 4 days.

Took my sister most of the day to free her car from her driveway.


https://makeagif.com/i/6CbUqb

Your sister is a very lucky woman :sbarazzino:

harls

You are going to GIF Tancredi a heart attack, Zep.

Originally Posted by Zepfancouver

With less and less intense winters for the past few decades, when we do get a (now days) big snowfall, heart attacks are felt by locals and Tancredi.
To answer Tancredi's "have winters in recent years become warmer or colder?"
In my mind, there is no doubt, warmer.

Here in Sicily, I would gladly settle for the 'mild' Canadian winters of recent years. :sbarazzino:
I would sign in blood just to have a typical winter in Victoria, British Columbia.

[megadude]

Originally Posted by BradFromTO

And no mild spells in the long term forecast - the snow piles will last well into March.

Starting to look more and more like this upcoming storm might lean more ice heavy in the GTA sadly, and the models are dialing back a bit on total accumulation. Still could easily end up with 30 cm's, though.

I’ve been taking bets for the closest day to when the snow mound on my court will melt. It’s not huge because they always bring in a loader and dump truck to reduce the height of it when needed but yeah, the lack of plus temps will keep that there for a while.

[megadude]

I always assumed ships could drop anchor manually.

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

It's still brutally cold. And blowing a gale with a wind warning in effect.





EDIT: Confirmed it is on the rocks.

EDIT 2: Confirmed injuries.

It's not that big really:



I think it's small enough to get broken up by the waves against the rocks.

[megadude]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Where is that? Hali? Philly?

Two excellent guesses. I wouldn’t have thought Pittsburgh. And I’ve been there four times and I watch Mayor of Kingstown, which is filmed there.

[megadude]

Originally Posted by harls

There was a close to 3 storey snowpile in this parking lot.

It looked like someone has been sliding on it already.

Looks like a good starter hill for learning to ski.