Vancouver Blizzard 2005

[ran94]

As you know, we, in Lotus Land have certain issues regarding SNOW.

Vancouver (Reuters)

Day 2 - Vancouver Blizzard 2005 - Revenge of the Commuters

Chilled Vancouver commuters faced their second day of winter hell today, as an additional ¼ centimeter of the peculiar white stuff fell, bringing the lower mainland to its knees and causing millions of dollars worth of damage to the marijuana crops. Scientists suspect that the substance is some form of frozen water particles and experts from Saskatchewan are being flown in. With temperatures dipping to the almost but not quite near zero mark, Vancouverites were warned to double insulate their lattes before venturing out.

Vancouver police recommended that people stay inside except for emergencies, such as running out of espresso or biscotti to see them through Vancouver's most terrible storm to date. The local Canadian Tire reported that they had completely sold out of fur-lined sandals.

Drivers were cautioned to put their convertible tops up, and several have been shocked to learn that their SUV's actually have four wheel drive, although most have no idea how to use it.

Weary commuters faced soggy sushi, and the threat of frozen breast implants. Although Dr. John Blatherwick, of the Coastal Health Authority reassured everyone that most breast implants were perfectly safe to 25 below, down-filled bras are flying off the shelves at Mountain Equipment Co-op.

"The government has to do something," snarled an angry Trevor Warburton. "I didn't pay $540,000 for my one bedroom condo so I could sit around and be treated like someone from Toronto."

[brown]

So sad. Funny, but sad.

[Mole]

You know it serious when you Can't put on the Birkenstock's to shovel the snow.

[Nuje]

Ya know........having grown up in Saskatoon, I like to make fun of our pathetic West Coast attempts to deal with snow as much as the next guy, but there's a couple things to keep in mind.
First of all, it's not uncommon for us to indeed get HUGE dumps of snow. I've gone to bed with it snowing and the lawn still showing, and waking up with literally three feet of snow on the ground....and not just in drifts - I'm talking a three-foot deep blanket of snow. Indeed, that pretty much stops everything from going anywhere.

The second issue is that the snow we get is usually right around freezing, and thus very water-laden and heavy. Guess what you get with snow at -1C with a car tire on it......that's right, water! So, then you have this nice mix of snow (ice) with a nice little layer of water on it.
Ever take a look at a speedskating oval? Notice that they keep the ice just below freezing and often a bit of water on the surface? It ain't there because it looks pretty on the tv - it's there because that's the fastest (slickest) ice you can make.

Snow at -20C on the other hand, actually provides pretty good traction. Ever notice that cold snow squeaks when you walk on it - that would be friction. We just don't get that snow out here - no one here would even know that snow squeaks.....or that in some far away places, making a snowball involves more than just grabbing a fistful of freshly fallen snow.

And yes, I just walked home from work in my shorts and Birks and a lightweight vest.

[birdman]

A left-coaster friend of mine that moved to Winterpeg several years ago was severely freaked out by a weather event we get here on the prairies. No not a blizzard but one of those 'end of the world' 'wrath of God' type thunder storms we get a couple of times each summer.

She phoned me in a panic at the height of the thunder and rain, I told her that she could come over and help with the 'Ark'...