Record snowfall in Ottawa

I'm weirdly proud


over 50cm of snow fell yesterday...the most ever recorded for the city, and enough that not only did all the government workers get sent home early, but a good chunk of retail workers as well, including yours truly. There were, apparently, waits of over an hour for the bus, I couldn't say first hand, I got to the bus stop, saw the wall of humanity 5 deep, and abruptly realized that I hadn't seen my mother in a couple of weeks, which since she lives near my work meant it was an ideal time for a visit.

What's that, about 20 inches? Down here they would've called a state of emergency.

Is everyone in Ottawa going to march around saying "We're Number One"?:p

I thought Canada always had that much snow......?
Are you in southern Canada?

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Originally Posted by hunter63

I thought Canada always had that much snow......?
Are you in southern Canada?

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Ottawa is just across the border from New York, inland about 100 miles.

They put it there so we could not find their Capitol if we tried to invade them. No one knows where it is.

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Originally Posted by kyratshooter

Ottawa is just across the border from New York, inland about 100 miles.

They put it there so we could not find their Capitol if we tried to invade them. No one knows where it is.

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This is indeed the case. Built a canal so we wouldn't have to send boats close to the border and all.

To answer Hunter's question....that amount of snow isn't unusual, getting it all in one go over the course of a work day is. Ottawa is relatively southern, but I actually see heavier snowfalls now than I used to when I lived north of 60.

To answer Faiaoga's queston...we were probably going to do that anyhow.

There was much confusion at the last attempted invasion.

"Where you goin?"
"This away. Toward their capital."
"No, no, no. It's the Ottawa".

I guess I pictured Canada as the "Great White North".....so 20 in of snow didn't surprise me, but shutting things down,... did.

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Originally Posted by hunter63

I guess I pictured Canada as the "Great White North".....so 20 in of snow didn't surprise me, but shutting things down,... did.

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Well, like I said, most parts of Canada do get a whole whack of snow...Ottawa averages I think around 90 inches a year. But 20 inches in a few hours....I can tell you that it stopped around 6ish, and it wasn't too terribly thick when I left in the morning, so assume maybe a 12 hour period....is still enough to cause some problems. For example, approximately 90% of the population forgets how to drive when it snows.

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Originally Posted by tundrabadger

For example, approximately 90% of the population forgets how to drive when it snows.

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This is really rich!

When I lived down in TN the folks from up north used to tell us that no one in the south knew how to drive in the snow!

Now that I live further north I have found that the northerners d not know how to drive in the snow either!

Now I am being told, by a Canadian, that the people in Canada don't know how to drive in the snow!

The only conclusion can be that no one knows how to drive in the snow, but at least the southerners have enough sense to stay home!

The rest of us get 4 wheel drive.

Got a 4wd jeep sitting in front of the house. I have not started the beast since the first of the year, so it has set unused through the entire snow season!

I have not had a situation where the roads remained covered long enough to force me out of the house in the with stuff this year.

We get snow and the salt truck is down the road before the second flake falls. 20 feet from parking spot to the pavement is the extent of my snow travel.

Four wheel drive allows you to get stuck in deeper stuff, ....farther into the boonies that you have ever been before......

That's what a winch would do for me. I'm dumb but I'm not THAT dumb. Don't have a winch.

I have a winch. I have never used it for getting myself unstuck, just for recovery of other folks.

I did use it to pull the garden tractor up for the bottom of the lot once when it quit running. Winched it right onto the trailer for the trip to the repair shop.

I told her I said winch.......she apologized.

http://www.zackhample.com/photos/201..._black_eye.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kyratshooter

Ottawa is just across the border from New York, inland about 100 miles.

They put it there so we could not find their Capitol if we tried to invade them. No one knows where it is.

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When teaching geography to Pacific Island students, I used to show a world map and explain that Canada is a country north of the United States.
Now, I am told that Ottawa is west of New York. I am also told that people in Detroit drive south to go to Canada.:devil:

No wonder American students score at the bottom on tests of geographical knowledge.:pirate

A four wheel drive is very important for winter travel. You go as far as you can in two wheel drive , if you get stuck you engage four wheel drive turn around and go home !!!

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Originally Posted by fjrmurph

A four wheel drive is very important for winter travel. You go as far as you can in two wheel drive , if you get stuck you engage four wheel drive turn around and go home !!!

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What is the fun in that?.....
Falls in the category...."Hold my beer and watch this ship......"

Just the odd patch of snow here and ice that's to rotten to travel on. It really is quite exotic.