Alberta winter
 

Has the winter weather this year been warmer than the usual? :confused:

Re: Alberta winter
 

Yes, definately, didn't have half as much of that -35 and lower crap that we usually get!

Re: Alberta winter
 

mmm i suspected as much. i've been keeping an eye on the Calgary vs Frankfurt temps, and there is almost no difference!
we've just had the best winter ever in the area we live outside Frankfurt - snow on the ground since before xmas :wub:

Re: Alberta winter
 

Not compared to London or Vancouver, but its still warmer than usual for this time of year. Spring time in Alberta might be as consistent with other springs but thats not certain because of the el nino.

Re: Alberta winter
 

Too soon to say isnt it? I mean, winter in Alberta goes on well into May doesnt it:p

Re: Alberta winter
 

It's been a funny ole winter in our part of Alberta. No real winter until late november/early december and then the temperatures dropped really quickly and we were soon in the -30's. There were some huge dumps of snow, not the usual daily top up, then it got warmer for a bit and then we chilled down to the -12 to -20's region then once again we warmed up to plus figures, this weekend we saw -17 again.

The main difference we have seen this winter compared to the last 4 is the amount of fog and hoar frost (obviously due to the fog), so it has been damper and has felt colder on somedays. Apparently because we have had so much fog we are in for a really wet spring YAY more grey skies YAY:huh::(

Also the roads have been really slippy this year (not sure if that's due to my car or the tyres I have on it though) I have slipped more often this year than any other year - I'll not have this car next winter!

Re: Alberta winter
 

This is my first full winter in Calgary and, to my slight suprise, I've not found it too bad at all. I had wondered if it had been an unusually mild winter which would have given the wrong impression but according to people I've asked here thats not been the case. Overall, the long time residents tell me its been relatively normal overall, slightly colder than average if anything - I've not checked to see if that's supported by the records though.

I think the features this year have been:

• Dramatic switchover from summer to winter temps ie +33C in late Sep then -16C in early October
• Quite a long cold period in the lead up to Christmas/New Year including -30 something
• Significant snowfall in early December (I think) but not very much since then
• Jan/Feb with quite a lot of reasonably mild sunny days
• Suprising number of misty days with hoare frost sticking around a few days at a time

Re: Alberta winter
 

Cripes, dont remind me, the first year I came it snowed in May, mind you it only lasted a day as it is warmer!

Really foggy out today, doesn't feel too cold, no frozen eyelashes or nose hairs!

Re: Alberta winter
 

Snowdrops, crocuses, forsythia, daffodils and cherry blossom all currently flowering at JonboyE towers.

Nature is confused.

Re: Alberta winter
 

Last winter was my first in Calgary, I seemed to spend a lot of time shovelling snow and dressing as if I was on an Arctic expedition.

I was all geared up for the same this year but, apart from a couple of weeks late Dec. to Jan., I'd say winter has hardly touched Calgary.

We have had long stretches of mild days and I seem to have hardly needed my big winter coat / boots / mitts etc., it's been lovely.

As, others have said though, it's not over yet - but the forecast for this week is great and I am going to keep on enjoying it!

Re: Alberta winter
 

This is our third winter

Number One - easy - fine - didn't see what all the fuss was about - three very cold weeks and then it was over

Number Two - loooooooong and cold - quick dump of snow on 5th June

Number Three - fine again really - nothing much to note - quite a few foggy days in the last month - as others have said, that is pretty unusual.

(It's only Feb by the way, I daren't say anymore! :p )

Re: Alberta winter
 

I'm loving reading all your comments. I hope our first winter in Calgary will be relatively gentle on us (2010). I don't really mind the cold, as long as it is not raining all the time! :fingerscrossed: the Alberta sun won't let me down :)

Re: Alberta winter
 

Oi, don't blame me :blink:

Re: Alberta winter
 

Wouldn't I be right in believing that the el_richo effect is a short lived, yet highly potent wind system that tends to appear towards the end of the curry season?

Re: Alberta winter
 

On top of the intermittent wind, the el_richo affect is predominantly unreliable, with occasional late night wetness.

Re: Alberta winter
 

...kind of like a Chinook, but with follow through?

Re: Alberta winter
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:
thanks for that. you guys just made me laugh out load

Re: Alberta winter
 

OOPS, hope you were wearing a diaper:rofl:

Re: Alberta winter
 

Is that a polite way of saying - "A bit of wee came out"?

Re: Alberta winter
 

no, luckily i don't have problems with unwanted wetness

Re: Alberta winter
 

NO, typo, she put laugh out load ( a load...get it?!) instead out out loud!

I am too subtle aint I:confused:

Re: Alberta winter
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: i didn't realise i'd made a spelling error BWAHAHAHAHA
now i'm laughing out LOUD again
(a load wouldn't have been that funny. stinky & sticky yes :rofl:)

Re: Alberta winter
 

Thanks for clearing that up.

Re: Alberta winter
 

Clearing what up, I wasn't there:rofl:

Re: Alberta winter
 

Where?

Re: Alberta winter
 

OH GOD, with Spankysparkle when she laughed a load.........:blink:


Its OK, I am going to do some work soon, so my dire humour will be gone soon!

Re: Alberta winter
 

Thanks for the heads up. Will we get to see this humour before you leave?

Re: Alberta winter
 

Only if you beg:eek:

Re: Alberta winter
 

The weather is gorgeous here today, I actually managed to wear less clothes outside, see Toronto is getting hit hard though:(

Re: Alberta winter
 

Hmm agree with you, just been out for a walk with Henry and it's beautiful - no gloves/toque/down filled parka required:thumbsup:

Re: Alberta winter
 

Todays supposed to be even better, +6, Cant believe how excited I get about +6, flurries for the weekend but who cares, hope we just get enough to cover the dog poop thats emerging:ohmy:

Re: Alberta winter
 

I scoop the poop as soon as the snow softens throughout the winter, so spring clean up isn't too bad, the snow is soft and some doggy chocolates have re-emerged from hibernation, you know what I'll be doing this weekend:(:thumbdown:

Re: Alberta winter
 

I prefer to just blitz it, up at the house isn't too bad as I feed my dogs raw meat so it just kinda goes white and blows away but the routes I walk the kennel dogs is awful, takes me ages, stinky beasts:eek:

Re: Alberta winter
 

Great, friggin snow has fallen off the roof at the kennels so now I have to shovel the runs before they freeze:sneaky:

Re: Alberta winter
 

eeeewww

Re: Alberta winter
 

Decided to leave it, Hubby is off tomorrow, i'll tell him it must have happened during the night so can he do it for me as I am sooooo busy!

Re: Alberta winter
 

I've been watching the temps from over here...seems like it's been pretty good so far (in general)...

Of course, the downside is the forestry folks will be freaking out about the mountain pine beetle...they need a cold winter with a couple weeks of at least -30 to keep them in check...

Re: Alberta winter
 

Yuk. I think there's an Iphone app for that.

Re: Alberta winter
 

Except when it's been colder!

Re: Alberta winter
 

I have IFART on my Ipod touch, very childish but very amusing:rofl: