Shard

Fine dogs. Although they look like the kind of hounds that would be in the service of Satan

Interesting that they can control storm clouds like that.

scrubbedexpat091

https://globalnews.ca/news/3514775/a...eather-summer/

short article on the cloud seeding they do.

Steve_

The main problem with it is the dryness. RH drops to zero. When it's lower than -10 then it's very hard to get a decent RH inside the house as it all just freezes to the windows.

This is the main problem I have explaining the weather to people in the UK - it gets too cold to snow. There is no moisture in the air.

In the years I've lived here what happens with a lot of immigrants is that they hack the first winter, then during the second winter they realize it's like this every winter (or worse) and then they leave. Or you get people who've lived in Calgary a long time and they've developed all these weird psychological coping mechanisms, like: "Oh this is really bad, but I remember when it was even worse!"

Great that you love the outdoors but imx the usual approach most people have to coping with winter is to lock themselves in the basement with a flat screen and watch hockey.

The best Rick Mercer video ever imo is this one:

Steve_

You're forgetting the flooding. If you're moving to Calgary, check the floodplain map.

Flood Hazard Mapping Application

I have to say I'm always non-plussed by people who play down how bad the weather is here, okay yes it's sunny, that's the best thing about it but don't kid yourself about the weather. If the weather was like it is in Vancouver, the population of Calgary would be double what it is, it's that simple.

Here's an example, few years ago I was driving down 22X and the weather was forecast to be -2 and it was 8, so I'd set out thinking to myself how stupid the weather forecast was. Suddenly the temperature dropped to -2 and by "suddenly" I mean in the time it took to drive over the bridge over the Bow River.

The windshield on my car cracked because of it, that's how quickly it got cold.

You hear these stories all the time and as for hail, you do get hail but it's mainly in the foothills.

"This is an announcement from the Alberta Emergency Warning System. Environment Canada is currently monitoring a fast-moving storm producing hail in the area of Sundre. You are advised to immediately take shelter indoors and if you are in a vehicle on a highway, you are advised to leave your vehicle and take shelter in a culvert, do not attempt to drive away from the storm."

That is the kind of thing you get all during the summer. I see cars parked around the neighbourhood with hail damage, I've even got some pictures I took of one. Not only that but I took a picture back in 2008 of a tornado forming right above me, which was a lot of fun.

Steve_

And what about this guy?

Canada tornado: Alberta lawn-mowing man defies twister - BBC News

Shard

Why would your windshield crack at -2 ? Sure it wasn't some gravel ?

bats

A flash freeze? Warm and toasty on the inside of the car suddenly meeting chuffing cold air on the outside? The windshield would have very different temperatures on either side. Crack!

Almost Canadian

My garage is very well insulated and, in the middle of winter, it is usually quite a bit above zero.

Reversing my car out into -30 or so has never caused any of its windows to crack so I have no idea why a difference of 10 degrees would cause this on Steve's vehicle.

Bumblebee2

I have lived in Cochrane for 5.5 years. To begin with I tried to be positive about the weather and tell myself that the sun is better than lots of rain etc, and all the stuff people tell you. However I have had 6 winters here now and can't face another one. Two have been long and cold (it went down to -48 around Xmas), and we have had barely any chinooks this winter to warm the area. We had so much snow (I realize nothing compared to the east!), that we couldn't shovel it any higher onto our garden. It was 5-6ft high.
The cold, activities and children... yes there is skiing and many other outdoor activities, however when it is -30 with a nasty wind the kids (most sensibly in my mind) don't want to be out in it. Even -20 is cold on a ski hill. Both my kids at 7&9 are accomplished skiers however they have had enough of it. They don't want to be outside when it gets that cold. This winter they may have played outside for 10mins before they are too cold. This last 10-14 days the weather has changed and they can finally play outside.
There are some lovely things about this country, and some things that are just awful. I'm done with the winters here and will hopefully be back home before another winter starts.
Our town is great, has some lovely things going on, however rent here first. It's expanding very quickly and the roads are not keeping up which has led to some traffic issues. It is also losing it's small town feel. It has however got a great rec centre. Look at schools and make sure they are not overcrowded, they have just opened two new elementary schools but so far no new high schools and I know one of the elementary schools will be at capacity in a year or two already.
The town it closer to the mountains, good for hiking in the summer, we have done some great hikes.
Seriously though, do not underestimate the winter. It is extremely long and cold. Kids get cold pretty quick, and even with hand and foot warmers, face protectors etc it doesn't make it much fun. My husband does wish we had tried BC purely because of the weather.

Photoplex

This. Our garage is heated with its own gas furnace, and usually around 15c all winter. Driving in from the -30 outside has never caused the windshields in any of our vehicles to suddenly crack.

More than a generous serving of hyperbole throughout this thread.

dbd33

Whatever for?

If it's for "undocumented migrants" that seems rather warmer than they need.

Photoplex

Several reasons. It's fully insulated and finished (the builder finished it like the house - pot lights, knockdown ceiling, same window and door trim as the house, drywalled and painted etc).

So, I spend a fair bit of time working on projects out there. Woodwork, servicing snowboards and skis, brewing beer etc.

Plus, natural gas per GJ is pretty much free here - it's the fixed costs that are expensive (transmission fees, access fees etc) - so an increase in usage is not a proportional increase in billing.


They dare not brave the walk through Montana or North Dakota to get here... and frankly, who could blame them

dbd33

Ah, same with electricity here. Thanks.

cheeky_monkey

i would take Alberta weather over UK weather every time..summers are much better..yes winters are too long..but better than those months of dull drizzly dang dark days of winter back home..or its constantly raining and windy and everything is just damp all the time...the only time i prefer the UK to here is the back end of March and April..you can get some lovely warm spring days with everything comes into bloom...here it can be often cold and wet.

Bucks_Family

+1.
One of the major reasons we came to Calgary was for the opportunities for winter sports. Both kids (10 & 6) are in ski racing, we're skiing most weekends from mid-November to now. In 4 seasons I can recall three days when it's been properly cold: -37, -35 and -30. If the ski hill is open, generally the training is on. On the two colder occasions, lift operations started later in the day but the older one was out training. For us, it's about proper clothing and sensible approach to how long you spend out in the cold before coming in for a warm-up.
All kids are different though in how they handle the cold, some of our daughter's teammates suffer badly with the cold, she & others don't, even if they all appear to be properly attired for the conditions. I've seen a few in tears but more just happy to be with their friends, inside or out.

We probably struggle more in the summer to be honest, we don't have AC at home, and days to weeks of continuous +25 and above in August make sleeping at night difficult.

I don't miss UK weather at all. I can count the days where there is constant, drizzly-type rain here on the fingers of one hand throughout the year. Yes, there are days in mid-May to Mid-July with very heavy rain and hail, but it's generally short-lived and everything is dry again in an hour, and the thunderstorms are spectacular to watch, not sure I'd say the same about 2 days of constant rain and 100% grey cloud coverage that I knew in Manchester (or even Buckinghamshire :-) )