Just wondering.....

[shep]

Originally posted by helenabear
We usually get about 3-7 inches total a year. Some years virtually none and others over a foot total (this is for all of winter though). We do get the cold but not much snow.

That's it???

I guess we get about 2 foot a year....

 

[JºoºhnG]

We get 3 to 7 inches of snow at a time!!! Over the course of the winter we get anywhere between 10 to 20 feet of snow. It is not all on the ground at the same time however as it comes, melts than we get more. Oh yeah and in the winter our temperatures can get as low as -40 ºC, once again this is not all the time.

I do not shovel snow I have a motorized snow blower to do my driveway. Even using this to do my driveway after a good snowfall takes me a couple hours. It is not uncommon for me to have 10 foot snow banks in front of my house.

Depending on how much snow we get the city removes the snow from the boulevard in front of our houses so we can get onto the roadways safely. Sometimes they may remove the snow two or three times during a winter, and that is every street in the city.

Now do you know why that when I retire I am going to become a Canadian Snowbird and retire to Florida for 6 months out of a year...LOL

But for right now...I wouldn't live anywhere else....

Have a Disney Day!

 

[Diane]

We usually get around 120 inches of snow each winter season. Last year, we had a mild winter, so I think we only got about half of that. We’ve already had 2-3 inches here (yesterday). It’s kind of early for it; we usually don’t get any until around Thanksgiving.

I don’t think I’ve ever been snowed in, but there have been times when road conditions were so bad that I chose to stay home. In the early 90’s we had an ice storm and that was rough. After a few days without electricity (no heat, cooking with Sterno), we were lucky enough to get a room at a Holiday Inn! And there was an indoor pool!

 

[C.Ann]

Lots of snow here - every year.. I never minded being snowed-in (it's happened several times) as long as I was prepared for it..

This year will be a worry though now that DH is on oxygen 24/7..

 

[CajunDixie]

Hey Eros I remember that blizzard too....but for me it was outside Fort Wayne, IN and I was only 9. At that time it was awesome for me.....my brothers and I dug out a cave by the creek at the back of dad's field. Bad part though was seeing the semi's on US 30 that were dumb enough to try to keep driving.....several ended up on their sides.

Just 3 years ago we had a smaller blizzard that shut down most things.....now when that happens we end up hopping on the snowmobiles and checking on our elderly neighbors to see if they need anything. We also ended up helping a few stranded motorists too. Warning People that have never rode a snowmobile tend to hold on very, very tightly. LOL

Hey C.Ann if your DH's oxygen takes batteries be sure to stock up.....the neighbors called the ambulance one year because their daughters oxygen batteries died and we pulled 2 out of one of DS's toys until we rode into town and bought her more.

 

[supercarrie]

No snow here. We have been snowed in before, when we went up to the mountains over Christmas. That was scary, and I don't want to go through that ever again. I like snow, and would love to have a real white Christmas just one time. (Not with the fake snow that lots of people put on their lawns as part of decoration. )

 

[RNMOM]

I have a question, Nutsy. I don't remember ever seeing anyone from Austrailia on TV in winter clothing. Actually, they never seem to be wearing much clothing at all... Do any parts of the continent get snow ever? Just wondering.

I live in the "Greater Cleveland" area. I used to live about 45 miles east of here in the snow belt and our last winter living over there we got a 45 inch snow fall in one day. We had to shovel out places for the dog to squat, get my "drift"?

We moved to the western edge of the county and we could actually use a broom to get rid of the usual amount of snow. It is that different. It has to do with the way the winds come down from Cananda and Michigan over Lake Erie. Lake effect snow. Only a few places get it. Here, the mountains above Salt Lake and some where in Europe. That is why we, Erie, & New York State get so much snow in patches.

Personally I love it. I love the challenge of it. I love to build a fire, turn out the lights and open the blinds and watch the big fluffy white flakes come down. I love to go out and let them fall on my tongue. I really love living around here for the variety of weather we get. Come visit us some time!

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

Snow? Ohhhhhhhhh yeah! And LOTS of it! I live in Mani<i>snow</i>ba (aka Manitoba ) after all!

We have snowfalls frequently that I'm sure would shut down many cities entirely, but were so "used" to it and prepared for it in terms of snow removal programs that our city rarely shuts down... we just plow on through. It takes A LOT to shut us down.

In terms of snow days and school being cancelled... our big blizzards had a habit of falling on weekends so by Monday the main roads are cleared out and ready to go back to school. So we got all the work caused by the blizzard (shovelling) and still rarely got a snow day out of it.

I do remember that in April of 1997 there was the blizzard of the century and we did have a real snow day on the Monday, which was when I was in high school. We may have had a snow day or two in elementary, but I can't remember for certain. I do vividly remember them announcing over the radio that that particular April day in 97 was a snowday. We already had the snow, so might as well get a snowday out of it.

It's not necessarily the snowfall amount that causes the biggest problems, but the blowing and therefore the drifts!

And when the wind whips at blizzard forces... it cakes the top of the snow together so it forms like an icy surface... it's not the light fluffy stuff easily tossed.

Speaking of winds... our windchills can be tremendous. temps can reach -40 ithout the windchill ,and then add the windchill on top of that. Brrr.

Last winter I remember we really realy wanted to go ice skating, but it was just too cold for weeks on end.

There's tons of activities here in the winter though... toboganning, skiing, skating, you name it.

Winter's nice ... we just get a LOT of it.

 

[denisem]

Getting snowed-in IS great fun if:

a) You're a schoolkid;

b) You have enough in the pantry to get by a few days.

3) You don't have to drive to work in it. (Amazing how I enjoyed the "splendor of winter" when I was SAH...even tho I was responsible for clearin' the driveway for DH).

Denise < --- had enuf fun, hopefully will be headin' SOUTH to live in the next few years

 

[Lynn CC]

We got a dusting last winter here on Cape Cod.
We have pictures in the early 80's of Winters with quite a bit of snow. It seems to be dwindling each year since the early 90's.

I do love a White Christmas

 

[Serena]

I was 14 in the blizzard of 78. It was fun!

Just about 7 years ago in March we were driving to Arizona. Here in Indy it was 70, nice and warm, and unusual. On the way thru Texas we were getting some snow. It wasn't much but all the truckers seemed to me getting a little panicked. We were laughing at them, until we got in it.
We ended up being stranded in a community center in this little bitty town with over 200 others. There were two churches filled with people too. It was a mess. The tow trucks were getting lost and stuck too.
The mayor and his wife left plenty of vegetable soup, hot chocolate and coffee. The boy scouts gave everyone, almost everyone, sleeping bags. Mine got wet, so I stayed up and welcome everyone that came in.
Next morning it was all clear. We had a lot of fruit in our cooler so we shared with all the kids, and the adults that looked like they needed something.
It was an adventure.

 

[Nutsy]

RNMOM

Yes some parts of Australia do get snow. Like the Snowy Mountains in the Australian Capital Territory, & down in the mountains of Victoria & then again in Tasmania in the moutanious areas. Here in Queensland we never get even a tiny hint of anything white(unless it's frost). But the southern states are the only ones who do get snow & it is usually the mountains & surrounds, some cities are lucky enough to get it at times, but it's not real common.

Winter here in Queensland is quite mild.......no need for heavy jackets, just a light one, if you need one at all.

 

[Nutsy]

Ok...............I've just a thought regarding the snow.........

How do you guys get around (drive) when the roads are all snowy?? Do you have to put snow chains on your tyres or do you have special tyres like up in Alaska. I can't remember what they call them, but they use them in the Winter for the snow & ice.

I'm real curious about all this stuff, as I 've never experienced it real time myself, I enjoy hearing others stories

Thanks so much for all the stories too you guys................my kids are going to be sooooooooo jealous

But hey, don't stop now tho................bring 'em on..........I love reading them

 

[Serena]

I don't have special tires and as long as the roads are less than 6inches I can get around and especially once they are plowed. I live on a main street so they usually get plowed pretty often. I just have to shovel my long driveway. It's not really long, but it is when you are shoveling. lol

 

[Nutsy]

I can inagine how long it must seem when you are shovelling the snow so you can get your car out. Must seem like forever till your finished

I'm a snow dreamer & would so dearly love to see that kind of thing for real It might just make me change my mind on just how COOL I reckon all this snow is.

I still think it's amazing tho...............having white stuff all over the ground & on the rooves........................DREAM, DREAM, DREAM.........................

 

[KimRaye]

I'll think of you fondly everytime I shovel this season, Nutsy!!

No special tires or chains either. The snow plows eventually plow all the streets in my area. Slipping and sliding can be a little hazardous before they plow everything though. Last year, I did a 360 just trying to make a right hand turn! Scared the bejeebies outta me and my kids. Luckily, it was a wide, empty intersection, except for the street sign I was about to hit!

 

[RNMOM]

Thanks for the update Nutsy. That explains Steve Irwins dress. That man could use a bit of a makeover. LOL Maybe a nice olive green shirt once in a while.

Driving is challenging. The first snow we all act like idiots then we skid and slip and suddenly remember to use the gas peddle gently and DON'T slam on the breaks or your back end will be in your face. It only takes once or twice and you figure it out. My DS 17 will get his first taste of it this year.

Are you thinking of studded tires? They used them in the mountais of Utah where we lived. Had to have them off the cars by 4/15 each year. We never needed them cause we didn't travel much with babies at home.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

I had forgotten about the blizzard of '78 !! First time I had ever seen my mom miss work, so I knew it was serious stuf! I was in 8th grade. Boy, the memories. Here in Michigan tire chains are outlawed. Getting around in the snow is really no big deal. But ice, now that's another thing.
I always thought it would be cool to get snowed in like you would on "Little house on the Pararie". You know, roaring fire in the fireplace, hot soup for supper, quiet game playing. Sleeping in a pile of quilts. ( We won't talk about the trips to the outhouse!)