Forbidden Planet

We got 28cm of snow on Wednesday, bringing the total snowfall total to 355cm in Ottawa this Winter. This makes it the second largest recorded snowfall. The previous record was 441cm back in the Winter of 1970/1971. We are supposed to get another 20cm or more this weekend. So there is still a chance we will beat the old record. I tell Sofia and the kids to enjoy it because they may not see another snowfall like this for another 40-50 years. Picture of a previous snowstorm, but the effect and result is pretty much the same. Following the snowstorm, the trees were nicely covered in snow crystals. Close up of snow crystals on a branch. Snow crystals on pine needles. Photo credits: Richard of Forbidden Planet.

A bit of snow fell yesterday in Montreal (Ottawa too). I am still in Montreal. I have to dig out my car first. Then drive 200Km over icy and snow covered roads to get to Ottawa. I may choose not to go. Normally, we don't get this much snow. Photo credit: Richard of Forbidden Planet (and, yeah, that is my car in the driveway)

Jason turns 6 today, making him about 50% older than in the photograph. And no, we do not get snow this early in October (the photo is from mid-December-2005). Photo credits: Richard of Forbidden Planet

In Canada, in the Winter, from time to time, it snows. Like today. It is more of a snowstorm, actually. The morning began with strong winds and frozen ice pellets looking very much like styrofoam beads (the sort you might find in Floam or a stuffed toy). There are still strong winds and the ice pellets have changed to snowflakes - briskly driven snow flakes. Looking out the window I can faintly see the outlines of the pine trees across the parking lot in the blowing whiteness. It is the sort of image one imagines when thinking about the barren, windswept expanses of Antarctica. It is the sort of day that makes you want to go out and brave the elements. The video is not mine, I grabbed it off YouTube. It is claimed to be Oswego, New York during a snowstorm 05-Feb-2007. [Updated @ 13:31, just recieved an e-mail saying that because of the poor weather, they are shutting the office down early today. Which is good for me, since I get to leave for Montreal earlier. It should be an interestin...