Tags
Alberta, Calgary, Canada, Diana Schwenk, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, summer snow storm, weird weather, winter
When I first moved to Calgary I was told by locals if I don’t like the weather I need only wait five minutes.
I remember writing a letter to my parents that said dressing in layers is the way to go in Calgary.
Wear shorts and a T-shirt and carry pants, a hoodie and a jacket in your backpack. That way, no matter what the weather throws at you, you can dress or undress accordingly.
Most recently, as if right out of a Stephen King novel, Calgary had its first snowstorm.
The day before it was 22c (72f) and I was whooping it up with friends at a barbecue.
Then on the very next day, I woke up to -1c (30f) and several inches of snow.
The trees were still in full leaf and completely green – no fall colours yet. Wet and heavy, the snow broke boughs from at least 80% of Calgary’s trees. It is costing The City millions to clean up. What an eerie sound it makes when whole parts of a tree rip from the trunk and crash to the ground.
A summer snowstorm – what a shock to the system!
I am happy to say that things are feeling like summer again and it’s 25c (77f)
Thankfully, I had the wherewithal to take pictures every day or two so I could share this phenomenon with you!
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- Sept 8th – My street. We experienced highs of -1c/30f and lows of -11c/12f
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- Sept 10th – Tree at ATB on 17th Avenue
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- Sept 10th – Somber lady waiting in a bus shelter on 17th Ave.
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- Sept 10th – my street
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- Sept 11th – across the street. It started to warm up (11c/52f)
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- Sept 14 – Tree at ATB (22c/72f)
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- Sept 14 – shirtless guys playing frisbee
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- Sept 14 – my street. Same angle as first picture!
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- Sept 15 – Within blocks of my place, debris everywhere. 24c/76f
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
What’s the weirdest weather you’ve ever experienced?
talktodiana 
I see what you mean by weird. weirdest local weather here is that normally wind blows in the same direction from the west to the east. Seems as if all the trees brace themselves by growing roots in that direction to withstand the buffeting. One day the wind came strongly from the other direction. Without a root system to protect them from winds from that way, all the trees fell over – literally. It was total chaos along the coast. Trees across the road as far as the eye could see. Every town and city was affected. Our electricity was out for five days.
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That is bizarre Elizabeth! When weird things like that happen and you gaze upon the destruction, it sort of feels like the end of the world or something, well it does to me!
How strong was the wind?
Diana
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That’s an awful phenomena, when full-leaved trees must have their boughs plummet from gravity because early snow snow has made them too heavy to bear, Diana. I hope the trees heal. It would be awful to lose trees because of this early snow. It happens around here sometimes, too, mostly from early ice storms, and it is frightening to hear and see. 😦
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I hope they’re ok too Mark. 80% of roughly 500 trees is a lot to have been affected!
We don’t get ice storms here, but they do in Montreal in Toronto – sometimes with power outages that can last days!
Diana xo
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We had a weird cold-snap down here, but nothing quite like that!!
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You’re jealous, aren’t you Smitty? 😀
Diana xo
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Yeah!! I didn’t get to build a snow-person!
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I’ve heard the same sayings about the weather when we lived in Syracuse, New York (lake-effect snow area) and now in Florida. The weirdest weather I’ve ever experienced? Probably lightning during a snowstorm. Quite odd. There’s been many others, for sure, but that one tops the list.
Love your photos, Diana. The earliest we ever had snow in Syracuse was October. The latest, Mother’s Day, in May. 1998, I think. 😉
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Wow Judy, May is late for snow! Did it just melt and go straight to spring?
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Yes, thankfully it did. Or my desperate screams when I opened the drapes and saw it … melted it. 😉
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Muhhaaahaaaa, I was in Toronto on my last day there, when the Calgary snow fell. 🙂
It seems to me whenever I visit TO or Vancouver, I avoid a storm –rain, wind or snow. And I avoided the flood fall-out..
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Wow Jean, you have the inside scoop!
Diana xo
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Diana snowing already there? Thats crazy and then hot days again, i can see why you need to where layers. I hope you get a few more warm days before the real cold hits town.
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The next few days at least will be in the 20’s c/70’s f Kath! I’m loving it!
Diana xo
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All I can say is that the trees grew up here so they must be used to it!
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One would think so Ian!
Diana xo
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4 seasons in a day! Sometimes it feels like we have 3… but snow so early is definitely odd. Ok, will remember the layers!
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It was crazy Lisa!
Diana xo
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Unreal, Diana! It truly is astoundingly unpredictable weather in Calgary.
So, yes, the most unpredictable weather I’ve ever experienced was definitely while living in Calgary – nowhere else can compete. You’re so right, layering is key!!
Love the photo arc of events, really puts it in perspective when you see all that nature produced in a mere week!
~ Andrea ❤
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Thanks Andrea!
Diana xo
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This all brought memories back to me, Diana. We’ve had several early snowstorms in Boston, that wreaked havoc for the trees. Thanks for the great words and images!
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Do you know what I read about Boston once Ann? I read that the Boston accent is the closest to the Queen’s English in North America! What does that have to do with damaged trees, you ask? Nothing but sometimes my mind wanders… 😀
Diana xo
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Everything’s connected Diana … wouldn’t your wandering mind agree?
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Hurricane Igor, four years ago this month with the highest winds and hardest rain ever!
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I remember that Jennifer! Did your place get damaged?
Diana xo
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That’s extraordinary!
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That’s one word for it Julie haha! ❤
Diana xo
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Now that’s a real life lesson on going with the flow 🙂 I’d take a change of underwear as well as layers!
Val x
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haha Val I’m scared to ask why you would need a change of underwear! 😉
Diana xo
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Wow! This just proves being prepared for anything is important. Funny we were only a few hours away from Calgary on our trip through Glacier National Park, Montana. We had discussed going up into Canada but decided against it due to the time we had. It would have been nice to see “your neck of the woods” 🙂
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Yup you were pretty close. Also, even closer, you may have enjoyed a visit to Waterton National Park, just 20 minutes from Glacier National Park, Canada side! Maybe next time and if you’re ever near me, let me know – it would be awesome to meet you in person!
Diana xo
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We wanted to visit the Canadian side of Glacier NP but time did not allow. Honestly I could have stayed in Glacier for a month. I was thinking how cool it would have been to meet you in person if we could have made it up to Calgary. I’m sure we will make another trip out there and when we do I will look you up 🙂
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I’ve never seen something like this. 🙂 and I’m used to cold and snow…..just not in September. Glad it’s warm again. Great photo report, Diana.
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It was crazy Kristi! Glad you enjoyed my recounting of it. ❤
Diana xo
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the weather told me when to retire from playing rugby – one day we had a game scheduled and there was a huge spring blizzard. Instead of saying “great what fun” – I thought, man this is going to be miserable. if I recall I was only warm where the mud coated me. So if you don’t have your backpack,
look for mud. 🙂
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Thanks for the tip Bill, although I’m not sure that the attention I would get from rolling around in the mud would be worth it! haha
Diana xo
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you could say, I am on my way to the beauty salon… 🙂
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When I was coaching high school golf, we were at the driving range warming up for a match. The skies turned a strange color, then all got very quiet. I look behind me and I saw what I thought was the beginning of the end.
A black sheet was closing in rapidly and covering the sky. I quickly got the team into cars and headed back to school just a half mile down the road. The wind whipped up and all hell broke loose just as we got to the protection of the school.
And as soon as it came, it left.
-Alan
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Wow Alan – scary stuff – glad you made the right call there! 😀
Diana xo
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March 2012… We were – instead of having the normal Winter-accumulated snow banks trickling slowly into the ditches – at +30*C temps, sleeping with the windows open as if it were mid-August and had Clematis in bloom .
For about the last decade (I would guess): Spring & Fall are almost non-existent and seasonal changes are Abrupt, to say the least; but, since the BIG earthquake in Japan, things have drifted even farther from “Normal”. Unfortunately, most people don’t need to pay much attention to Seasonal Norms, with the exception of those who work outside, with/around the weather – like Farmers and Beekeepers – who tend to not only notice, but whose lives depends and livelihood is determined by these shifts in the weather…
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So true Deb! I remember one year I had to pick my daughter up in Red Deer the day after Christmas. It was 25 degrees and I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, with the windows rolled down, listening to tunes!
Diana xo
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Haha so glad it’s nice again! Good post 🙂
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Me too Rob!
Diana xo
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Sounds like Colorado! I can’t wait for it to snow here. Usually it comes after a warm front.
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Usually it comes out of nowhere! I’ve seen on the news that several states had snow as well Susie, some were even colder than us!
Diana xo
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We were supposed to get snow last week and I was bummed when I saw the green grass the next day. It didn’t get cold enough…. 🙂
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I’m a summer girl Susie, so I just can’t relate to your disappointment! Is it warm there again?
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In the 80’s! I want to take a hike somewhere today, since I finished editing my book!
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