Jay Scotland - weather nut

While I work out, I watch the news. I flip around, finding shows to take my mind off the workout. I seem to have developed a short attention span in my old age. Weather particularly interests me, since it affects my outdoor activities.

CBCNN's weather man, meteorologist Jay Scotland, is leaving the national network to go to CBC Toronto. I didn't have a good time watching CBC Toronto news when we lived in Muskoka. I argued with the forecaster for years, since they'd give the temperatures of, say, Etobicoke and downtown Toronto, and he would fail to cover Muskoka weather. "Didn't have time" he wrote.

 Now, many folks drive to and from Toronto for meetings. When I was on a CAS Board of Directors, we had to go to TO for provincial meetings.  We would have a million cottagers driving from TO to the Muskoka region on a long weekend. It was important to know if there would be a small barrier, such as 160cm of snow, say...

Weather coverage - a rant on disparities

It is so difficult getting accurate weather forecasts AND weather conditions up here in Central Ontario!

This is the problem living anywhere far from the big cities. Jay Scotland, despite doing a National weather report and forecast, managed to cover several cities from coast-to-coast.

Jay was trending Friday across Canada after he announced his move to CBC TO! Since he and his wife had a baby, he seemed to be doing some interesting activities. I don't think he was jumping the shark, although there is much competition for audience share.

Trendsmap Canada ‏@TrendsmapCanada    Canada

Jay Scotland, @jayscotland is now trending in Canada http://trendsmap.com/ca 

Jean-Michel Duval ‏@jmduval83  Friday

@JayScotland You're well liked across Canada Jay & you will be missed by many Canadians on @CBCNews Network. All the best! @TrendsmapCanada

I tweeted Jay, who is going to TO news:
@JayScotland Remember to look after Muskoka! @CBCToronto

Muskoka Snowfall 2010

DATE               snowfall amounts

Feb. 25                         12 cm       Feb. = 48 cm,  Grand total   2010 = 90 cm
Feb. 23                           7 cm
Feb. 15                           5 cm
Feb. 10                           4 cm
FEB. 2nd                      10 cm                 
FEB. 1st                       10 cm

Jan. 31st                       25 cm        Jan. = 42 cm
Jan. 28, 2010                17 cm
                                  = 69 cm

I have decided to keep track of our snowfall. We live in a region with isolated Lake Effect snow squalls; Bracebridge, Port Carling and Gravenhurst could all have different amounts of snow. This is true, too, of all kinds of precipitation year-round. While the official 'Muskoka' equipment is located near Bracebridge's highway #118, at the airport, this amount doesn't reflect actuals in other parts of Muskoka. We could see this from that big storm in Dec., 2009, when snowfall ranged widely, depending upon locations. (Dec. 10/11, 2009    =    60 cm  fell here!)

Western Lake Ontario- Regional Summary

Not much data for January. 

 A rather terrific interactive map, but no snow totals, local data taken at the Muskoka Airport

 

The Weather Network keeps Historical Muskoka Data from a 30-year average, but I am interested in real data!  Most places I have looked keep track of 'seasonal average' snowfall. Not totals. This US-based site has permission to use Canadian stats and logos! "Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2010."

Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast

weather Links
Gravenhurst Tornado  Muskoka Weather The Weather Network - Muskoka Area Weather Radar

 Slow Eddy- he was so fun on a snowy day...

You can check out Road Conditions here across the province. That is not a bad idea.
I have found that another Muskoka blogger, Gord has decided, for the sake of his resort customers, to post his own information about Muskoka weather. He runs a great site, and has done us all a service.

The Accu-Window-Weather site (click on logo - right) has links to various webcams across the province. The map (left) shows the numerous webcams local business owners have put up on Gord's site. A fabulous site. View the Port Carling webcam, for example, or Parry Sound, or Huntsville.

Southern Ontario Severe Storms Page

Jan. 31, 2010
By the afternoon, 25 cm and counting. Everyone is out shovelling!

Snowfall Jan. 28, 2010: 
17 cm on the deck. I had a phone call from Bracebridge, and they had sunny skies one day, while Port Carling had snow falling merrily, with winds causing the snow to dance across lake ice.

Lots of snow, and snow squalls. But with temperatures of -30, the warm-up to -20 is quite welcome!

For the most part, January consisted of 5 - 10 cm of snow almost every day. We 36", about 3' remaining from the December snowfall, and a nice powdery snow on top of some ice. There is a solid base.

Muskoka Snow Report

Dear gentle readers,

I have been faithfully trying to find out our total snowfall. It *is* impressive. I have failed. My weather-hubby (a transportation expert, retired, with a fascination for weather) cannot find the data, either. Considering he is my 2nd-accountant husband, and me, a woman with an M.Ed., both of us appreciate the importance of data. Good, cold, hard facts. But they are few and far between.

The Weather Office-Muskoka page provide some data, but it is incomplete!

All I know is yesterday I walked down to the lake (sans snowshoes - duH) and the snow was knee-deep. I reversed the proposal and returned to the deck. Last night we had an additional 35 cm, today we expect another 30 cm (100 cm = 1 m =  1 yd.!). The snow squalls continue. The cats are PO'd, and we are content to build a fire and look out at the whiteness.

The trees hang heavily burdened with the snowfall. It still gives me the creeps, as I recall Ice Storm '98 when whole trees fell and crashed with the weight of the ice in south eastern Ontario where I lived in Osgoode. We were 10 days without power!

In the meantime, the roads are horrible. The blowing snow dangerous. Everything is shut down. Moose FM has been told by the OPP:

"Highway 11 south of Gravenhurst is completely shut down.  Highway 11 north of Gravenhurst has not been properly plowed and has not been sanded.  A snow emergency has been declared in Huntsville and Mayor Claude Doughty is telling residents of Huntsville to completely stay off the roads."

Much has been cancelled. Which is the only smart thing to do! I venture out to clear the deck, shovel the snow and feed the birds and squirrels, who still seem to expect breakfast! Can they not spell HIBERNATE??? The raccoons have, bless them. My bird seed storage cans are now safe!

In contrast...a fall photo of the same outdoor recreation building and the sumac!

Lake effect snow

Muskoka Winter Snow Squalls

Well, isn't the snow a shock?! It just keeps on falling.
Here is yesterday

and today.

Do you know the difference between a snow shower and a snow flurry, blowing snow and a snow squall, a blizzard, snow pellets and snow grains and ice pellets? I do. You can find wind speed terms, too. But I digress.

I looked it up at Environment Canada's information page. What, snowbound, bored, me?
After navigating our way into Gravenhurst for appointments...whew, what a drive home.

I shovelled the deck for the umpteenth time, really to appease the cats who need to get under the cottage or they terrorize us and each other in their cat ways: chasing, hunting, pouncing. We play with them, provide cat toys, a huge empty box, and try to keep them amused, but when they look out and see their mouse friends...all heck breaks loose!

The lake has disappeared. But I kept on shovelling the deck as the mourning dove looked rather... mournful. She likes the cracked corn in the bucket and as long as I am there she simply watches me. She didn't move at all, I was just below her on the deck, as she waited patiently for me to leave.

 Weather is a darned important item to those in Muskoka. With many in the sales, service, or other industries, workers often travel for work. In Gravenhurst today, one store clerk told me that Environment Canada had actually sent a reporter! Whoo, hoo!

But do you think I can find out how much snow we've had, officially? NOPE.

On a day like this, with Muskoka having a predicted 15 - 25 cm  snowsqualls, on top of the same amount yesterday, and more expected today, I keep wondering where I can find information on the total amount of snowfall for this past month.


On the snow.com offers some data, for ski resorts, but shows that Horseshoe Resort, Huntsville, for example, has a base depth of 12" (30 cm) , and no new snow in the last 72 hours. Hmf! I've shovelled that mus snow today.

Muskoka Airport houses the weather sensing data for Environment Canada, but no quick info source.

Next, I went to Canadian Snowfall Amounts at Ask.com.

Nipissing University's Weather Lab  has a ton of information, with photos of weather equipment, dated 2002.

This is an interesting site: Wunderground, while US-based, has decent weather coverage. A bit busy for me for a linked badge. But some may like it!

Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast

Visit: WebCams in Muskoka  and the Ministry of Transportation's: Ontario Winter Road Conditions


Online is my choice for information. TV and radio really help, but the major TV stations leave us out. You can find data on the jet stream. Click here for my posts: the First Snow of the Fall, 2009, season!
The Dec. 4th/5th weekend, our 2nd major snowfall.Then, on December 9th and 10th we had another load of snow.  Happy shovelling, if you are in such climes!

the nocturnal flying squirrel

Blog buddy, Griz, nodded his head, and his shutter, to the Hunter's Moon of last night. I was busy herding cats. They sit, fascinated with the nocturnal flying squirrels (left). I leave the spotlight on, hoping it deters both predator and prey. (AS IF!)

I would love to get them in before nightfall. I really do not want to be hearing a 'meow' at 2 a.m. when my felines tire of the sport!

In the meantime, with the season brings Lake Effect Snow, see last year's Numb in November post. Be careful out there. Be prepared. Tonight promises to be cold, with subzero temperatures. We had major snow on Nov. 18th last year! Today, the highway was closed after a death and snow squalls.

My early morning reflected the sunrise, with the black clouds headed southeast. No doubt, these are the clouds that lay down the weather for Honey harbour.

Snowsqualls lead to fatal crash north of Barrie

A chain reaction crash on Highway 400 stemming from a snow squall is a stark reminder that winter driving conditions are almost here, says an OPP officer.

Alas, the dark pond is quiet, yet the odd ripple lets me know the minnows still stir. Frogs are frozen in the mud, dreaming of summer's feast.

Dew drips off of the preparatory buds, we know spring will come!
Plan ahead, be prepared.


But we know that clouds, like these harbingers of November precipitation, will dominate our future!