14th December 2009 - Monday

High: -14.0
Low: -31.5
Rain:(5)
Snow:(10)
Days we didn't see any sun: (11)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (5)

It was -32 at 8.30am this morning and the reports said the wind chill made it feel more like -40. It was bitterly cold, not a day to hang around outside for too long. There was virtually no cloud and the sky was bright and sunny.

13th December 2009 - Sunday

High: -25.5
Low: -30.0
Rain:(5)
Snow:(10)
Days we didn't see any sun: (11)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (5)

It was another cold (-23 this morning) and cloudy day. It started to snow very lightly by mid-morning and the day seemed to be getting colder. It was -28 for most of the afternoon and felt absolutely freezing.

12th December 2009 - Saturday

High: -22.0
Low: -27.5
Rain:(5)
Snow:(10)
Days we didn't see any sun: (10)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (5)

It was quite a cloudy start to the day but most of it had cleard by around noon. It was very cold and the temperature remained quite steady at around -20 for most of the day. The evening temperature was around -30 and it was bitterly cold.

11th December 2009 - Friday

High: -9.0
Low: -20.0
Rain:(5)
Snow:(10)
Days we didn't see any sun: (10)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (5)

It was quite a cloudy start to the day although it looked like it was starting to clear at around 9am. It was -9 at 8.30am, but it didn't feel too cold. The cloud didn't really clear and it started to snow at around noon.

10th December 2009 - Thursday

High: -11.5
Low: -19.5
Rain:(5)
Snow:(9)
Days we didn't see any sun: (9)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (5)

It was a bright start to the day with not much cloud. We had to shovel the drive this morning after the snow last night. The snow ploughs had been out and the main roads were clear or well on their way to being clear and gritted.

It felt a little warmer than it had done over the last few days and it was around -12 on the drive to work.

9th December 2009 - Wednesday

High: -9.5
Low: -21.0
Rain:(5)
Snow:(9)
Days we didn't see any sun: (9)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (4)

It was quite a cloudy start to the day and it didn't really clear. It was -12 at 8.30am and was still feeling quite cold. It started to snow at around 1pm and continued for most of the afternoon. The snow ploughs had been out and were still out on the drive home, but visibility was still quite poor and care was needed.

The snow stopped around 9pm and visibility was beginning to improve.

8th December 2009 - Tuesday

High: -14.0
Low: -30.0
Rain:(5)
Snow:(8)
Days we didn't see any sun: (7)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (3)

It was a cold but bright start to the day with a bit of light cloud, which got heavier as the morning went on. The temperature was -29 and it felt quite cold.

7th December 2009 - Monday

High: -21.0
Low: -29.5
Rain:(5)
Snow:(8)
Days we didn't see any sun: (7)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (3)

It was a cold but bright start to the day with virtually no cloud. The temperature was bouncing between -29 and -32 on the drive to work this morning. The side roads were still quite snow covered, but the Highways and major routes had been well cleared. It was around -24 at lunchtime, but it remained bright and sunny.

The picture shows one of the many mounds of snow that had been shovelled from the roads and some super long icicles.

6th December 2009 - Sunday

High: -17.0
Low: -21.0
Rain:(5)
Snow:(8)
Days we didn't see any sun: (7)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (3)

It was another windy, cloudy and cold start to the day. It was a cold start to the day at -16, but the wind chill made it feel much colder.

There wasn't as much snow to clear from the drive today.

5th December 2009 - Saturday

High: -7.0
Low: -9.5
Rain:(5)
Snow:(7)
Days we didn't see any sun: (6)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (2)

It was still very windy overnight and for most of today. We are told that around 20cm of snow fell yesterday, although that readings is taken at the airport, we suspect there was a fair bit more than that down here in Okotoks. Today started at -7 and rose to -4, but with the wind chill it felt much much colder. We haven't ventured out today, so we can't comment on the condition of the highways, but the side roads are in pretty bad shape.

It didn't snow much if at all, hard to tell as there is a lot of blowing snow.

A number of cars parked on the side of the road had to be dug out.

There were reports of nearly 200 accidents just in the City of Calgary yesterday.

We have another weather warning in effect as follows:
Winter storm warning for: Okotoks, High River & Claresholm

Snow blowing snow and strong winds tonight. This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions...Listen for updated statements.

Snow at times heavy is persisting in the southeast corner of Alberta this evening. Another 10 cm is possible by morning. Strong northerly winds continue to blow up to 60 gusting 80 km/h giving near zero visibilities in blowing snow. Conditions are expected to improve from the northwest tonight as winds diminish and snow tapers off.

4th December 2009 - Friday

High: 0.5
Low: -13.5
Rain:(5)
Snow:(6)
Days we didn't see any sun: (5)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (1)

There was a fair bit of light cloud this morning, but the sky was still bright. It was 0 at 8.30am, but it felt quite cold.

The weather warning is still in effect today and it had started to snow lightly in Okotoks and High River by 9am. By 10am snow fall was quite heavy and conditions were getting worse. As the day went on, wind and blowing snow made conditions brutal and despite the mild terperature, the northerly wind chill made it feel absolutely freezing.

This Highway alert was issued on the AMA site: R C M P in the Calgary area are asking motorists to stay off of the highways. The Queen Elizabeth Highway 2, northbound and southbound is closed between Calgary and Airdrie because of a motor vehicle collision. Highway 2 at the highway 7 intersection near Okotoks is closed due to a multiple vehicle pile-up.
More pictures and a short video can be found at: http://janandeam.blogspot.com/2009/12/brutal-weather-today.html

3rd December 2009 - Thursday

High: -2.5
Low: -21.0
Rain:(5)
Snow:(5)
Days we didn't see any sun: (4)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (0)

It was a bright a crisp and cloudless start to the day, but very cold. It was -22 at 8.30am. There was a bit of very light fog on the drive to work this morning but by 9.15am it was clear blue sky and sunshine.

The following Winter storm warning has been issued for tomorrow.
Okotoks, High River & Claresholm

An Arctic cold front will sweep southeastward across Southern Alberta Friday bringing snow blowing snow and strong winds. This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions...Listen for updated statements.

An Arctic cold front will sweep rapidly southeastward across Southern Alberta through the day on Friday. This front will be accompanied by snow, strong winds and blowing snow. Snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 centimetres can be expected in many regions by midnight Friday. The front will also be accompanied by strong north to northwest winds resulting in widespread blowing snow and near zero visibilities. These reduced visibilities will be most pronounced in exposed and rural areas. The winds will slowly begin to ease overnight Friday.

In the wake of this cold front much cooler air will settle over the province on Saturday.

This winter storm can produce poor travelling conditions. Persons in or near these areas should be on the lookout for adverse weather conditions and listen for updated warnings.

Over the southwest strong west winds will develop through some mountain passes and adjacent valleys this evening. These winds will persist into Friday morning before easing below warning levels.

2nd December 2009 - Wednesday

High: -8.0
Low: -18.0
Rain:(5)
Snow:(5)
Days we didn't see any sun: (4)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (0)

It was a bright a crisp and cloudless start to the day, but very cold. It was -13 at 8.30am and on the drive to work the temperature was bouncing around between -17 and -18. It was a very sunny day and didn't feel too bad at around lunchtime, but temperatures dropped dramatically again in the evening.

1st December 2009 - Tuesday

High: -4.0
Low: -13.5
Rain:(5)
Snow:(5)
Days we didn't see any sun: (4)
Days swept snow from drive (0)
Days shovelled snow from drive (0)

It was a bright a crisp start to the day and quite cold at -11. Roads weren't in too bad condition this morning as the snow ploughs and gritters had been out overnight. Most of the day was sunny with bright blue sky and although it was only around -3, it didn't feel too cold.