According to the local radio, June 1 marks the start of winter. Ah yes, winter the lamentable burden that we’ve had to face “back-to-back winters” in leaving Calgary in February. It’s ok; I can hear your eyes rolling from here. But as everything here, it is in fact different. For instance take the following weather report (taken without permission, but for non-commercial purposes):
Snow season with reach
Sam Terry, Wednesday June 2, 2010 - 17:13 EST
It's now less than two weeks before the snow season begins and excitement is building. But what can we expect?
Snowfall activity is going to be virtually non-existent for the next seven days as a broad high-pressure ridge prevents cold fronts from pushing north.
The only chance for snow will be late on Sunday as cooler southerly winds filter in over the Victorian alps, bringing snow flurries overnight down to 1400 metres. However, snowfalls are not expected to penetrate any further north than Hotham.
The second week of the forecast period is looking a lot more favourable (in terms of widespread snow) on both the NSW and VIC Alps. Longer-range models are indicating cooler air reaching further north for a prolonged period of time, allowing snow-bearing systems like cold fronts or cut-off lows to deliver the goods.
The best chance for snow is on the 9th or 10th. However, there is still a large portion of uncertainty with this as models are in some disagreement.
The winter outlook is not looking grand. Indications are that this winter should be warmer than average, and near-average for rainfall. Keep checking weatherzone.com.au. for the updated snow forecast every morning.
- Weatherzone
© Weatherzone 2010
Before going to far, I must admit, that I’ve been oft tempted to comment to Aussies that I’m from a place were winter is real, people freeze and snow actually is a real issue. However, every time I’m inclined, I pause remembering a former colleague who expressed his bravado during a Mt. bike ride in the American south. Here was a nice, middle class kid from Calgary, raised in Lakeview, who had been transferred to Mississippi to work for QC Data, telling people that he was from “somewhere that put the ‘mountain’ into Mt. biking”. This well articulated bravado was before he got lost for hours, keeping him out in the darkened woods crossing creeks with alligators in them. Really, alligators. A fact he was warned over while crossing such a creek by a disbelieving local. "Ain't you 'fraid of them 'gators in them waters?" Since that experience, regardless what his learning’s may or may not have been, I’ve been contrite in my opinions whilst abroad.
So, we had been told that Brisbane gets cold come winter, so we curiously awaited the experience. As it turns out, and as ashamed as I am to admit, we have been cold. Really, Brisbane’s winters turn “not warm” rather than cold as we would understand cold. There is no frost, no snow (except in the majestic Victorian Alps at the dizzying elevations of 1400m – the Calgary International Airport is at 1083 m, incidentally) and no (real) wind chill. So, what is the cold? Well, it’s really like I’ve said, “not warm”, but given that the homes generally don’t have heat, nor insulation things cool off. Actually they cool off significantly. We’ve taken to purchase two space heaters, which now run most of the time that we’re home. The heaters run primarily so that we can sleep comfortably, our daughter doesn’t continue to fight off the battery of colds that she’s been exposed to at day care and so that we can walk around in shorts and t-shirts, because “we’re in Australia now”. Right. Australia means you get to dress like an idiot. Better yet, the locals here say, “You’re from Canada, you can’t be cold.” “Right mate, I’m not cold, I’m just ‘not warm’. By the way, mate, speaking of not too hot, how did the Socceroos fair against Germany in their opening World Cup match?”
Actually that’s really the point to the “not warm” here, is that people don’t adjust their habits or dress. Like Spring and Fall in Canada, generally, people still cling to the idea that the weather is better than it is, and try to impose their will upon the ambient temperatures. Again, much like Canada, it doesn’t matter how many people run along the paths without shirts or exposed midrifs, it simply doesn’t get any warmer.
Having said that, the weather now is lovely. Mid-afternoon (arvo) has that warm caramel sensation where a light long sleeve shirt is a touch too much, but comfortable all the same. The sun is low in the sky making you alternate squinting and drinking in the soft light that sets the city aglow and casts long shadows. Like the autumn day in Albertan mountains that is anchored to the heat of August, the air feels good but reminds you with a hint of coolness, that there is a change coming. Thankfully, the change here isn’t sub-zero, snow and icy roads.
