‘Worst winter I’ve seen’
Snowfall reaching record levels
Jerry Huntley has been monitoring the weather in the Annapolis Valley for more than 30 years, but this winter has been one for the record books.
“This is getting close to the worst winter I’ve ever seen,” he said March 24 from his Scott’s Bay home.
Huntley said approximately 285 centimetres of snow had fallen in Scott’s Bay so far this winter.
“Last week alone, we had about 20 cm here, and as much as 50 cm in some other parts of the Valley,” he said.
Snowfalls amounts on the Valley floor are even higher. Environment Canada meteorologist Tracey Talbot said the snowfall in Greenwood this winter had already broken records by March 24. Weather data shows 420.8 centimetres have fallen at the Greenwood airport since Nov. 1, 2014 – most of it since lateJanuary.
On March 23, Greenwood reported a snow depth on the ground of 102 cm, breaking the previous record of 91 cm reported in 1975.
The lateness of this winter’s snowstorms and their frequency have contributed to the “worst winter” feeling, Huntley says. “There’s been no chance to properly clean up before the next storm.
“We’ve gotten all our snow since it started snowing in earnest Jan. 27,” he said. “Now we’re in late March, and we’re getting as much snow as we’ve gotten all winter.”
Strong winds, causing whiteout conditions and drifting, aren’t helping.
“The wind last week was the worst we’ve had all winter,” Huntley said. “We had five or six-foot drifts across the road in places. The Department of Transportation had to send out a big front-end loader and their big snow blower to clear the roads. “We need to get the snow out of the way altogether,” he said. “Usually, they just push it back,” which doesn’t work once the roads are narrowed by the banks.
“Guys in their 90s say they’ve never seen so much snow this late in the season,” Huntley added.
“I can remember when I was young and going to school here, the snow was as high as the bus. I haven’t seen it that bad in years,” he recalled. “The older people can remember walking down the road and being able to touch the power lines. You can almost do that this winter.
The heavy snow has also taken a toll on some roofs, particularly ones with a low pitch or in sheltered areas.
“This worst winter I’ve seen” Talbot agreed, although she was in Halifax for 2004’s “White Juan” when a record amount of snow for a single storm fell on the city.
“It’s been so cold, definitely below normal. Usually by this time of year, any snow is mixed with rain, or changes to rain,” the meteorologist added. “This year, there haven’t been any mild temperatures to eat away at the snow banks.”
Cold temperatures and winds have brought sea ice to the Fundy Shore, too.
“It’s amazing how quickly sea ice forms if the wind is right,” Huntley noted.
Above-zero temperatures late last week started to make a dent in the piles of snow – giving Annapolis Valley residents some hope spring weather will eventually arrive. The thought will be a relief for the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, which has closed schools eight days in Annapolis County and nine days in Kings County and West Hants so far.
However, winter weather might not be over yet.
“No doubt we’ll get more storms – in the past, we have seen snow in April,” Talbot said, “but, hopefully, they’ll be on the warmer side.”
Snow record
Unofficially, 2015 is the fourth snowiest winter since 1943 in Greenwood 1971: 466.1 cm 1972: 449.5 1975: 428 2015: 420.8 1956: 420.5 Source: Environment Canada