Beware the dangers of fall snowstorms across Canada
From slick roads to power outages, an autumn snowstorm can mean serious hazards
Snow is a defining part of everyday life for folks across Canada. But even a close relationship with frozen precipitation can turn into a dicey ordeal at times.
Canadians should beware the dangers of autumn snowstorms. These early-season systems can prove more hazardous than meets the eye.
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Snow can arrive pretty early from coast to coast
Winter weather doesn’t wait for the seasons to change before flakes start flying across the country.
Calgary saw 24.6 cm of snow on Sept. 29, 2019, an event that cancelled classes and knocked out power to communities across the region. Winnipeg saw the exact same amount of snow the day before Halloween in 1971.
A coastal storm walloped Halifax with 38.6 cm of snow on Oct. 20, 1974, which still stands today as one of the city’s largest single-day snowfalls on record.
First snow is dangerous as people acclimate to driving
The first snow of the season is always a doozy on the roads as drivers get used to navigating slick conditions. Traffic accidents and long delays are a hazard during any storm, but especially during the first coating on the roads.
Early-season snows aren’t always gigantic thumps. A dusting of snow can be more dangerous than double-digit totals. A thin layer of snow can easily melt and potentially refreeze into a glaze of ice.
Lake-effect snow can bury communities in a flash
Cold air flowing over warm waters is a recipe for robust lake-effect snow throughout the Great Lakes region. This process can start mighty early some years.
The threat for lake-effect snow is a common autumn hazard for communities in the traditional snowbelts downwind of Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Georgian Bay.
Folks who live around Lake Erie and Lake Ontario aren’t immune, either. A particularly intense band of lake-effect snow snaking off Lake Erie on Oct. 12-13, 2006, brought 30 cm of snow to Fort Erie, Ont.
Conditions can change rapidly due to lake-effect snow. Visibility can drop to nearly zero in and around snow squalls—a potentially dangerous situation when you’re on the road.
Big snows can lead to power outages before leaves fall off the trees
We also have to watch for hazards above our heads when snow falls early in the season. Crushed cars and widespread power outages are a common sight during a fall snowstorm.
Plentiful moisture and marginal temperatures usually make autumn snows heavy and wet. This sloppy snow adds excess weight to tree limbs and power lines. This extra weight is exacerbated if a storm hits before trees have shed their leaves for the winter.
Always make sure you’re prepared for power outages when heavy snow is in the forecast. Park and walk clear of trees straining under the weight of winter’s early arrival.
Header image courtesy of Unsplash.