Wet Snow Day in Toronto, Canada, Feb 27 2013

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. Note the thickness of the snow on the trees. The temperature was about 0C. Photo by Don Tai

We are Canadian and therefore we have winter. In winter we often get snow and did we ever get a dumping this Wednesday here in Toronto, Canada. We got about 20 cm of snow at 0C to -2C, making for very wet and heavy snow. Wet snow is difficult to remove because it is heavy with water. Still it really looked pretty outside.

As our street is one of the last to be cleaned, the snow piled up, making driving difficult. I got stuck in the middle of the road trying to back into my driveway. Luckily a neighbour kindly came to my aid and helped shovel enough to get my car into my driveway. I then got stuck 5 more times trying to get my car into my garage, each time stopping, clearing the snow near my tires, then trying to back up again. The snow was deep enough to scrape the bottom carriage of the car. Shortly after the garbage truck came by and three times got stuck in the middle of the road. He tried rocking back and forth to no avail. After a 10 minute break he slowly was able to creep forward, only to get stuck again.

Heavy snow is somewhat rare here in Toronto. We get it a couple of times a year. When the temperature is cold at -5C or so the snow falls as fluffy and light, making snow removal much easier. My snow blower can handle this lighter stuff. When the temperature is near 0C the snow partially melts and turns to water, compacting the snow and making it much heavier. In these warmer conditions the snow compacts down to become denser. My snow blower cannot throw this snow up and out fast enough, and therefore clogs. The solution is to hand shovel, difficult on the back and legs.

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. The garbage truck gets stuck on our street three times. After 10 minutes he was able to move again. Photo by Don Tai

What a beautiful snow display for Toronto, Canada.

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. The garbage truck gets stuck on our street three times. After 10 minutes he was able to move again. Photo by Don Tai

The Little Weed helped out a lot, thankfully, but after some time he was tired and went in for a break. My neighbours and I were all huffing and puffing, straining against the weight of the wet snow. We would do a good few shovels, then lean on our shovel handles in order to recuperate. This took a long time.

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. Note the heavy snow accumulation on the trees. As the temperature was about 0C the snow was able to freeze onto the branches, causing some trees to break limbs. Photo by Don Tai

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. Note the heavy snow accumulation on the trees. As the temperature was about 0C the snow was able to freeze onto the branches, causing some trees to break limbs. Photo by Don Tai

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. Note the heavy snow accumulation on the trees. As the temperature was about 0C the snow was able to freeze onto the branches, causing some trees to break limbs. Photo by Don Tai

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. Note the heavy snow accumulation on the trees. As the temperature was about 0C the snow was able to freeze onto the branches, causing some trees to break limbs. Photo by Don Tai

Wet snowfall in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday Feb 27 2013. Note the thickness of the snow on the trees. As the temperature was about 0C the snow was able to freeze onto the branches, causing some trees to break limbs. Photo by Don Tai