On forces of nature
Jun. 21st, 2005 10:17 pmIt's been hot-hot-hot and sunny today. 10pm, and it's 24C. It should cool down overnight, though.
This, after three weeks of rain caused the worst flooding in Alberta in 200 years. Saturday night, a state of emergency was declared for the city of Calgary, as the Bow River spilled its banks and overflowed the dam in the Glenmore reservoir. 1,200 people were evacuated. Streets were closed. (We're good. We live on a hill. Though the river's a fifteen minute walk away, down through Mission, parts of which were evacuated.) Y'know, that would explain the sirens and helicopters I kept hearing Saturday night...
There are currently mandatory water restrictions until water processing to maintain safe drinking water is guaranteed--no car washing, hosing down of sidewalks, etc, lawn watering, etc--and voluntary conservation measures. Run the dishwasher and washing machine as little as possible, restrict showers to five minutes and keeps bath shallow, that sort of thing. It's not quantity of water that's the issue (hah!), it's quality.
Photos from the CBC's website and there's also a gallery of reader-submitted photos on the Calgary Herald's website.
Just to reiterate. Alberta. Prairies, leading into foothills. Plus, southern Alberta? Not known for its large bodies of water.
(Not news to the local folk on my flist, I know. Anybody get flooded? Anybody have pictures or tales of terror?)
Today, if we didn't go over 30C, it was definitely close. However, according to the forecast, we get the one freakishly hot day, and it's back in the mid to low twenties for the rest of the week, occasionally dipping down into the teens when it rains.
Welcome to weather in Alberta.
I'm just waiting for it to get cooler outside than inside.
Later, books, general goings-on, and Victorian-era BBC miniseries with girls smooching. Ooh, lightening. Perhaps I should shut the computer down...
This, after three weeks of rain caused the worst flooding in Alberta in 200 years. Saturday night, a state of emergency was declared for the city of Calgary, as the Bow River spilled its banks and overflowed the dam in the Glenmore reservoir. 1,200 people were evacuated. Streets were closed. (We're good. We live on a hill. Though the river's a fifteen minute walk away, down through Mission, parts of which were evacuated.) Y'know, that would explain the sirens and helicopters I kept hearing Saturday night...
There are currently mandatory water restrictions until water processing to maintain safe drinking water is guaranteed--no car washing, hosing down of sidewalks, etc, lawn watering, etc--and voluntary conservation measures. Run the dishwasher and washing machine as little as possible, restrict showers to five minutes and keeps bath shallow, that sort of thing. It's not quantity of water that's the issue (hah!), it's quality.
Photos from the CBC's website and there's also a gallery of reader-submitted photos on the Calgary Herald's website.
Just to reiterate. Alberta. Prairies, leading into foothills. Plus, southern Alberta? Not known for its large bodies of water.
(Not news to the local folk on my flist, I know. Anybody get flooded? Anybody have pictures or tales of terror?)
Today, if we didn't go over 30C, it was definitely close. However, according to the forecast, we get the one freakishly hot day, and it's back in the mid to low twenties for the rest of the week, occasionally dipping down into the teens when it rains.
Welcome to weather in Alberta.
I'm just waiting for it to get cooler outside than inside.
Later, books, general goings-on, and Victorian-era BBC miniseries with girls smooching. Ooh, lightening. Perhaps I should shut the computer down...