OT: 2022 & 2023 Weather Thread

[nexttothemoon]

My "escape plan" is to leave Canada for somewhere permanently warmer in the next 3 years. Tired of 7 months of winter and 3 months of decent summer weather (at best).

Some people say you'll miss "4 seasons". I don't think so... I really only enjoy the "1 season" where it's nice and warm and no snow... so I think I'll sacrifice "4 seasons" quite happily.

 

[brentashton]

My "escape plan" is to leave Canada for somewhere permanently warmer in the next 3 years. Tired of 7 months of winter and 3 months of decent summer weather (at best).

Some people say you'll miss "4 seasons". I don't think so... I really only enjoy the "1 season" where it's nice and warm and no snow... so I think I'll sacrifice "4 seasons" quite happily.

You got it brother. Even spring and fall are enjoyable (but short). But it’s that 7 months of snow that can get bent. I type this wearing shorts and walking in the relatively warm air of the desert at this time of day (plans later on so moved up my 10k walk).

 

[nexttothemoon]

You got it brother. Even spring and fall are enjoyable (but short). But it’s that 7 months of snow that can get bent. I type this wearing shorts and walking in the relatively warm air of the desert at this time of day (plans later on so moved up my 10k walk).

I don't mind spring (May) and Fall (September)... but even there nights can get below freezing... and some days can get pretty cool as well.

Overall though it's more than half a year of weather that I'm not into as I'm not a skiier/snowboarder/curler etc.

I'm set on finding somewhere that never freezes and never snows. Life is short... might as well be somewhere that I can enjoy more year round while I (hopefully) still have a few years left to enjoy.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

the worst part about waiting for Spring in Alberta is that by the time it comes, the year is already a quarter over

 

[McShogun99]

My "escape plan" is to leave Canada for somewhere permanently warmer in the next 3 years. Tired of 7 months of winter and 3 months of decent summer weather (at best).

Some people say you'll miss "4 seasons". I don't think so... I really only enjoy the "1 season" where it's nice and warm and no snow... so I think I'll sacrifice "4 seasons" quite happily.

I only care about summer as well and could care less if I never saw another winter, fall or spring again. I'm lucky that I have a job where I can take most of the winter off.

 

[Paralyzer]

I can't stand heat. Never could, and never will. I enjoy my long winters. Only thing that sucks is when it snows continuously. Otherwise, doesn't bother me one bit. I'll take -20 over +35 any day.

 

[Drivesaitl]

You got it brother. Even spring and fall are enjoyable (but short). But it’s that 7 months of snow that can get bent. I type this wearing shorts and walking in the relatively warm air of the desert at this time of day (plans later on so moved up my 10k walk).

7MTHS of snow? heh We had zero snow here until November 1st. This time it stuck around but typically it melts again. We're also constantly getting melt cycles during the wintre and early spring where at times in March theres hardly any snow on the ground.

I'd rather have our seasons, our summers, than living in a place thats so intolerably hot you can't even go outside several months of the year.

Things I find that really help one to break up the seasons and learn to be happy about them most of the time is getting outside and enjoying the seasons, taking up different activities that are winter or summer etc. I'm an outdoors person all seasons of the year. Just love the outdoors, always have. It would literally break me to live in a hot place where its hovering close to40C outside and you can't go out. Theres hardly any days here in Edmonton where you can't go out. Even at -40C the wife and I do it no prob.

The other thing is having a sunroom really makes winter quite a different experience. We built our own sun cabin in backyard. Its better than 3 seasons. I was out there this weekend reading a book in February. With no heating, just sun, the temp in there was 15C. It heats up nicely on a sunny day. Things like hot tub outside that makes one more comfortable outside too and theres nothing like sitting in a hot tub on a cold winter day, say if its snowing or something. Magical.

For me I look at people, kids that are newcomers here, lets say from India. All they've known is too much heat, too much crowding, too much monsoon etc. They come here and see snow for the first time and the kids running around and playing in it and parents smiling. Its magic and wonderful. You gotta retain being a kid, build a snowman, build a snowfort, throw some snowballs around. I just love winter. Spent most of the weekend trekking around outside and at Flying Canoe festival. Next week its Silver Skate Festival. Couple weeks ago it was Deepfreeze festival. All of them were warm. Above zero. Problem was getting too much heat retention walking around.

I can't stand heat. Never could, and never will. I enjoy my long winters. Only thing that sucks is when it snows continuously. Otherwise, doesn't bother me one bit. I'll take -20 over +35 any day.

This is exactly me. I enjoy -30-40C more than I enjoy +30-40C. The latter is intolerable. Anything above 30C and it feels like I'm roasting. I'm one of those never really gets cold king of people. I always like indoor temp lower than most other people too. Around 18C suits me fine. 15C at night. Even like winter camping.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I don't mind spring (May) and Fall (September)... but even there nights can get below freezing... and some days can get pretty cool as well.

Overall though it's more than half a year of weather that I'm not into as I'm not a skiier/snowboarder/curler etc.

I'm set on finding somewhere that never freezes and never snows. Life is short... might as well be somewhere that I can enjoy more year round while I (hopefully) still have a few years left to enjoy.

How far North in Alberta are you? just curious. Decades ago one of Edmonton's greatest visions was creating all year events for its citizens and festivals basically every month of Winter. The vision being getting people outside and living outside and loving outside. I always did anyway. As a kid here I remember the long ago Muk luk carnival days. I loved snow shoeing since I was a kid. Trekking out in the woods in ravines and stuff and we have tons of them here.

Only thing that I don't like is Winter driving to work. But mostly because some people drive so slow and just congest all the traffic everywhere.

Curious if you grew up here and how you didn't catch onto any winter sports or activities. Just embrace it. In contrast I'm not a water person, I'm not a great swimmer, even had tests done and because my bone density was high and fat content low I was never naturally buoyant in any way. I sink like a rock. Even paddling properly I "float" underwater which isn't too helpful for breathing.. But other than a lifejacket or bouyant device or wakeboard I can't float. Sucks. Thus I'd never do well with islands or coastal regions. Not even a huge lake fan. ftr I've taken swimming lessons several times. I'm the absolute frustration of swimming instructors "how come you can't float" "how come you can't do it, eveybody else is" lol these instructions are not helpful. Mind you I drowned once at 4yrs old and needed mouth to mouth resuscitation. Nothing like that to make one uncomfortable with water. But even given that I've snorkeled, wake boarded, tried surfing etc. But water sports will never really be my thing. Water isn't my element, only in the frozen form.

 

[nexttothemoon]

I can't stand heat. Never could, and never will. I enjoy my long winters. Only thing that sucks is when it snows continuously. Otherwise, doesn't bother me one bit. I'll take -20 over +35 any day.

I liked your comments and Drivesaitl as well... because I know there's different strokes for different folks and we all enjoy different things... including climates.

I've actually experienced both -50 and +43 and while I wouldn't want to live in either one of those permanently ... I also know there's places on Earth where it's between those temps as well.

I'm not looking for extremes.. just a place where it's comfortable year round.. with no snow and temps well above zero every month of the year without being scorchingly hot. Those places do exist on Earth... places other than Canada and the Sahara desert do exist.

 

[Paralyzer]

I liked your comments and Drivesaitl as well... because I know there's different strokes for different folks and we all enjoy different things... including climates.

I've actually experienced both -50 and +43 and while I wouldn't want to live in either one of those permanently ... I also know there's places on Earth where it's between those temps as well.

I'm not looking for extremes.. just a place where it's comfortable year round.. with no snow and temps well above zero every month of the year without being scorchingly hot. Those places do exist on Earth... places other than Canada and the Sahara desert do exist.

The other way I look at it, is those places are also very common for more natural disasters to happen, while in Edmonton, nothing ever happens. I just feel lucky and safe being in Edmonton, and never having to deal with crazy events here.

 

[brentashton]

7MTHS of snow? heh We had zero snow here until November 1st. This time it stuck around but typically it melts again. We're also constantly getting melt cycles during the wintre and early spring where at times in March theres hardly any snow on the ground.

I'd rather have our seasons, our summers, than living in a place thats so intolerably hot you can't even go outside several months of the year.

Things I find that really help one to break up the seasons and learn to be happy about them most of the time is getting outside and enjoying the seasons, taking up different activities that are winter or summer etc. I'm an outdoors person all seasons of the year. Just love the outdoors, always have. It would literally break me to live in a hot place where its hovering close to40C outside and you can't go out. Theres hardly any days here in Edmonton where you can't go out. Even at -40C the wife and I do it no prob.

The other thing is having a sunroom really makes winter quite a different experience. We built our own sun cabin in backyard. Its better than 3 seasons. I was out there this weekend reading a book in February. With no heating, just sun, the temp in there was 15C. It heats up nicely on a sunny day. Things like hot tub outside that makes one more comfortable outside too and theres nothing like sitting in a hot tub on a cold winter day, say if its snowing or something. Magical.

My permanent residence since moving back to Sask is 45 minutes out of Meadow Lake, and yes there is snow close to 7 months. Often get first snow in late October and snow doesn’t leave front yard until 2nd week of May because of the amount of trees and cool winds off the lake ice.

I see we also enjoy the same comforts of sun and temp in the winter. We just choose to achieve them differently.

I do miss my hot tub in the winter months now. I get that!

 

[Drivesaitl]

I liked your comments and Drivesaitl as well... because I know there's different strokes for different folks and we all enjoy different things... including climates.

I've actually experienced both -50 and +43 and while I wouldn't want to live in either one of those permanently ... I also know there's places on Earth where it's between those temps as well.

I'm not looking for extremes.. just a place where it's comfortable year round.. with no snow and temps well above zero every month of the year without being scorchingly hot. Those places do exist on Earth... places other than Canada and the Sahara desert do exist.

Any ideas on where to go? Everybody had the wetcoast idea. Thus housing starting at over 1M. To me thats too much. East Coast you get some wicked hurricane trailing storms and such. Most places further south too hot.

The Earth is kind of like that. Only place I found that had pretty much ideal temp was Hawaii influenced by the trade winds. No wonder its so popular and expnsive there as its like +28 almost every day and doesn't get cold day or night. Doesn't get too warm either. But it seems on Earth that few places are really in the comfort zone temp wise. Curious if people have found that right kind of temp place anywhere.

 

[nexttothemoon]

How far North in Alberta are you? just curious. Decades ago one of Edmonton's greatest visions was creating all year events for its citizens and festivals basically every month of Winter. The vision being getting people outside and living outside and loving outside. I always did anyway. As a kid here I remember the long ago Muk luk carnival days. I loved snow shoeing since I was a kid. Trekking out in the woods in ravines and stuff and we have tons of them here.

Only thing that I don't like is Winter driving to work. But mostly because some people drive so slow and just congest all the traffic everywhere.

Curious if you grew up here and how you didn't catch onto any winter sports or activities. Just embrace it. In contrast I'm not a water person, I'm not a great swimmer, even had tests done and because my bone density was high and fat content low I was never naturally buoyant in any way. I sink like a rock. Even paddling properly I "float" underwater which isn't too helpful for breathing.. But other than a lifejacket or bouyant device or wakeboard I can't float. Sucks. Thus I'd never do well with islands or coastal regions. Not even a huge lake fan. ftr I've taken swimming lessons several times. I'm the absolute frustration of swimming instructors "how come you can't float" "how come you can't do it, eveybody else is" lol these instructions are not helpful. Mind you I drowned once at 4yrs old and needed mouth to mouth resuscitation. Nothing like that to make one uncomfortable with water. But even given that I've snorkeled, wake boarded, tried surfing etc. But water sports will never really be my thing. Water isn't my element, only in the frozen form.

I grew up in Alberta... MacKenzie County region... but I also spent time away from here years ago before coming back... so I have a taste of what else the World offers.

If I was never anywhere else then I might be content putting up with the climate here in Alberta because I wouldn't really know any different but I know there's climates elsewhere that I'd prefer so I'll leave "paradise" in Alberta behind for those that enjoy it... and (hopefully) go somewhere where the temps average in the 20's year round. I don't mind the heat but sure when it gets 35+ it can become oppressive... but theoretically if I had to choose between +30 year round or -30 year round... I'd easily choose +30.

 

[brentashton]

I grew up in Alberta... MacKenzie County region... but I also spent time away from here years ago before coming back... so I have a taste of what else the World offers.

If I was never anywhere else then I might be content putting up with the climate here in Alberta because I wouldn't really know any different but I know there's climates elsewhere that I'd prefer so I'll leave "paradise" in Alberta behind for those that enjoy it... and (hopefully) go somewhere where the temps average in the 20's year round. I don't mind the heat but sure when it gets 35+ it can become oppressive... but theoretically if I had to choose between +30 year round or -30 year round... I'd easily choose +30.

Mayor of Nampa?

 

[Drivesaitl]

My permanent residence since moving back to Sask is 45 minutes out of Meadow Lake, and yes there is snow close to 7 months. Often get first snow in late October and snow doesn’t leave front yard until 2nd week of May because of the amount of trees and cool winds off the lake ice.

I see we also enjoy the same comforts of sun and temp in the winter. We just choose to achieve them differently.

I do miss my hot tub in the winter months now. I get that!

Hey, I pay attention, I see you've ramped up 5K a day walking to 10K. Good work. Been doing a lot of walking, hiking and snowshoeing too. I have to rehab back and knees every day to keep in the regimen but I'm seeing improvement.

my next challenge is going to be a half bike. I have to stand up cycling now due to a condition I have and these seem to work for that but they are notoriously hard to learn to ride. What they say is if you know how to ride a bike forget all that, its like nothing like that. Trouble here in edmotnon is there is no half bike club and no place that offers any instruction. So i have to pick it up from online videos and such.



This will be so good for my back if I don't crash too much...

 

[Drivesaitl]

Mayor of Nampa?

You confuse me sometimes with your refences. No idea what this means. heh

 

[brentashton]

Hey, I pay attention, I see you've ramped up 5K a day walking to 10K. Good work. Been doing a lot of walking, hiking and snowshoeing too. I have to rehab back and knees every day to keep in the regimen but I'm seeing improvement.

my next challenge is going to be a half bike. I have to stand up cycling now due to a condition I have and these seem to work for that but they are notoriously hard to learn to ride. What they say is if you know how to ride a bike forget all that, its like nothing like that. Trouble here in edmotnon is there is no half bike club and no place that offers any instruction. So i have to pick it up from online videos and such.



This will be so good for my back if I don't crash too much...

Nice whip! That would be fun. Reminds of Dave Grohl when he broke his leg…

Ya, I’m doing even more than 10k. I do 10 in the morning and then take the small dog for 5 iin the afternoon. She can’t do the longer walk. Problem is I’ve also increased my beer intake so I don’t think I’m losing any weight (Not gaining neither though!).

I hope you can find a way to enjoy cycling given you back issues. Cant be any fun having less than optimal mobility.

 

[nexttothemoon]

Well I don't know if I'd go there permanently but places like the Canary Islands are pretty close to perfect weather... or Madeira (Portugese Island).

Some people like South America as well (have to really learn Spanish to live there long term though imo to be able to converse with locals more than at a level of just Restaurant fluency ). Ecuador/Colombia apparently have some nice areas that Expats enjoy. Some places in Asia are popular as well... but that's generally more hot/humid.


There's tradeoffs and downsides to every country/region of the world... cost of living... climate... health care... politics/corruption... safety... pollution... language barriers... natural disasters.

Alberta has a hell of a lot going for it... but is it perfect? No. I'll be going from one imperfect region to another with it's own set of pros and cons.

 

[brentashton]

You confuse me sometimes with your refences. No idea what this means. heh

Little village near Peace River. My work for 30 years took me all over northern and east central Alberta. Nature of my work, I got to know almost every small (and big) city/town, county, and mayor, councils and administrators. He said he was from Mackenzie county area so I was just yanking his chain that he’s the Mayor of insert small town here, (although now I think Nampa is south of Mackenzie county borders, probably in Sunrise…).

 

[Drivesaitl]

Nice whip! That would be fun. Reminds of Dave Grohl when he broke his leg…

Ya, I’m doing even more than 10k. I do 10 in the morning and then take the small dog for 5 iin the afternoon. She can’t do the longer walk. Problem is I’ve also increased my beer intake so I don’t think I’m losing any weight (Not gaining neither though!).

I hope you can find a way to enjoy cycling given you back issues. Cant be any fun having less than optimal mobility.

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Yikes, you didn't help with the broken leg comment. heh, maybe not a halfbike then, maybe some other stand up bike. I'm a cycling addict and I can't do it now becaue it just kills my back and something that is like saddle sores that are recurring and a nightmare for some cyclists. Due to a lifetime of cycling I have an irreversible condition now where I basically can't sit on a saddle now.

I keep looking around for stand up cycles that might work for me. ftr inline skating don't work too much and with a heavy crash component too it. haha I'm generally pretty big, muscular and and my weight is higher up, built like a bricklayer, so it makes certain activities difficult (like skateboarding) maybe halfbike not my thing. haha.

I've had to limit my cycling to doing stand up cycling on the best stationary bike I could find but I still end up going through pedals that are not built to hold 215lbs. None of the cardio machines really are either except the commercial ones which really run up in price and are big and bulky. I miss cycling sooooo much.

Little village near Peace River. My work for 30 years took me all over northern and east central Alberta. Nature of my work, I got to know almost every small (and big) city/town, county, and mayor, councils and administrators. He said he was from Mackenzie county area so I was just yanking his chain that he’s the Mayor of insert small town here, (although now I think Nampa is south of Mackenzie county borders, probably in Sunrise…).

heh, thanks, I even googled it. I got hits on some place from Idaho, some mayor in Idaho. Google is broke lol. Somebody bring back a working version of google. This has been a common complaint of a lot of people is Google takes you where it wants you to go in algorithms instead of what you're actually searching.

 

[nexttothemoon]

Mayor of Nampa?

Nope... I'm much further north than that.

I remember one person from down south was applying for a job in High Level (a town in the region here)... and they said they'd come in for an interview in the morning as they'd drive in from Calgary... they thought the job was in High River ... most people haven't even heard of High Level (or Mackenzie County) and when they realize how far north this region is... they lose interest in a hurry.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Well I don't know if I'd go there permanently but places like the Canary Islands are pretty close to perfect weather... or Madeira (Portugese Island).

Some people like South America as well (have to really learn Spanish to live there long term though imo to be able to converse with locals more than at a level of just Restaurant fluency ). Ecuador/Colombia apparently have some nice areas that Expats enjoy. Some places in Asia are popular as well... but that's generally more hot/humid.


There's tradeoffs and downsides to every country/region of the world... cost of living... climate... health care... politics/corruption... safety... pollution... language barriers... natural disasters.

Alberta has a hell of a lot going for it... but is it perfect? No. I'll be going from one imperfect region to another with it's own set of pros and cons.

I think I'd risk the dangers of -30C before going to say Ecuador or Columbia. Beautiful places but I don't like places with lots of risk involved. Just like I figured most moderate temp places are near water and islands and coastal regions and stuff. Water kind of freaks me out. I live in a perfect place that doesn't have flooding like ever, except in isolated parts of river valley. Flooding would freak me out a lot. Living in low lying regions near sea level would be worse.

I hope you find that right place sometime. Its a beautiful globe, has to be some perfect type place for everybody. The only place that really did it for me was Hawaii except islands and way too much water, haha Any other place I've been hasn't been the right cup of tea. Should mention I'm not a big fan of poisonous insects, lizards and gila monsters and stuff. haha

 

[Drivesaitl]

Nope... I'm much further north than that.

I remember one person from down south was applying for a job in High Level (a town in the region here)... and they said they'd come in for an interview in the morning as they'd drive in from Calgary... they thought the job was in High River ... most people haven't even heard of High Level (or Mackenzie County) and when they realize how far north this region is... they lose interest in a hurry.

Been to high level. Thats on a really high level. Seems like not much is around there. I had the feeling we were going to drive off the end of the Earth or something. That was a long time ago though and the whole area kind of freaked me out. Was trying to find a work site back in my Masonry days and the sign 50Miles back pointed in the high level direction but we never thought we'd get there. That road feels like forever. Maybe the area has filled out mroe since around 1980 but there was virtually nothing out there. Fortunately it was summer out. Breaking down on that road in winter would not be a good idea. Man that place used to be off the grid. I think at the time the "road" kind of ended there or what we were comfortable calling a road. Now it goes all up to Hay River I see. probably an ice road beyond.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

I'd much rather it be "too hot" out then "too cold"

plus, -30 is much more dangerous than +30....if your furnace breaks down in -30, your pipes can burst
if your car breaks down in -30, you better have warm clothing or you could die really quickly

 

[nexttothemoon]

I think I'd risk the dangers of -30C before going to say Ecuador or Columbia. Beautiful places but I don't like places with lots of risk involved. Just like I figured most moderate temp places are near water and islands and coastal regions and stuff. Water kind of freaks me out. I live in a perfect place that doesn't have flooding like ever, except in isolated parts of river valley. Flooding would freak me out a lot. Living in low lying regions near sea level would be worse.

I hope you find that right place sometime. Its a beautiful globe, has to be some perfect type place for everybody. The only place that really did it for me was Hawaii except islands and way too much water, haha Any other place I've been hasn't been the right cup of tea. Should mention I'm not a big fan of poisonous insects, lizards and gila monsters and stuff. haha

My guess is that you'd like New Zealand... especially the South Island. Temps are moderate in summer and not too cold in winter... but they still get 4 seasons and you can ski in winter and then drive to a beach same day an hour or 2 away. Hiking/camping/outdoor activities etc are tremendous there and basically zero dangerous animals... not even a bear in the woods to worry about.

Good health care... high safety level... English speaking. Politics is sensible unlike USA. Downside is cost of living is still pretty high as it's an island nation that depends on imports so costs are as high or higher than Canada.

It's big enough of a country though that you can find areas away from the coasts so flooding isn't going to be as big an issue inland.

I kind of rule it out for that high cost of living and I want even warmer temperatures year round ... but I absolutely know for many it would be pretty much paradise there.