by weather fireworks
We had the most spectacular thunderstorm Saturday evening lasting about three hours. We rarely get them and usually only briefly. Dark billowing clouds were moving in from the east and the north, and soon multiple forks of lightning crackled over the mountains and the sea providing us with dramatic entertainment over our late supper. We were reminded of the prairie storms that we always found so exciting in our youth.
But this excitement was quite unexpected and worrying with a roofing job underway! Husband grabbed tarps and stapler and climbed up on the roof to cover up the exposed areas, particularly around the skylights. Fortunately one of the roofers who lived not too far way showed up to help after seeing from some distance that it was now raining over here. Very relieved we were that we had no leaks while the storm grew fiercer with heavy showers (but no hail like in some other areas).
As it slowly moved westwards towards a most unusual burnt orange sky, the sound of the thunder changed into very long deep rumbles which reminded me of childhood stories from adults who said g-d was rolling barrels across the sky.
It was also the night of the fireworks competition on English Bay so you can imagine how majestic that was! Youngest daughter had planned to be there but wasn’t sure if it might be cancelled like many other events were. Hopefully she’ll post some of her photos of our weather fireworks on her blog and I’ll link to them for you to see. There are also some great ones here.
The heat and humidity are getting worse, as are the forest fires, with record-breaking temperatures up to 35C (95F) and not cooling much at night. I fare terribly in heat and we don’t have air conditioning so I am spending more time down on the first floor lazily reading, watching a wee bit of TV, napping and occasionally (like right now) using this ancient spare Mac which doesn’t have my photos and files. I should be writing up more of our travel memoirs but my brain doesn’t want to think that hard.
Two wonderful books that I’m reading right now: K.A. Laity’s UNIKIRJA, Dreambook and Ekkerhart Malotki’s KOKOPELLI, The Making of an Icon. I’m also rereading bits of a book that I finished recently: William Golding’s The Inheritors. I may try to write a bit about those sometime.
I feel sorry for the guys working so hard up on our roof but I’m impressed by their endurance… puts me to shame.
Another distraction: tomorrow afternoon our middle daughter and granddaughters arrive here from England, for a few weeks’ visit. We are all excited.
July 27, 2009 in Books, Canada and BC by Marja-Leena
Isn’t it amazing how exciting life can be right at home?
I hope the heat lets up on you soon, though. It never gets as hot as 95 degrees here. We went up hiking in Volcanoes National Park at 4,000 feet, where it was very sunny and maybe in the low 80’s, and there were breezes to keep us cool. Even so I got quite tired from the brisk pace (set by Terry’s superfit cousin) on this long hike and slept for 12 hours last night.
Never a dull moment! Well, except here – we are having drizzle, rain, a little sunshine for brief relief before more drizzle again. It seems that whenever the Mediterranean has super heat and forest fires we just have endless rain! A good lightning storm would liven things up no end.
Hattie, we do get some exciting moments, yes. Your hike sounds wonderful. I’m weird I know but anything over 21C (about 70F) is too warm for me, especially if I’m active.
Olga, what a dull summer for you! Our family from England is looking forward to beach type weather. I think eastern Canada and US have been having a wet and coolish summer this year, while we in BC are in drought, so it sounds like a similar pattern. Times like this I wish we had a watering system for the garden. Lightning is lovely but dangerous in our tinder dry forests.
So, there’s a tour of Vancouver’s drain covers on the cards.
BB, the other day we were out for a walk and I saw some but did not have the camera. But did you see these ones I captured last year?
You were right, Marja-Leena … just reading about your storm caused a twitch in my pedalling apparatuses. Glad to hear that the roofless spots did not leak and that three generations will be under the same roof this afternoon. Meanwhile, our red metal roof is still lying in the driveway. It has been rained on several times now and is squeaky clean.
Rouchswalwe, the family arrived safely but stunned by the heat here, as it’s been cool in England this summer. So, this roof on the driveway is waiting for dry weather, I take it? Why can’t we have a happy medium with the weather?
Had a look at the earlier post and, yes, you (and Fred) are truly the Vermeers of the drain cover. However I fear this says something serious about your (second person plural) attitude when out walking – head pessimistically cast downwards, rather than optimistically skywards. True or false?
Barrett, this time I take full credit or blame for all these ‘street furniture’ photos! As for my eyes, they seem to be all over the place, especially if the place is new like London was for us. That’s when I was grateful for the second pair of eyes behind the camera. As for pessimist or optimist, I think when I’m excited by what I see, visual person that I am, whether skywards or below my feet, I’m very happy and eager to capture some of that on camera.
I hope the heat eases up on you and your guests soon. It is unprecedented, apparently.
Hattie, today was the hottest day ever in the time records have been kept, 33.8C at the airport, which is by the open sea. It’s always a few degrees warmer further inland like where we are. Tomorrow will be the same and then it might ease a little bit.
I hope you’re getting some relief from the heat. I don’t fare well in heat, either, and I’m lucky to have my air conditioner installed in my bedroom. We’re having fairly typical August weather now, hot and humid, with occasional thunderstorms. It was around 80 F (27 C?) last night and I was able to go out for a nice walk. Enjoy your guests and good luck with the roof!
Leslee, thanks! We’re still waiting for relief though it’s supposed to become a bit less hot with some cooling breezes to stir the stagnant air. What a year of extremes from an extra cold winter to an extra hot summer.