[SteelTown]

So how did you handle today's first major snowstorm?

[MsMe]

I hibernated. :)

It's my pup's first winter. I took her out earlier when it was still coming down and blowing like crazy. She kept barking at the snow coming down and she could hardly move in the snow. I guess I am digging out part of the yard so she can move around a bit. :(

[SteelTown]

I got a pup too. She's only 5 lbs so she would dissapear in the snow haha. She just jumps up and down.

[MsMe]

What kind is she?
They are so funny at this age. Mine is 10 months old now. She is a mini schnauzer.

[highwater]

:(

You're making me sad with the puppy talk. We were supposed to get a puppy in February, but now it will be at least July. :(

As for the weather, this evening's festivities have been thankfully cancelled, so we're cocooning. Kids are outside shovelling and all is right with the world. Got tons of work to do though.

[SteelTown]

Mine is a shih poo (4 months old), I got her after my other dog died, the Queen Bee.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v371/102/0/677530696/n677530696_4555889_3840.jpg

[highwater]

OMG. Too cute. Congrats.

Don't have photobucket so can't post my own photos, but our puppy-to-be would have looked alot like this:

http://www.pyxpoodles.com/046.jpg

[MsMe]

That's so cute. :)

I had to put my husky and cocker spaniel down late last winter. So it's been a rough year for me too. :(

Then when I was buying the schnauzer I took a flying leap down their cement stairs and was laid up for several months and spent many days in ER on IV anti biotics. :(

And my pc and car died, had to replace both. Plus 3 friends and my uncle died. It's been a year I would like to forget that's for sure. :(

[MsMe]

OMG. Too cute. Congrats.

Don't have photobucket so can't post my own photos, but our puppy-to-be would have looked alot like this:

http://www.pyxpoodles.com/046.jpg

AWWW.....cute. :)

[SteelTown]

I woke up this morning hoping to see snow and nada nothing no snow. I was hoping for a snow day. Than around 7:30am the snow started to blow. After that CHML cancellation list started to grow, I was hoping to see McMaster cancelled, nope! I arrive to work at 8:30, the drive wasn't bad.

Than at 9:45ish McMaster post a notice that it's closed, GRRRRRR! Driving home was absolutely nuts, I'm just so friggin glad I made it. The Linc wasn't plowed at all. I was behind 6 snow plowers and one salt truck on the 403, thank god. Than I had to hit it once on the Linc ramp since it was piling up with snow.

[MsMe]

Just watching news now on tv. Yup it was nuts out there today.

Not sure you have seen this yet. But this was my first winter driving. :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-gRb_MuUgg

[highwater]

That's so cute. :)

I had to put my husky and cocker spaniel down late last winter. So it's been a rough year for me too. :(

Then when I was buying the schnauzer I took a flying leap down their cement stairs and was laid up for several months and spent many days in ER on IV anti biotics. :(

And my pc and car died, had to replace both. Plus 3 friends and my uncle died. It's been a year I would like to forget that's for sure. :(

Ouch. An annus horribilus indeed. We had to put our 13 yr old standard down in Feb. Very sad as you know, but nothing else too catastrophic.

[SteelTown]

Just watching news now on tv. Yup it was nuts out there today.

Not sure you have seen this yet. But this was my first winter driving. :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-gRb_MuUgg

Whoa! I gotta show my dad this clip. Often time my dad talks about this winter storm and how bad it was.

[MsMe]

Whoa! I gotta show my dad this clip. Often time my dad talks about this winter storm and how bad it was.

It was unreal. They even lifted the snow mobile law that winter and asked people who had them to go out and try and rescue the stranded. Some areas had 25 foot drifts. I sure won't forget that winter. Normally Buffalo is the snow capitol but was all about the same that winter in the whole areas.

[highwater]

On a lighter note:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUL0KCIc48

[MsMe]

On a lighter note:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUL0KCIc48

The dog seemed to be loving it though. :)

[MsMe]

At least my neighbour was nice enough to take his snow blower on my front walk. So not as much snow to shovel thank goodness.

[FairHamilton]

Fortunately, my wife and I booked Wednesday, Thursday and today as vacation days and spent today painting.

This afternoon I heard CBC Radio reporting all the GO delays and cancellations and was glad to be cocooning.

Tomorrow we venture out to the market :)

[MsMe]

I spent the past few days stocking up, not just for the weather. Also due to all the holidays coming up with so many things closed. So I can stay put for a few more days yet. :)

[Fortunate4Now]

drove slower... staying indoors tonight, watching the sabres kick @ss

[matt602]

Unfortunately there was no cocooning for me today. Had to walk to Queenston and Nash from Parkdale/Melvin because I had to cash a cheque at my bank to buy bus tickets. The walk was absolute hell. Did it around 1 or 2pm when the storm was basically at it's height. Couldn't look ahead of myself because the snow kept blowing into my eyes. Had to walk on the road because the sidewalks were roughly 4 foot drifts. Almost got nailed by an oncoming snow plow since I couldn't see ahead of myself as well. A bayfront bus was stuck across the intersection at Nash/Queenston. A snow plow also got stuck in the Sobey's parking lot as I was looking at the bus. Something about seeing a city bus and a snow plow stuck in the snow really makes you worried.

I don't know what was with this storm. I remember we had one that produced about the same accumulation last year, and I only remember seeing one or two stuck buses.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Snow days are great, especially when you still have to go into work. :)

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_snow_splattered_doors.jpg

Entering Jackson Square at the York Blvd entrance by the library: the wind is roaring so hard that it snatches away my breath.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_colourful_farmers_market.jpg

Farmers' Market is still warm and colourful.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_jackson_square_doors.jpg

Leaving Jackson Square at King and James, the snow blats mercilessly against the doors.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_gore_park.jog.jpg

It seems like there are more buses than cars groaning down the major streets.

Having foolishly gone to work in loafers, I decide to take the bus home. The Locke Bus is jam-packed with riders, and I'm looking for the Aberdeen. "Good luck with that," says the feisty, good-humoured driver, and I decide to take my chances on the Locke.

It takes 20 minutes just to get from King and James to Hunter and MacNab, but we're in capable hands. As riders disembark, they hollar thanks to the driver and Christmas wishes to the other riders.

(Aside: I should probably cross-post this to the HSR Rider Appreciation Program (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=162424) thread.)

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_locke_street.jpg

Locke Street is practically deserted, which is good because I can't find the sidewalks, let alone walk on them.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_herkimer_and_locke.jpg

Residents try to clear a walking path along Herkimer west of Locke.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_side_street_buried.jpg

The residential streets sloping southward up from Aberdeen toward the Escarpment are buried, curbside cars wedged under a foot of snow.

All in all, an exhilarating trip!

[emge]

I spent the day in St. Catharines and Vineland.. I was inside most of the day, but all my outside time involved clearing sidewalks (that the snow blew right over again) or digging/pushing vehicles out of snowdrifts :P Hamilton would have been a little nicer, I bet - I would have stayed inside with some tea and walked over to the Farmer's Market for the afternoon.

[Gurnett71]

Had to go to work this morning, no problems going down Beckett's Drive and then the 403. Was a little worried about heading home as we had heard that the 403 was closed between QEW and Highway 6. But as I headed home at 4pm the 403 was open, only the ramp at 6 was closed off by a lone OPP cruiser--very little traffic and the snow had subsided. Trip back to the west mountain didn't take too long (maybe 25 minutes from QEW/403/407 interchange), but just trying to navigate the streets in our subdivision was chaotic at best--not sure how the plow is going to get through tonight with all the abandoned cars littering the streets.

[IronWarrior]

Just watching news now on tv. Yup it was nuts out there today.

Not sure you have seen this yet. But this was my first winter driving. :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-gRb_MuUgg

Although that was my very first winter 'I was born in May' I hear the stories all the time from my mom when there is a major storm like the one we had today, she tells me she kept going downstairs to the lobby in Wellington Place where we lived at that time to help stranded motorists,truckers,cabbies and buse drivers, she kept going downstairs with me in her arms bringing them coffee and blankets e.t.c...my dad was working the night shift at the a meat packing company near Grays Rd. and my mom was worried how he was going to get home... all he said on the phone was dont worry!!!lol turns out he grabed a ride with a guy on a skidoo on Barton street near Ivor Wynne stadium after his bus got stuck he walked from Grays all the way down until a skidoo spoted him! and drove him to our apartment...my mom says she will never forget it!:)

[IronWarrior]

Snow days are great, especially when you still have to go into work. :)

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_snow_splattered_doors.jpg

Entering Jackson Square at the York Blvd entrance by the library: the wind is roaring so hard that it snatches away my breath.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_colourful_farmers_market.jpg

Farmers' Market is still warm and colourful.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_jackson_square_doors.jpg

Leaving Jackson Square at King and James, the snow blats mercilessly against the doors.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_gore_park.jog.jpg

It seems like there are more buses than cars groaning down the major streets.

Having foolishly gone to work in loafers, I decide to take the bus home. The Locke Bus is jam-packed with riders, and I'm looking for the Aberdeen. "Good luck with that," says the feisty, good-humoured driver, and I decide to take my chances on the Locke.

It takes 20 minutes just to get from King and James to Hunter and MacNab, but we're in capable hands. As riders disembark, they hollar thanks to the driver and Christmas wishes to the other riders.

(Aside: I should probably cross-post this to the HSR Rider Appreciation Program (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=162424) thread.)

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_locke_street.jpg

Locke Street is practically deserted, which is good because I can't find the sidewalks, let alone walk on them.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_herkimer_and_locke.jpg

Residents try to clear a walking path along Herkimer west of Locke.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_side_street_buried.jpg

The residential streets sloping southward up from Aberdeen toward the Escarpment are buried, curbside cars wedged under a foot of snow.

All in all, an exhilarating trip!

I know what you mean about Locke street being deserted! I live around the corner by Hunter/Poulette area and all I heard was some sirens and heavy winds blowing, I looked down Hunter onto Locke and seen no traffic at all! it was a crazy day! although I was on vacation I did venture out at 8:30 to go to the bank downtown and I knew that we were in for a major storm! by 11:00am it was pretty bad!

[IronWarrior]

Unfortunately there was no cocooning for me today. Had to walk to Queenston and Nash from Parkdale/Melvin because I had to cash a cheque at my bank to buy bus tickets. The walk was absolute hell. Did it around 1 or 2pm when the storm was basically at it's height. Couldn't look ahead of myself because the snow kept blowing into my eyes. Had to walk on the road because the sidewalks were roughly 4 foot drifts. Almost got nailed by an oncoming snow plow since I couldn't see ahead of myself as well. A bayfront bus was stuck across the intersection at Nash/Queenston. A snow plow also got stuck in the Sobey's parking lot as I was looking at the bus. Something about seeing a city bus and a snow plow stuck in the snow really makes you worried.

I don't know what was with this storm. I remember we had one that produced about the same accumulation last year, and I only remember seeing one or two stuck buses.

What really made this storm bad was the high winds! which means alot of drifting snow, as a driver I know it can be very unpredictable in certain areas as too how much snow has accumulated! you can be driving in 15cms and turn a corner and run into a 2-3ft snow drift, its very hard to tell its like camoflauge..so that is most likely why you were seeing buses and snow plows stuck, they got stuck in big drifts that are hard to see when driving sometimes...especially when your visibilty is reduced do to all the blowing snow.

[IronWarrior]

Some people mentioned there dogs, I dont know what it is but my Doberman will want to come inside on a nice sunny day after 1 hour of running around! but when there is a major snow storm like today she wants to stay outside and run around and play for hours! they are just like children in alot of ways.:)

[MsMe]

I put the pup out about an hour ago and she hesitated about going out there. She ventured out a bit when I went out with her. But she wouldn't go off of the deck. :haha:

[omro]

On a lighter note:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUL0KCIc48

That dog's got a bit of dalmation in him, no wonder he's nuts :haha:

[omro]

Snow days are great, especially when you still have to go into work. :)

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_locke_street.jpg

Locke Street is practically deserted, which is good because I can't find the sidewalks, let alone walk on them.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_herkimer_and_locke.jpg

Residents try to clear a walking path along Herkimer west of Locke.

http://raisethehammer.org/images/snow_day_side_street_buried.jpg

The residential streets sloping southward up from Aberdeen toward the Escarpment are buried, curbside cars wedged under a foot of snow.

All in all, an exhilarating trip!

I've not seen snow like this since we lived in Germany --- blimey!

[FairHamilton]

On a lighter note:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUL0KCIc48

Great one.

He has the same face as my old dog Sterling, he was a Dalmation & Border Collie mix who made it to 16. He used to bound through the deep snow in Muskoka exactly the same way.

[adam]

If I had the energy, what a wicked snow fort that could be built!

[SteelTown]

Well here comes another 15cm of snow. Urgh!

[MsMe]

Well here comes another 15cm of snow. Urgh!

I wished I was a bear and could hibernate winters. I am still trying to dig my walkway out from yesterday.

[MsMe]

Whoa! I gotta show my dad this clip. Often time my dad talks about this winter storm and how bad it was.

That will bring back memories for him.

And I'm sure people's grandparents or older parents for some on the board were around for the 1944 blizzard which was just as bad. Let's hope we don't have anymore like these. :rolleyes:

[IronWarrior]

That will bring back memories for him.

And I'm sure people's grandparents or older parents for some on the board were around for the 1944 blizzard which was just as bad. Let's hope we don't have anymore like these. :rolleyes:

History is known to repeat itself, if that is true we could see another major storm 'disaster' like we had in 1944,1977, 2010 maybe? we will have to wait and see? I think we learn a a lesson from events like this and thats to always be prepared for the worst! you never know what mother nature has in store?

[MsMe]

History is known to repeat itself, if that is true we could see another major storm 'disaster' like we had in 1944,1977, 2010 maybe? we will have to wait and see? I think we learn a a lesson from events like this and thats to always be prepared for the worst! you never know what mother nature has in store?

Bite your tongue.
If we do I will be looking for something like this to take me away. :banaride: :haha:

[matt602]

I have to travel to Toronto on Christmas Eve. I will be taking the HSR, GO and the TTC. There is supposed to be a snow storm tomorrow, and then another one on that day.

I am totally leaving at 6am. Maybe I'll get there for 4pm.

Or maybe I'll just rent out the character above from MsMe?

[MsMe]

I have to travel to Toronto on Christmas Eve. I will be taking the HSR, GO and the TTC. There is supposed to be a snow storm tomorrow, and then another one on that day.

I am totally leaving at 6am. Maybe I'll get there for 4pm.

Or maybe I'll just rent out the character above from MsMe?

Good luck on that travel Matt. Sure hop on we can probably do better on that. :haha:

[IronWarrior]

Well... I just watched the 11pm news and they said the storm is expected to start anytime after 12am and supposed to last until 12pm or so? I just opened my back door and the wind is really starting to pick up! lets see what happens?

[MsMe]

I haven't been out for a while. I will be in the next while though to put pup out again. They said about 15 cm is what we will be getting. Deffinately going to be a while xmas this year.

[go_leafs_go02]

whoever in this city who decided to permit on-street parking and putting the sidewalks in the spot where the snow should be stored (right beside the road)..should be..oh i dunno...given a talking to.

Terrible for snow removal.

London's had snow since Early November. Blame Lake Effect from Lake Huron.

[MsMe]

They didn't do a great job at plowing my street last night. They didn't plow close enough to the sidewalk. And was nothing parked in that area at the time either.

[IronWarrior]

They did'nt do a very good job plowing my area either! I was driving around the corner at Locke and Melbourne yesterday and could'nt believe what a terrible job they did at plowing out the corners near the cross walks.

Well... we just got another 10cms I'am guessing? and its still snowing,lets see how good of a job the road crews do this time. I notice alot of people loosing there patience as only one car can come down a side street at a time while the other has to wait...lol I predict alot of fender benders.

[MsMe]

I was driving on Melvin Ave. last night and the bus had to stop to let someone on and the driver had to stop in the driving lane cause the bank was too big in the curb lane. So there is another street they did a lousy job on. I don't mind paying for snow removal in my taxes, but at least do a good job you know.

[SteelTown]

Suppose to up 5°C on Christmas Eve. It'll rain so we're having a wet Christmas.

[MsMe]

Let's hope it gets rid of some of our snow though.

[Millstone]

Let's hope it gets rid of some of our snow though.

slush is the worst thing ever for walking.

[MsMe]

Still wishes I was a bear and could hibernate through this crap.

[emge]

whoever in this city who decided to permit on-street parking and putting the sidewalks in the spot where the snow should be stored (right beside the road)..should be..oh i dunno...given a talking to.

Terrible for snow removal.

London's had snow since Early November. Blame Lake Effect from Lake Huron.

i'm in London area right now, and there's definitely much more snow than Hamilton has at the moment.

Yesterday in Hamilton I was surprised how clear it was downtown... after all the cleanup had occurred of course.

A couple days ago when it was really nasty a friend of mine couldn't get to their street at all (Bayfront area) because it was completely snowed in and wasn't cleared till the next day.

[IronWarrior]

Just got in from walking the dog, jezzz is the snow ever coming down! 5-15cms they are saying...looks like we have atleast 5cm already.

[MsMe]

And winter just started, and I'm fed up with it already. :rolleyes:

[IronWarrior]

My dog seems to love it though!lol!:)

[MsMe]

Mine isn't too thrilled with it. :haha:

[SteelTown]

City under wind warning; Skyway closed

December 28, 2008
Dana Brown

The Burlington Skyway bridge remains closed after high winds shut down the roadway earlier this morning.

Traffic is being re-routed in both directions around the bridge and the city is currently under a wind warning.

Winds are expected to gust up to 90 kilometres an hour today, dropping down to about 60 kilometres this afternoon.

Environment Canada said this morning a storm system is moving across northeastern Ontario and is swathing the southern part of the province with a cold front.

“The rain and unseasonably mild temperatures are coming to an abrupt end with the passage of this front as it roars across southern Ontario at speeds of 100 km/h,” said a posting on Environment Canada’s website Sunday morning.

The winds were strong enough to bring down hydro lines and cause power outages in some parts of the city.

The gusty day ends about 24 hours of unusually warm temperatures. Late last night, Hamilton hit a high of 13 C, surpassing the record high of 12.2 C set in 1971.

The toasty temps, and just over nine millimetres of precipitation, helped wipe out much of the snow left over from a recent series of heavy winter storms. The melt prompted the Grant River Conservation Authority to issue a flood warning, but no such warning was issued by the Hamilton Conservation Authority.

Due to the heavy melting and flooding, some streets in Fort Erie and Thorold were closed yesterday.

Today, the temperature reached 14 C early this morning, but then began plummeting back down with high winds Sunday morning. It’s expected to stay low for the remainder of the day, with winds only calming down to gusting at 50 kilometres an hour by this evening.

[oldcoote]

Let's hope it gets rid of some of our snow though.

Seriously? Give me snow over rain any day.

[SteelTown]

McMaster now has it's own weather station....

http://geomedia.mcmaster.ca/muws/index.php

This is probably a better way to get the temperature than from Hamilton Airport.

[SteelTown]

Guys fed up with this summer weather yet?

Red Hill access from QEW closed

July 26, 2009
Dana Brown
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/606997

A powerful thunderstorm that pummeled the city Sunday has caused massive flooding in homes and on streets.

OPP said the exits to the Red Hill Valley Parkway from the QEW have also been closed in both directions because of flooding. It's unclear exactly how much of the parkway is affected by rising waters or whether more parts of the road have been closed.

Hydro One, which handles some customers in Hamilton, reported a handful of people without power as of 2 p.m. in Ancaster, Binbrook, Beverly, Glanbrook and Glanford.


And the rain may not be over yet.

According to Environment Canada, as much as 50 to 75 mm of rain may have already fallen on the Hamilton area, with another 25 to 50 mm possible in the next few hours.

The government agency issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area and cautioned that “some severe thunderstorms produce tornadoes.”

Heavy rain started pounding the city during the late morning, causing a torrential downpour that caused water to start gushing into hundreds of homes and washing out roads. Houses particularly affected appear to be those in the east end.

Some traffic signals were also out, likely from the storm, which brought lightening and booming thunder.

There were also several reports of cars being submerged or swamped with water, but no injuries were reported.

East end councillor Sam Merulla sent out an email saying he has been “flooded by pages and phone calls of victimized residents with raw sewage in their basement.”

The storm follows a short and sharp spattering of rain the city received yesterday afternoon. The precipitation yesterday totalled 23.4 mm.

The greatest amount of precipitation in the city on July 26 fell in 1989, with 107 mm.

Environment Canada said there is a 60 per cent chance of showers Sunday night, with a risk of a thunderstorm.

The wet weather may continue tomorrow as well, with a 30 per cent chance of showers during the day.

[SteelTown]

Looks like a state of emergency could be called, a media update is coming up soon. Red Hill Parkway will be closed for 48 hrs.

http://media.hamiltonspectator.topscms.com/images/cc/3e/97b6129e45d2b20a3ae6979a9fb3.jpeg
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/607038

[SteelTown]

Sam "Look at Me" Merulla probably sent out 10 so press releases over the two days.

[flar]

Looks like a state of emergency could be called, a media update is coming up soon. Red Hill Parkway will be closed for 48 hrs.

http://media.hamiltonspectator.topscms.com/images/cc/3e/97b6129e45d2b20a3ae6979a9fb3.jpeg
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/607038

What did they expect? Water carved a huge valley here in the first place, nature is just taking its course.

[urban_planner]

I understand that people are upset and have lost valuables, however this was a once is a lifetime storm. I took a walk along the red hill creek this morning and it looks nothing like it used to look. This storm dramatically changed the creek bed. In addition it dramatically change the look of albion falls. For those of you firmilyar next time you go there you are going to be suprised.

[Millstone]

I understand that people are upset and have lost valuables, however this was a once is a lifetime storm.

But despite damage from the downpour, Environment Canada said there is nothing out of character about the storm for the season.

.

[BCTed]

Sam "Look at Me" Merulla probably sent out 10 so press releases over the two days.

People need help. This is a good time for a politician to be loud.

[flar]

I took a walk along the red hill creek this morning and it looks nothing like it used to look. This storm dramatically changed the creek bed.

Construction workers changed the creek bed a few years ago. Despite all the claims that it would be better and the design would take environmental concerns into consideration, they just wanted the creek out of the way so they could build the road. Apparently the creek as designed can no longer handle a major storm.

[SteelTown]

People need help. This is a good time for a politician to be loud.

Compare that with 1 press release from the Mayor over the weekend and his house got flooded as well.

[urban_planner]

The section of the creek I looks at is above where any humans had altered it. Also if this is noting out of the ordinary this would happen every summer so use your brain and think to yourself hey this has never happened before and I am pretty sure it has thunderstormed since the parkway has opened.

Seriously this was something that has never happened before probably since hurricane Hazel in 54.

I know everyone love to blame the city but if this happened in Toronto Burlington Buffalo it would have been the same thing there. infact the DVP was flooded out a few summers ago.

[urban_planner]

oh and Environment Canada said that because all the airport got was s 37mm. which even that is quite a bit but not 111mm.

[flar]

I'm not trying to fight here, just pointing out that it is weather events like this that helped carve a huge valley out of the escarpment in the first place. To think that we can contain the forces of nature in a tiny concrete channel shows the kind of arrogance and lack of foresight that humans often display, not just in Hamilton, but everywhere.

[BCTed]

Compare that with 1 press release from the Mayor over the weekend and his house got flooded as well.

Which press releases are you talking about? I stand by my previous comment.

[BCTed]

Also if this is noting out of the ordinary this would happen every summer so use your brain and think to yourself hey this has never happened before and I am pretty sure it has thunderstormed since the parkway has opened.


The parkway has been open for a couple of years, not decades.

[SteelTown]

Half of Merulla's press release is just junk, just doing trash talk and not advancing any good. Lashing out and cursing at the city and the media during the weekend does what good? He's basically a media whore that seeks out attention. I was kinda surprised CHCH News last evening didn't have an interview with Merulla, wish other local media would do the same and ignore him.

He is an embarrassment, such as calling for a boycott for the Sabres and the Leafs, which got the attention of the Buffalo News and the National Post.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/607953

[emge]

I know everyone love to blame the city but if this happened in Toronto Burlington Buffalo it would have been the same thing there. infact the DVP was flooded out a few summers ago.

I was there. We took a 1993 neon through water up to the windshield... and it kept going... haha. (it probably reduced its value from $100 to $75....)

A lot of the residents of the million-dollar homes up at Bayview/Steeles couldn't get home because a fifteen-foot section of the road was three feet deep in water... some tried and wrecked much, much more expensive cars.

[urban_planner]

I'm not trying to fight here, just pointing out that it is weather events like this that helped carve a huge valley out of the escarpment in the first place. To think that we can contain the forces of nature in a tiny concrete channel shows the kind of arrogance and lack of foresight that humans often display, not just in Hamilton, but everywhere.

Im not trying to fight either but people are talking like if the highway wasn't build this flood flood wouldn't have happened. it would have it was just too much rain. I your right we çan't try and contain a flood nowhere can, however like i said further up stream from where any alterations were made to the creek it still went over its banks and erodded away sections. It also had the power to dramatically change the look of albion falls.

If we want to blame anything it would be that the whole east mountian storm sewer system empties in to the redhill creek. The likely played a larger part of the problem. Aside from the 111mm of rain we got. If this had come down over any other watershed in Hamilton weather is had been tiffany's creek of Spencers Creek I have no doubt the same thing would have happened except some other road would have been closed and all though would have been blammed on something else.

[FairHamilton]

I understand that people are upset and have lost valuables, however this was a once is a lifetime storm.

Seriously this was something that has never happened before probably since hurricane Hazel in 54.

So then it's a twice in a lifetime, so far.........

[Millstone]

I was there. We took a 1993 neon through water up to the windshield... and it kept going... haha. (it probably reduced its value from $100 to $75....)


No you didn't, because the Neon came out as a 1994 vehicle.

[urban_planner]

ok so it was a twice in a life time storm regardless, to blame the parkway is just silly although the idea of a highway making a flood sounds like an interesting sci-fi movie. Or maybe we should invest in some industrial sized bounty, its the quicker picker upper.

Like I said this flood change Albion falls and that's before the water from Buttermilk falls Glendale falls and Felker's falls empties into the Red Hill creek which happens at the king St Interchange.

Seriously I know everyone really wants to say i told you so about the parkway but know your facts. Not just oh there a flood maybe someone flushed there toilet.

I love climate change. Can't wait for another 25 years for the next time the Red hill Valley Parkway needs to Cry.

[hamtransithistory]

A few comments on rain and flooding

Probably the most misunderstood concept is that of the "x-year storm". This does not mean a storm that only happens once every x years, and so if it happens a couple of times in a relatively short while it can't be a "x-year storm"

What it really means is a storm that the probability of it occurring in a given year is 1/x. So the odds of a 100 yr storm is 1/100, or 1%. The reason that it's called a 100 year storm is that over the span of hundreds of years, this should average out to once per hundred years. But you can still have them back to back.

Another thing is that there are several different types of 100 yr storm. Using historical data a model of rainfall in a given area is created. Its called an Intensity-Duration-Frequency curve, or IDF. It describes three things
1)how heavily does it rain (intensity)
2)how long does it rain for (duration)
3)how often does this happen (frequency)

Unfortunately our records do not go far enough back in a lot of cases to give accurate data for very large events, as this part of the world has only been settled for 200 yrs, and accurate record keeping is a lot shorter than that. Large events are generally modelled by extrapolating from the smaller events. Below is data for Hamilton from Environment Canada

DURATION 2 YR 5 YR 10 YR 25 YR 50 YR 100 YR
5 MIN 107.5 139.4 160.5 187.2 206.9 226.6
10 MIN 76.2 101.8 118.7 140.1 156.0 171.8
15 MIN 61.7 82.7 96.6 114.2 127.2 140.1
30 MIN 41.4 55.2 64.4 75.9 84.5 93.0
1 H 25.1 35.4 42.3 50.9 57.3 63.7
2 H 14.9 21.5 25.9 31.4 35.5 39.6
6 H 6.4 9.0 10.7 12.9 14.5 16.1
12 H 3.7 5.0 5.9 7.1 7.9 8.8
24 H 2.1 2.9 3.4 4.0 4.5 4.9

What this describes is that for any given year in Hamilton, the odds are 1/100 (1%) that a storm lasting 5 minutes will rain at a rate of 226.6 mm/hr, a storm lasting 10 minutes will rain at a rate of 171.8 mm/hr, and so on. So there are several different types of 100 year storm, depending on how long each one lasts. Notice that these are rates of rainfall, not amount of rainfall. To get the amount, multiply the rate by the duration (226.6 mm/hr * 5/60 hr =18.9 mm)

The amount of runoff created by a rainstorm depends on a lot of different factors.
-intensity of the rainfall (Heavy rainfalls don't have a chance to soak into the ground)
-slope of the terrain (water ponds on flat ground, races away on steep slopes)
-type of ground (asphalt is virtually waterproof, while dirt will soak up water)
-how wet the ground already is
-density of vegetation (tall grass will help hold back water, short grass doesn't)

As was mentioned in today's Spectator, a 50 yr rainstorm can produce a 100 yr flood, depending on if the ground is wet. But comparing old floods to current ones is not that helpful, because we've altered the landscape so much in the last few decades by development. Storms that caused heavy flooding 100 years ago may not cause it today, and vice versa.

[urban_planner]

hey thanks for that information. might shet some light on something for folks in reations to the 100 year storm talk.

None the less this was impressive amounts of rain and I don't think I will see this again. Although Im only 27 so who knows.

[BrianE]

As someone who works in the hydraulic modeling business I can say that Hamtransit is bang on in his explanation of design storms and flooding events.

I was going to add my 2 cents but it's all been covered by Hamtransit. Good Job.

[drpgq]

Is Albion Falls really that different now? Unfortunately I left Hamilton on the Sunday for a while. otherwise I would go check it out myself.

[urban_planner]

Is Albion Falls really that different now? Unfortunately I left Hamilton on the Sunday for a while. otherwise I would go check it out myself.

I assume you know it fairly well so I won't post a link for a before shot but here is a shot I took of the after.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/gods_eyes/3764337716/

let me know what you think!

[drpgq]

I assume you know it fairly well so I won't post a link for a before shot but here is a shot I took of the after.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/gods_eyes/3764337716/

let me know what you think!

Thanks a lot for the photo link. I always like checking out Albion during the spring thaw, so I'm annoyed I have to miss this.

[emge]

No you didn't, because the Neon came out as a 1994 vehicle.


I spent a few minutes trying to remember the year and gave it my best guess, as it was my father-in-law's car that we had use of briefly before it gave out completely. It certainly wasn't after 95, so I gave it my best guess.

Appeased now, are we? It was a white, ancient Neon on its last legs and it made it through water that was actually covering the hood and splashing the windshield- that's what matters.

Making people correct every last detail of their posts on nonessential matters really doesn't contribute a great deal to this forum, and I don't appreciate having to make a second post because of a blanket statement claiming I've falsified my initial statement.

[BCTed]

Half of Merulla's press release is just junk, just doing trash talk and not advancing any good. Lashing out and cursing at the city and the media during the weekend does what good? He's basically a media whore that seeks out attention. I was kinda surprised CHCH News last evening didn't have an interview with Merulla, wish other local media would do the same and ignore him.

He is an embarrassment, such as calling for a boycott for the Sabres and the Leafs, which got the attention of the Buffalo News and the National Post.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/607953

That's not a press release, but a transcript of what he said to the press.

Anyway, I cannot say that I agree with the Sabres/Leafs boycott idea, but the fact is that many people have been victimized by flooding multiple times in the last few years and a loud voice, even if self-serving, can help.

[BCTed]

A few comments on rain and flooding

Probably the most misunderstood concept is that of the "x-year storm". This does not mean a storm that only happens once every x years, and so if it happens a couple of times in a relatively short while it can't be a "x-year storm"

What it really means is a storm that the probability of it occurring in a given year is 1/x. So the odds of a 100 yr storm is 1/100, or 1%. The reason that it's called a 100 year storm is that over the span of hundreds of years, this should average out to once per hundred years. But you can still have them back to back.


The more times a "Once in X years" storm occurs within a span of X or fewer years, the higher the likelihood that X has been set incorrectly.

[markbarbera]

Except Mr. Merulla has sounded off every time the flooding has happened, and its seemed to do little good for those that get repeatedly flooded. A hot-headed tirade may get some attention, but doesn't necessarily produce the desired results.

[SteelTown]

That's not a press release, but a transcript of what he said to the press.

Anyway, I cannot say that I agree with the Sabres/Leafs boycott idea, but the fact is that many people have been victimized by flooding multiple times in the last few years and a loud voice, even if self-serving, can help.

Okay 10 or so releases to the press.

We've had a flood in the East end last year, 2 years ago, probably had one 3 years ago, had a major one in 1983 and of course Hurricane Hazel. The point is each time there's a flood in the East end in the past few years Merulla goes on his trash talk with cursing/swearing and attacking people. A total embarrassment. This has never produced any advancement. In fact he's probably making more enemies than advancing and good.

Two or three years ago there was a flood at West Mount, Sanatorium area, and Whitehead never lashed out. Resident got compensated and some sewer lines got repaired.

[realcity]

There was a similar flash flood in 1995. I guess we've been explained by transitguy how the math works. and i enjoyed that... thanks. Basically this will happen again and we won't be waiting a lifetime either.

Does anyone think this flooding -- being worse in the east end -- had anything to do with all the new sprawl development above the RedHill, the Centennial and 53, Paramount and Mud areas.?

[urban_planner]

There was a similar flash flood in 1995. I guess we've been explained by transitguy how the math works. and i enjoyed that... thanks. Basically this will happen again and we won't be waiting a lifetime either.

Does anyone think this flooding -- being worse in the east end -- had anything to do with all the new sprawl development above the RedHill, the Centennial and 53, Paramount and Mud areas.?

Ya partially anyway. there has been alot of development up there. some of it has storm water retention ponds (which probably filled up) however like I had said earlier most of the east mountian drains into the red hill creek behind the old ottawa st dump is the out fall of this major storm sewer then it flow through a creek and into the red hill creek around the dartnall interchange.

The hearitage green area drains into Montgomery creek which flows into davis creek which flows into Red Hill around the King St Interchange.

and further east the drains into Davis Creek which as I said above flows into Redhill.

This is what caused so much flooding, All the water going into one creek.

[FairHamilton]

Except Mr. Merulla has sounded off every time the flooding has happened, and its seemed to do little good for those that get repeatedly flooded. A hot-headed tirade may get some attention, but doesn't necessarily produce the desired results.

The desired results all depend on who you are. This type of thing wins votes in Hamilton, thus Merulla's desired result will be accomplished.

[SteelTown]

Brace yourself for even more rain......

Rain, rain go away
High winds, heavy rain, hail possible Thursday

July 29, 2009
Dana Brown
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/608761

Mother Nature is set to rain on Hamilton's parade today.

And tomorrow may be even worse.

The Weather Network is predicting 1-3mm of rain Wednesday morning, followed by another 5-10mm in the afternoon.

During the evening, another smattering of 1-3mm could fall before it stops briefly.

Thursday, Environment Canada is saying isolated, non-severe thunderstorms are possible over southwestern Ontario.

That could include wind gusts of 90 km/h or more, rain of more than 50 mm in one hour, or less than 75 mm in three hours, and hail that is 2 cm in diameter or more. Environment Canada also cautions about the possibility of tornadoes.

No specific weather warnings have been issued for the Hamilton area.

the city is already exhausted from dealing with the massive flooding caused by last weekend’s storms, especially Sunday’s massive downpour.

More than 110 mm of rain fell in Stoney Creek. East-end residents were particularly hard hit by flooding, with many dealing with sewage back ups in their basement.

Going into the August long weekend, we’ll have to contend with an 80 per cent chance of rain on Friday.

It’s expected Saturday will be sunny, but on Sunday the rain may hit again, with a 40 per cent chance of rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Monday is so far a mixed bag.

The Environment Canada record for most precipitation on this day is 49mm, which fell in 1983.

[SteelTown]

You gotta watch this youtube clip, awesome

g8KDt_byBi8

[ryan_mcgreal]

You gotta watch this youtube clip, awesome

Years ago, I took my son to see Robert Munsch at Hamilton Place. For the intro, Boris Brott did this with the audience - it was amazing.

[urban_planner]

July 30, 2009
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 30, 2009)
RAINFALL TOTALS WERE 'MORE THAN A HURRICANE'

The deluge in east Hamilton Sunday was "a gully-washer of major proportions," in the words of Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips.

The 109.1 millimetres measured in 212 hours by the Hamilton Conservation Authority on Queenston Road near Lake Avenue was "more than you'd get in a hurricane," Phillips said yesterday.

The total captured by that rain gauge was 111.7 mm for the day.

The record one-day rainfall at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport is 107 mm on July 26, 1989. The most recorded there in one hour was 77 mm.

Cypress Lake on the Bruce Peninsula saw 112 mm in an hour in August 2003, and Sarnia 90 mm in July 1991, so Phillips classes the Hamilton storm as "a real gusher."

Brampton saw 31.8 mm fall one day in hurricane Hazel, then 178.3 mm the next, for a total of 210 mm, but "109 mm in two hours would swamp that," according to Phillips, Canada's best-known weather expert.

The world's record rain champion is Hawaii, where 305 mm once fell in an hour.

By yesterday afternoon, nearly 1,850 people had registered with the City of Hamilton's damage claims hotline -- 905-667-3157 -- because of flooding and there is no sign of claims slowing down, said Rob Rossini, general manager of finance and corporate services.

QEW CLOSURE BLAMED ON THREE-DAYS RAIN STREAK

Ontario's Ministry of Transportation, looking into why flooding closed the Queen Elizabeth Way in east Hamilton Sunday, has concluded that day's rain was worse than a 100-year storm (one with a 1 per cent probability of occurring in any single year).

It was made worse because it fell on soil super-saturated by storms Friday and Saturday.

Spokesperson Will Mackenzie said all lanes were closed for about an hour between Burlington Street and the Red Hill Valley Parkway, which was also flooded, keeping the interchange ramps closed until 2 a.m. Monday.

Flooding also resulted in a partial QEW closure in mid-June. Mackenzie says paving work prevented rainwater from reaching the storm sewer grates that day.

He notes that the QEW has a history of flooding where it runs between Lake Ontario and Red Hill Creek, but storm sewers and culverts have been sized up to reduce risk, and the parkway ramp raised to protect the highway from a 100-year flood.

The Hamilton Conservation Authority measured more than 111 mm of rain -- almost all within two hours -- near Queenston Road and Lake Avenue Sunday. Mackenzie says hurricane Hazel dumped 120 mm over a longer time in 1954. A storm on Aug. 30, 1981, dropped 67 mm and one Aug. 24, 1982, deposited 93.8 mm.

ACTIVIST QUESTIONS EFFECT OF MOUNTAIN URBANIZATION

Lynda Lukasik, executive director of Environment Hamilton, wonders why her home and others on the street near Eastgate Mall flooded Sunday for the first time since they were built in the 1960s and 1970s.

Was the storm the worst in all those years, have there been changes in the sewer system or is new development, especially on the Mountain, sending more runoff into older parts of the lower city?

"It's a highly urbanized valley. Now we've built more up top and I'm sitting at the bottom. The cynical me wonders if we've mucked up the flow regime.

Lukasik said a good start would be requiring that all downspouts be disconnected from the sewer system.


So i guess it was in fact worse then Hazel. So much my only a 50 year storm (based off previous Dicussions)

I guess it wasn't a typical summer storm like originally was quoted as being said, Hmm I wonder what gave that away.

[markbarbera]

Lukasik kinda contradicts herself here. First, she suggests runoff from new development on the mountain as a contributory factor to the flooding, then speculates that this sewage overflow issue can be remedied partly by requiring downspouts to be disconnected from the sewar system. Sounds good, except for the fact that these dreaded new residential developments on the mountain are already disconnected from the sewar system, and new residential developments have not been connected to the sewar system for quite some time now (upwards of 20 years). It is actually the older homes built up until the sixties and seventies that had downspouts connected directly to the sewars.

If she is wondering why homes in her Eastgate neighbourhood flooded for the first time since their construction in the 60's, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it hasn't ever rained that heavily in such a short period of time since well before the 60's...

[drpgq]

I am with Bratina on this, although I would probably go a bit farther.

As a renter, I wonder about the socialization of risk for house owners. Why should the entire city be responsible? You buy a house, things can happen.

Walkout pulls plug on flood aid

Bratina, Ferguson oppose "blank cheque" to victims
July 31, 2009
Nicole Macintyre
(Jul 31, 2009)

Three councillors walked out of an emergency meeting yesterday, preventing approval of an aid program for flood victims that they argued would have been like "writing a blank cheque."

The majority of councillors present were poised to pass a motion by Councillor Chad Collins for the city to pick up the tab for all flood damage not covered by insurance. Staff warned against the proposal, arguing it could cost the city unknown millions, invite insurance companies to reject claims and set a precedent.

When a short recess was called before the vote, Councillors Maria Pearson, Lloyd Ferguson and Bob Bratina, who opposed approving the upgraded grants program without more information, left. Their departure caused the meeting to be cancelled because it lost quorum. Nine members must be present to make decisions.

"They did it deliberately," said Councillor Brad Clark, calling their actions "irresponsible."

Bratina and Ferguson later used the same term for those who wanted to pass the program without knowing the consequences.

"What they did was ridiculous," said Bratina, adding he can't support writing a "blank cheque."

The city clerk is trying to reschedule the meeting. Council only has 14 working days from the flood to approve applying for disaster aid from the province.

Yesterday's delay outraged residents who came to watch the meeting. Collins argued flood victims want the city to take immediate action and can't wait weeks for the city to study his proposal. Council voted 7-4 against a one week delay to allow staff to report back.

After the referral failed, Bratina and Ferguson said they wouldn't be put in the position of voting against flood aid when their concern was passing the program blindly.

"I thought it was reckless," said Ferguson. "I just think we need a cooling off period."

Pearson said she left because of a "family emergency" and did not know the other councillors were leaving.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who spoke against Collins' proposal, said he didn't advise the councillors to leave but noted their decision will give staff more time to analyse the proposal.

"Sometimes politics is a game of chess," said Eisenberger.

The political move "flies in the face of what the democratic process is about," said Collins.

Councillor Sam Merulla went further, suggesting those who left don't care about the flood victims.

The emergency meeting was called to approve a compassionate grant program after last Sunday's heavy rain and flooding.

Staff recommended increasing the grant from $750 to $1,000. Residents who had been denied sewer backup insurance because of multiple floods would be offered more aid. Staff wanted to report back on the amount, but based cost estimates on $5,000.

The city was expecting the program would cost upwards of $6 million based on 4,000 to 5,000 claims.

Collins wants to upgrade the program to help homeowners with all uninsured loses. His proposal would cover residents who couldn't get insurance because of past floods and pay for all damages and lost personal property, including vehicles, not covered by an insurer.

The program would also cover non-sewer flooding that is not covered by insurance, such as surface flooding. It would not apply to residents who choose not to buy insurance.

He estimated the program could cost the city $10 million to $20 million, though staff said they don't know the cost. Collins said the city should take projects out of its capital plan to pay for the grants.

"This is a priority," he said, arguing the city has to help residents get back to the same position they were in before the storm hit. "It's a disaster and people are asking for help."

His proposal would cover areas where the city has identified sewer problems as well as areas where staff believe it was only the volume of rain that caused flooding.

Councillor Terry Whitehead put forward a motion to offer the same payout for the 10 floods council has deemed disasters since 2005.

Eisenberger said he had concerns the unlimited grant program would be "opening the vault."

"We need to help, the question is to what degree."

Pearson argued council had to balance the interests of flood victims with all taxpayers.

"This isn't the last time we're going to get flooded," she noted.

But Merulla argued the city has a "moral obligation" to over the damages.

nmacintyre@thespec.com

905-526-3299

ATTENDANCE

Attendance at yesterday's emergency meeting

Absent for the whole meeting:

Brian McHattie: vacation

David Mitchell: vacation

Margaret McCarthy: city business

Left meeting before Collins' motion:

Russ Powers: family commitment

Robert Pasuta: ill

Left after the motion and before vote:

Maria Pearson

Lloyd Ferguson

Bob Bratina

Remaining at the end

Fred Eisenberger

Bernie Morelli

Sam Merulla

Chad Collins

Tom Jackson

Scott Duvall

Terry Whitehead

Brad Clark

City flood claims hotline: 905-667-3157

Total flood claims as of 4 p.m. yesterday: 2,933

[adam]

If nobody will sell you house insurance for a property, you are basically agreeing to all associated risks with owning that property. Or do people think that other tax payers should be on the hook?

[SteelTown]

Should use the money to do infrastructure repair for the east end instead of burning $10 to $30 million away.