Brace yourself for yet another storm

It’s another weather warning in a winter of weather warnings. If they haven’t been for the cold, they’ve been for the snow. Tonight we’re being told to brace ourselves for another snowfall — which could leave as much as ten centimeters on the ground by the time it’s finished.

But while tonight’s flurries will add to our tally, the totals for this winter may surprise you: so far this winter we’ve had 112 centimetres of snow in Hamilton. It may feel like a record-breaking amount, but when you crunch the numbers, we’re on track for an average year. In a typical winter, the city sees 127 centimetres.

Here’s the difference: a typical winter is also substantially warmer, with a mean temperature of minus 2.7 degrees. Since November, we’ve been averaging a whole three degrees colder.

“It’s really really cold, then it snows, then it’s cold, then it snows.”

Consistently freezing temperatures have led to little thawing, and significant snow buildup. Out in Ancaster some of the snowbanks are taller than many people, some easily hitting six feet. And that frustrates many drivers.

“Sometimes the snow plows actually put too much of a snowbank, so there’s no way to get a truck over or anything.”

The buildup has resulted in shrunken lots, slick sidewalks, and nightmarish street parking. With more on the way tonight, Hamiltonians are crossing their fingers for better weather to come.

Warmer temperatures are coming later in the week. While they’re what we’ve all been waiting for, we’re in for another weather headache when they arrive: a rapid melt of all this accumulated snow could lead to some serious flooding.