Wind & Rain ~ Stormy Days & A Bright Sky

The Fraser Valley has a lot of rain and flooding this time of year. The farmers not only have to worry about evacuation, safety and transportation, but also have to take care of farm animals. For those who have lived on, or grown up on a farm, we know how much of a priority the animals are.

It is especially so for those who have milk cows, because rain or shine, you have to get the milking done.

Growing up on a farm in Alberta, I remember blizzards so intense, with drifting snow and zero visibility, we had to rig up a rope that went from the house to the barn, so we could find our way to the barn and back. You could freeze to death just going out to do the chores. 

During another severe storm in late summer, the hail was so large, and the wind so violent, we had to take cover under the hay wagon. I grabbed a tin bucket to put over my head, to run to the house, but the noise was unbearable.

Years later, when I experienced acute cognitive dissonance, I recall thinking about, and comparing it to having a tin bucket over my head in a hail storm. 

We also had thunder and lightening on the prairies like nothing I have ever experienced since. We feared getting hit by lightening. When lightening hit the lightening rod on the house, it made a crackling sound that would scare us. Although storms are not supposed to shake houses, it sure feels like they do. 

On Haida Gwaii there were some very notable storms as well, sometimes reaching hurricane force gusts. Large trees were uprooted, and toppled over. After one of the storms, I walked to the local cemetery. A huge tree had been uprooted, and brought a coffin up with it. 

During the time I was on Haida Gwaii there was what was referred to as “the storm of the century” in 2003. What made it so incredible was that it happened on Christmas Eve, and was at peak tide. Waves were crashing up against the door of the small house I was living in at the time. 

Huge logs washed up on the highway blocking the traffic for several days. The wind was gusting to 75-100 mph and more, depending on where you were located. The power was out, and there was flying debris from shingles, to branches, and even trampolines blowing down hillsides. There were times I thought windows were going to cave in, or the roof might come off. 

This afternoon was not the storm of the century, but it was gale force. The wind was gusting so much, even just stepping outside brought a formidable shock, quickly driving you back indoors. I don’t like being outside in wind like that. One time in Vancouver I nearly got hit by a large patio umbrella that came flying through the air. 

Today it seemed like the heavens above were fiery and shaking. All across Canada, this is the time of year when storms rage around us. For some it is freezing winds, poor visibility, and drifting snow. 

For us, it has been wet and blowing like crazy.

Let’s hope for calmer days ahead. The sky for a brief time this afternoon was a sight to behold.