A Winter's Day ...

New Years Day was definitely a Winter's Day in the Fraser Valley after a chilling and very icy few days. Living in the Fraser Valley and northern British Columbia for many years, I do not recall an extended cold weather experience like this with the freezing rain. The icy conditions have caused havoc on the roads and one of the coldest winters in recent history. This winter in North America many tens of thousands of people spent a cold and dark few days without power to welcome the New Year due to weather-related power outages.

A Glorious Winter's Day - in photos

On the few blue sky days after the clouds rolled away and the sun came out, with zero degree temperatures the ice and snow turned the valley into a crystal Ice Wonderland. Welcome 2018 ...

Welcome 2018

Extreme weather greeted North America although it has dominated the headlines for some weeks in December. Power outages are not uncommon during winters in this area but the freezing rain was something quite spectacular and dangerous. Driving through our local area on New Years day it was obvious from the massive amounts of clear ice on the plants, trees, signs, roadways, etc that the ice accumulation on the trees from the freezing rain caused extensive damage. Many people were without power to heat their homes, cook their meals and were without lights for several days.

Blueberry crops were fields of shining jewels

People were steelhead fishing in the river — Steelhead fishermen on the river

Arctic Cold - The Arctic Front & Polar Vortex explained

The Arctic Front was responsible for causing the weather havoc throughout North America over Christmas and New Year 2017 / 2018. We are most fortunate on the southern West Coast as our climate is more moderate than Eastern Canada and USA who were subjected to much more severe winter conditions.

We can only wonder what else "Climate" has in store for us in the coming year. In closing, it is always good to be ready for any emergency whether it be wildfires and smoke haze, extreme climate such as flooding or an earthquake

Best to be ready for whatever comes your way for the rest of our Winter's days in the new year.