Whats the weather like near you?

[Doug Tait]

3 hours ago, Big J said:

 

It was an interesting evening, looking at the mechanics of it!

 

There are two types of snow maker on the hill. The tall poles are driven by compressed air and the turbine type ones use what looks like a jet engine to propel a fine mist out. Both require the air temperature to be 4 or 5c below freezing, and due to the warming temperatures last night (minus 11 at 18:00 and minus 4 at 22:00), we shut down the snow production for the time being. 

 

The water is drawn from the lake and is driven up the hill by the largest water pump I've personally ever seen (110kw). 

 

Whilst the snow is being made, someone is always on site to supervise (24hrs a day). I don't think anyone is paid to do it. It's all volunteers. This was my first shift, and I'll certainly be back. I've never been skiing, but intend to learn. 

 

They are also eying me up to drive the piste grooming machine with my machine driving experience. That'll be something for the CV! This isn't the exact machine they have, but it's almost identical.

 

Thanks J, very interesting. As Canal Navvy said it's been good to see your new beginning, I'm a little bit jealous to be honest, and I wouldn't mind a shot driving the piste groomer too! 

 

[AJStrees]

Cold this morning before the rain set in. 
 

 

[Big J]

A dusting of snow and minus 12c here this morning. Ski slope fully prepped now ahead of Boxing Day opening

[Doug Tait]

Looks fantastic J, very jealous as our winter wonderland has disappeared, it's 8c and intermittent rain.

[Big J]

20 minutes ago, Doug Tait said:

Looks fantastic J, very jealous as our winter wonderland has disappeared, it's 8c and intermittent rain.

 

We had 4 days of plus degrees (up to about 5c) but it wasn't enough to thaw the ground. I'm standing on the lake as I type, with 10cm ice thickness, so will be cracking out the ice skates this afternoon too 😎

[Doug Tait]

19 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

We had 4 days of plus degrees (up to about 5c) but it wasn't enough to thaw the ground. I'm standing on the lake as I type, with 10cm ice thickness, so will be cracking out the ice skates this afternoon too 😎

Conversely last night when I took the dogs out was ankle deep in rain running down the road, more singin' in the rain than swan lake!

Enjoy it...

[Big J]

18 minutes ago, Doug Tait said:

Conversely last night when I took the dogs out was ankle deep in rain running down the road, more singin' in the rain than swan lake!

Enjoy it...

 

If it's any consolation, our forecast is pretty mild after this weekend. Long range is for proper winter is to come back mid January.

 

I quite like that winter comes and goes here. I think if we were further north and it was 5-6 months of snow, I'd get bored of it. 

[carlos]

looks awfull in the states, a hurricane with snow!!!

il stick with grey and wet thanks

[Squaredy]

2 hours ago, carlos said:

looks awfull in the states, a hurricane with snow!!!

il stick with grey and wet thanks

I’m with relatives in West Palm Beach, currently 6 degrees and getting to twelve by lunchtime.  My cousin who lives here says he has never known it so cold.  All the locals are hunting out their jumpers and coats from the back of their closets!

 It is forecast to be 25 by Wednesday though!

[Big J]

Minus 8 overnight here. Just under 0 now with a thaw in prospect. 

 

We went ice skating on the lake yesterday and will do the same again this afternoon. I've only been skating 10 days, but am really enjoying it.