Late afternoon in late January in Edmonton and the sky across the river valley was looking good:
winter
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It was early morning, just before sunrise, but with the heavy overcast sky and light snow falling how would you know?. Overnight, this part of Edmonton had 5 to 10 cm of the lightest, fluffiest snow you can imagine. For a few hours we were living in a winter wonderland.
and finally an image from the same morning, which is interesting even though not featuring the snow:
Yes, what a difference a day can make – weather wise in Edmonton. The temperature swings in Edmonton can be especially dramatic. Yesterday, Saturday January 9th was cold. Even though the sun came out int he afternoon the -18C temperature and a bit of wind made me want to stay inside. I did venture out for a little while to clear snow off of my sidewalks but within 20 minutes my fingers were frozen, numb and my ski gloves were not helping.
Today however the temperature swung up to near freezing and with the sun out it was very pleasant. It enticed me to go out for a nice photo hike in the river valley. I was out for an hour in a light with jacket with light gloves and was actually too warm and had to take my toque off to moderate my temperature (love when that happens).
Anyway here are a few images of the beautiful North Saskatchewan river valley in central Edmonton:
The last day of 2015 and a beautiful day it was. After a couple of weeks of cool seasonal temperatures, December 31st featured the relative warmth of temperatures near freezing and sunshine – a bright, low-in-the-sky sun and blue skies. It was a great day for a walk in the river valley.
Here is a bit of what I saw as I wandered around the Buena Vista Park area:
Red Berries Against a Blue Sky
Winter Sun Through the Trees
Road Through the Trees
Winter Color
Contrasts
Bridge Over Ice and Water
I was wandering through downtown Edmonton at noon one day this past week, just getting some fresh air and capturing images of a few things that caught my eye:
Narrow Alley
On Saturday (2015 March 14) I attended the Crashed Ice Championship on the bank of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton. Problem was that with the huge crowds I couldn’t get anywhere near the race itself. Nonetheless it was a very interesting atmosphere with the lighting and the crowds so I turned my attention to just capturing photos of that atmosphere.
Ice in the Night
On the Slope
Distant Big Screen
This was as close as i was able to get to the live racing action:
Live Action
Blue Trees
The Edmonton Queen in the Ice
Bridge in the Night
[Ho Ho Ho; Yeg-Mon-Ton] – you might have to be of a certain age to get that one.
A few images of the North Saskatchewan river valley in central Edmonton. These early afternoon images are typical of late winter, with the river ice showing signs of softening and breaking up and while a lot of snow remains on the ground. With a couple of sunny days with temperatures well above seasonal average, the snow started to recede in areas that get a lot of daily sun exposure.
Softening Ice and Downtown Edmonton Skyline
Path in Dawson Park
Steep River Valley Slope
Path by the Hoodoos
Across the Valley
Although not visible in the above picture, the North Saskatchewan River is crossed three times in this view, as it meanders in a big S-shaped path below the visible land and trees.
2015 February 28 – A “normal” end-of-February winter landscape in Edmonton
If you are from Edmonton do you remember the year we almost didn’t have winter. I know, you’re thinking I’m crazy! I’ve lived here my entire life and really have questioned my memory around this event.
It was the winter of 2005/2006. My memory was that we got through February with basically no snow! Then on March 1st we got a big dumb of snow and March was brutal – very wintery! So did I imagine this?
I went back to the “Environment Canada” weather records and this is what the history showed for the Edmonton Municipal Airport in January 2006. Look at the Snowfall stats for the month: Zero – everyday!
So how was February? Pretty good (unless you are a skier). The trend continued! No snow on the ground until February 22nd and then only a measly 1 cm had accumulated. A few more snow flurries left a total of 4 cm on the ground by the end of February. In a normal year we would have more than this amount of snow still on the ground, still unmelted from when it fell in November.
So was my memory of the miserable March backed up by the the records? Well, Yes! On March 1st we got our biggest snow fall of the winter, twice as much fell as had accumulated all winter to that point. It snowed 5 out of the first 11 days of March. Then we got the biggest dump of the winter, over 20 cm on March 18th. By the end of March, despite some significant melting there was still more snow on the ground than there had been at the end of February!
Spring did soon arrive – April 1st was actually the last day with a record of snow on the ground in Edmonton that year.
This winter of 2014/15 has been normal (which is to say it feels much too long already by the end of February). But, the key to surviving an Edmonton winter is to find the beauty in it. Today I was out for a walk in Edmonton’s river valley and yes, with white snow and blue skies it was beautiful.
Ice Lump and Fallen Tree
A Snowy Path leading out of the River Valley
The North Saskatchewan river valley is one of the City of Edmonton’s defining features and points of pride.
In every season the view of and across the valley is something to behold. It was the lovely, winter afternoon of Feb 21 (2015) when I snapped these images of the river valley from the top (northside) of the riverbank between 96th and 97th Streets.
Chinese Pagoda in Louise McKinney Park
I love the old pedestrian bridge that spans between Louise McKinney park on the northside and the Cloverdale community on the southside. It is distressing to me that the bridge might be torn down in the near future!
Grierson-Cloverdale Bridge
On the southside of the valley lies the community of Cloverdale which is home to both the Muttart Conservatory (2 of the 4 pyramids pictured below) and the Edmonton Ski Club (on the slopes in the background)
Pyramids and Moguls
The east end of the Edmonton Ski Club in the distance on the left and on the right the reflections from the Shaw Conference Centre
Valley Reflected
Two of the downtown bridges (roadways) – the Low Level in the foreground and the James MacDonald behind it:
Two Bridges
I’ve often heard the phrase “its a dry cold” when people compare an Alberta winter (and our ease of surviving it) compared to the “cold” of the eastern Canada (and by “eastern” Canada one is usually referring to the middle east, the GTA). When Alberta’s winters are compared with the balmy west coast, inevitably one hears a comment to the effect that Edmonton’s winters may be cold but they’re sunny – as opposed to cool, wet, grey and dreary.
Well this past Sunday was truly a “Sun” day and it was a beautiful time to be out enjoying the bright sun and beauty. Following are some photos captured in the Hawrelak and Buena Vista Park areas of Edmonton’s river valley.
Winter – Sit and Enjoy the View (from the southwest corner of Hawrelak)
Snowshoeing on the River’s Edge
Falling Star? (no, just a jet’s trail)
Steam
Afternoon Sun (in Buena Vista Park, Edmonton)
Bridge and Shadows
… and enjoying the winter sun:
Walkin the Dogs
YEGmonton 