On September 23, a mere two weeks ago, Calgary’s temperature hit 32.5 degrees. CELSIUS. It was not only one of the hottest days all year, it was, in fact, the hottest first day of fall ever. What makes it even more amazing is that the first day of fall was, in fact, hotter than any of the days in the preceding summer (the hottest day in summer 2009 for Calgary was August 1, with a high of 31.7).
And then on Sunday morning – yes, that’s October 4th: FOURTH! – it snowed. It snowed enough that my kids were able to make a snowman in the front yard:
That picture is just so you can see that there actually was a respectable amount of snow on the lawn, and here’s a closeup on the cute little snowman:
So then today, the temperature is about 15C, sunny, and windy! Windy! Like gusting over 50km/h windy. Like, I had to hold my kids’ hands when they walked home for lunch or else they’d be blown away windy.
So we go from 33 degrees to snowing in a span of less than two weeks, and although I’ve somewhat gotten used to wild swings in weather here in Calgary (this is the place where it can snow in July, after all) I must say this season has really thrown me. And despite the fact that my kids loved the snowy Sunday morning, (they woke up, screamed, then donned their snowsuits right on top of their jammies and headed out to play) it seems to be affecting everyone. My grade-four daughter recently said, “Mom, the calendar is all screwed up. In September, it’s supposed to be fall, but the weather is summery. I think we need to change the calendar.”
Change the calendar indeed!
Either of those extremes sound better than the BUCKETS of rain we have been getting in Toronto this summer and fall! Oh, and definitely a respectable snowman 😉