# First Snow **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001 "2000-09-21T14:14:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fyodor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/958977/32.png) [@Fyodor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fyodor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/1 "2000-09-21T14:14:51Z")
It’s 8 AM here in Calgary and all the cars, lawns, and houses have a white coat of snow. Most of the leaves are still on the trees and wet snow is stuck on the leaves. It’s nice living somewhere where it’s winter almost eight months out of the year (sarcasm). This is a little early; we usually don’t see the first snow until early October. I remember one Halloween when it was -35 and a big blizzard. I wouldn’t want to live somewhere really hot like the US gulf coast or Arizona but sometimes I wish we had a little more hot weather here. After twenty-three years here I figure there’s about an average of six weeks a year when you can wear light summer clothes after the sun goes down. ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/2 "2000-09-21T14:19:06Z")
I heard that on the weather network this morning. They weren’t kidding, huh? Yuck. You and all of our other Albertan posters have my sympathies - I’m bracing for the first sign of the dreaded white stuff. :shudders at the thought: ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/3 "2000-09-21T14:50:41Z")
What’s snow? (I’m in Texas–95 degrees yesterday!) ---
**Author:** ![Fyodor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/958977/32.png) [@Fyodor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fyodor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/4 "2000-09-21T15:03:18Z")
The only good thing about it is the entertaining carnage on the roads every year. The first few snow storms cause hundreds of traffic accidents (very few injuries) and the streets become a madhouse. I think it’s because yer average moron steps from his house into his/her attached heated garage, straps his/her fat ass into a metal capsule, and heads off to their heated underground parking at work (avg. cost $220/month). As their vehicle passes through the actual external natural environment they don’t really notice that the streets are slicker’n snot until they hit the brakes. After one early blizzard I was most amused when a local news team took their cameras through some local body shops — SUVs lined up as far as the eye could see, waiting for repair. The news team speculated that it was because the SUV owners think they have really special vehicles that are capable of uniform performance under any conditions. ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/5 "2000-09-21T15:26:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Al Zheimers \* SUVs lined up as far as the eye could see, waiting for repair. The news team speculated that it was because the SUV owners think they have really special vehicles that are capable of uniform performance under any conditions. Maybe they all had Firestone tires. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/6 "2000-09-21T15:40:34Z")
When I lived in Colorado I was amazed at how many SUVs I saw in the ditch every time it snowed. I figured it was all the recent arrivals from California who assumed that buying a 4WD would enable them to drive as stupidly in snow as on dry pavement. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/7 "2000-09-21T16:43:46Z")
Maybe so but what you folks are failing to appreciate is that an SUV can usually get stuck further in the snowbank than your average car. And Al, I know it’s of little comfort to you but just think of those wonderful unseasonal thaws you’ve got to look forward to this winter… not buying it?.. oh well, I tried. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/8 "2000-09-21T16:51:49Z")
The difference between 4-wheel drive & 2-wheel drive: You have to walk 5 miles further out of the woods. The difference between 4-wheel drive & 4-wheel drive plus a winch: You have to walk 10 miles further out of the woods. Assuming you actually take your 4-wheel drive into the woods. When I lived in Denver I was in awe at the huge, beautiful 4-wheel drives I saw all over. Saw until it actually started snowing, that is. Apparently these jacked up behemoths were too pretty and expensive to risk on slippery roads. As soon as the snow flew, they did a vanishing act. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/9 "2000-09-21T17:01:01Z")
As is our habit, Sue and I were talking this morning and she says it was snowing on the East side of the city, nothing here yet but it is just a matter of time. BTW… I’m in Edmonton… I guess it’s almost time to post the top ten reasons to live in Canada in the winter… where else can you use your car’s trunk for extra freezer space? ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/10 "2000-09-21T17:28:27Z")
There’s been quite a difference in the weather here, too. Apparently the tail-end of the front that gave you snow decided to visit the desert southwest this week. Last week, we had highs in the hundreds. This week, the highs are in the 60s. It actually gets (comparatively) cold at night. The lows have been in the low 50s, and it feels _cold_! Sure, it ain’t snow, but you get used to the weather you have. By NM standards, this is cool autumn weather – time to break out the jackets. ~~Baloo ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/11 "2000-09-21T18:50:07Z")
We haven’t had snow yet in this part of Saskatchewan, but it is darn cold. We went from a high of 32C 90F on Sunday to 4C 39F today…That’s enough to make anyone want to hibernate. Keith ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/12 "2000-09-21T18:58:10Z")
I’m so jealous. I hate you all. I have to wait until Christmas to even think about snow, and y’all’re enjoying it now. You’ve ruined the nice glow I had because it’s raining. Just when I thought fall was finally coming to southern California, you made me anticipate a winter that will never come. But rain in LA can be just as enjoyable as snow in Calgary. Last winter on the first day it rained there were 172 accidents. It happens every year, but they never learn. ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Sea\_Sloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sloth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/13 "2000-09-21T19:01:10Z")
Al, I’m very jealous of your snowscape. I hate summer and dread it’s humid, sweaty arrival every year. Fortunately I live in New England, but even our timid little summer is too much for me. It’s starting to get colder here too and I can smell crispy trees and chilly winds. I can’t wait… ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/14 "2000-09-21T19:15:52Z")
You’re all making me soooo homesick. I’m living in South Carolina, where it’s still 85 degrees and humid. I’m a Yankee, though, and grew up having to wear a ski jacket over my Halloween costume. Except for the couple inches of snow we got last year, I haven’t seen the stuff for 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/15 "2000-09-21T20:04:46Z")
I’m with you **C3** , but luckily I’m doing something about it and leaving North Carolina tomorrow! \ Snow snow snow snow snow snow snow… ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/16 "2000-09-21T20:08:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danalan \* > \*\*Apparently these jacked up behemoths were too pretty and expensive to risk on slippery roads. As soon as the snow flew, they did a vanishing act. \*\* True; plus if they do take’em out, they soon discover that four wheel drive doesn’t equate to four wheel stop. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/17 "2000-09-21T20:13:47Z")
I can’t wait for the first snow! I love snow. My nephew is finally old enough to help me build a kick ass snow fort. Maybe this year he’ll actually fight back in snowball fights. 🙂 (I say all this _now_. When the first snow actually does come, I’ll be complaining about it. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/18 "2000-09-22T02:39:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thinksnow \* > > **I’m with you C3, but luckily I’m doing something about it and leaving North Carolina tomorrow!** Hey! We got twenty inches last year! 😃 However, Drain Bead will tell you that the snow you will get in Colummbus is _evil_… Honey? Wanna inform the good man? * * * Yer pal, Satan - Commissioner, [The Teeming Minions](http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/full/show?lid=39428&page=leaguehome) \*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Five months, one week, six days, 39 minutes and 17 seconds. 6641 cigarettes not smoked, saving $830.14. Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 25 minutes. \***“I’m a big Genesis fan.”-David B. _(Amen, brother!)_** ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/19 "2000-09-22T02:51:19Z")
Here’s a post I made on January 27th of this year. In The Pit, obviously. > [@](#): > > I love snow. > > I love the kind of snow that Satan has right now. The kind of snow that falls when it’s only a few degrees below freezing, with big, fluffy wet flakes. The kind that you can make snowballs and snowmen with, and when you walk in it, it actually makes your jeans wet. > > I haven’t seen that stuff in years. As I look out my window to our high-of-18-degrees landscape, I see about 6 inches or so of snow. This snow fell when it was about 18 degrees out. This is not that happy puffy Walkin’-in-a-Winter-Wonderland snow. This is snow that has flakes about the size of dandruff. This is razor-blade, glinty, sharp snow. This is prison-shank snow. There’s nothing pretty or homey about this snow. This is snow that you don’t even want to watch from indoors. This is get-the-fuck-away-from-me evil sumbitch snow. > > Why? Because it’s cold. It’s been cold for weeks, hence this snow has been on the ground for weeks. It’s not even snow anymore; it’s frozen white ice blocks. It would probably support my weight if I happened to be stupid enough to try to walk across it. It’s like living in South Park. Every morning, I wake up to near zero ambient air temperatures with wind chills that get damn near -20. And then, early in the morning, right after I’ve been torn from my warm bed, I have to go walk in it. And it’s fucking cold. It’s fornicating cold. It’s fuck your sister just to say you did cold. It’s eyelids freezing open, film of ice glazing over pupils, snot-freezing, oh-fuck-I-can’t-feel-my-face-anymore cold. And it has been for weeks. > > So I have to stumble a mile across snow and ice that salt won’t even come close to melting, fearing for my life, in shoes that offer relatively low traction, just so I can get to class, which of course will never be cancelled because we are actually supposed to know how to deal with this shit on a regular basis. So all you people who say you love snow when you watch it from your cozy warm apartments can all go to hell, or move to Columbus. > > Not that there’s much of a fucking difference. Still looking forward to that move? BTW, if you still need apartment help, just tell me where you’ll be working, and I’ll try my best. I’ve lived in Columbus and its surrounding areas for 11 years now. I’m better acquainted with some parts of town over others, but I can tell you in general terms where you do and don’t want to live. Drop me a line. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001/20 "2000-09-22T02:56:35Z")
We had our first snow this morning too. It didnt last long but it was beautiful to see those big flakes coming down. I can’t wait to get a good dump so that we can go out and play in it and make snow angels! Seems Calgary beat us to the good fall this year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-snow/34001.md?page=2)