Snow!

[darkoshi]

It's snowing! And it's sticking!

..

The first time I walked out front, the snowflakes kept tickling my nose. The last time, I wore a warm facemask.

The 2nd time I walked out front, my footprints from the first time were already snowed over. I could feel the snow crunching a bit under my feet. Now my last footprints are already snowed over.

Looking up at the snow falling, it streaks by, too fast to catch more than glimpses of individual flakes. Mostly rather small flakes when I was out there.

Comments

[frith]

Up here, in the Land of Snow, so far it's looking like we're getting a a taste of real winter for the first time in years. The snow isn't feet deep, but it's deep enough that I've had to shovel out the driveway a few times (or the car would get stuck in it) and the -31°C weather means it isn't going to melt any time soon.

[darkoshi]

Our snow is melting even faster than I expected. The snow on the paved walkway near our house already melted away this morning before sunrise, though it wasn't forecast to get above freezing til noon. I guess that means the ground temp was above freezing.

But I'm glad I don't have to deal with Real Cold Winters Snowy Place Snow. -31°C weather, I can't even imagine!

[frith]

At -31°C, throw a pot-full of hot water in the air and you get instant fog! Hardly any of the water touches the ground. -31°C is nippy.

[darkoshi]

(I thought I replied to this before but don't see my reply so maybe I didn't press the button last time.)
I looked up video demos of what you said there, and that is neat.

But I was wondering, what happens if you throw non-hot water in the air at such cold temps? Does it freeze before you can throw it? Or does it freeze into ice globs as it falls? Or does it act normal and stay liquid until hitting the ground?

[frith]

I don't know! I'll have to try that next time. It was pretty cold this morning but it's a balmy -15°C now. Tomorrow morning the weather report promises -27°C before the dawn. If I think of it, I'll give the cold water toss a try. For Science!

[darkoshi]

Yes, yes, Science!

But I won't blame you if you choose not to go out early in -27°C weather.

Results

[frith]

Science laughs at the cold! After it has put on a sweater, boots, a tuque, a scarf, a winter coat and thick gloves.

I waited to daybreak, to better appreciate the mist. Air temperature -24°C, slow air displacement, hardly a breeze at all (unless you're a Breezie, in which case you'd be frozen solid before you hit the ground). I threw a pot of +10°C "cold water" into the air. Very little mist, just splashed down into the snow. I threw a pot of +100°C water into the air (had been simmering on the stove). Much mist created, little water reached the ground. The mist drifted horizontally at walking speed in the breeze, mostly dissipating after about 50 m. The mist lasts longer at colder air temperatures.

Science high tailed it back indoors to bask in front of the radiator.

Re: Results

[darkoshi]

Thank you! (What's a Breezie?)

Re: Results

[frith]

A Breezie is a My Little Pony (Friendship is Magic) character, it's like a pony-shaped pixie or sprite. Tiny, insect-winged, collects pollen and terribly delicate. Any wind faster than a walk sends them tumbling out of control and crashing into things.

Re: Results

[darkoshi]

Ah, gotcha.

When I searched on it yesterday, none of results made much sense, so I wondered if it was a Canada-specific term for something. :)