When you’re heading for a social situation and you’re worried about what to say, I’m sure you’ve heard the advice, “Don’t worry. You can always talk about the weather.”
That comment assumes that weather is a trivial thing, but on the contrary, it’s a major factor in how we spend our time. We adjust our plans and activities, according to the weather.
Changes in the weather can be dramatic and at times dangerous.
Two days ago our usual wind and rain turned into slushy snow driven by gale-force winds. As the freezing sleet pelted down, coating everything with wet snow, flashes of lightning lit up the skies, followed by the longest, loudest rumbles of rolling thunder I have ever heard. Emma barked to let me know they made her nervous.
That evening’s thunder snow changed to the same old, same old weather the next day. Here is a picture of the same old wind and rain, taken by a friend on his phone.
Well … okay, maybe it was a little bit windier than usual.

I hope those storm watchers who parked in the usual parking area won’t stay too long. That salt water is deadly on all the metal parts of their vehicles. Salt spray and flying sand are about the worst things to shower onto your car.
My friend who took the photo also took some videos. Here are some short clips (a few seconds each) to give you the feeling that you are actually there, getting soaked as he did.
May the sun come out soon and warm us.
November 18, 2020 at 2:32 pm
Gigantisch, aber auch ein schönes Bild.
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November 18, 2020 at 2:45 pm
Vielen Dank, Mathilda. Yes, it’s a scenic photo even though it’s a bit wild.
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November 18, 2020 at 3:04 pm
The wild is what makes it so dynamic.
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November 18, 2020 at 3:06 pm
So right! And this is what makes weather such an adventure at times. It lets us know we’re alive (as long as it doesn’t kill us).
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November 18, 2020 at 2:58 pm
Wow, that’s a stormy ocean! That saltwater on the cars is awful, yikes! I didn’t know you speak other languages.
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November 18, 2020 at 3:03 pm
Other languages: I was six when we came to Canada from Germany. High school French (which isn’t much use to me without a lot more practice), and passable, struggling Spanish from a course I took, plus many trips to Baja and Mexico. English is my favourite though. About the ocean, you may not realize that this is on the east (sheltered) side of Vancouver Island. The west coast is WAY more open and exposed to the weather.
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November 18, 2020 at 3:32 pm
The stormy ocean is so beautifully captured in the picture and video…hope you see sunshine 🌞 soon 😊
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November 18, 2020 at 3:37 pm
I hope we do too. We’ve had many, many days of this wind and rain. It would be nice to get a break from it for a while. Thanks for your comment and your visit.
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November 18, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Looks like a good day to stay indoors and enjoy the warmth of a thrilling book.
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November 18, 2020 at 3:48 pm
It certainly was. Things were blowing all over the yard and then our power went out for three hours.
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November 18, 2020 at 4:29 pm
Your shots NEVER disappoint.
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November 18, 2020 at 4:50 pm
I’d love to take credit for these but I did mention they were taken by a friend. On his cell phone! They are making those gadgets better all the time. But thank you, DK.
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November 18, 2020 at 4:57 pm
Cell phone. Wow.
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November 18, 2020 at 6:36 pm
I know! It’s amazing how much better they are now for photos.
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November 18, 2020 at 4:33 pm
Wow! And here I was complaining about the 34 degrees this morning.
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November 18, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Enjoy it, Jill!
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November 18, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Wild but beautiful! I love the videos, but good to go home and have some hot chocolate with Bailey’s. 🙂
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November 18, 2020 at 9:03 pm
That sounds really good!
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November 18, 2020 at 11:45 pm
Looking at the video clips made me shiver. In this weather it´s best to go back to bed and read a book.
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November 19, 2020 at 7:58 am
You are so right, Ursula. This is the best idea I’ve heard so far. Time to hibernate.
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November 19, 2020 at 8:35 am
That is wild, Anneli. I’ve never heard of thunder snow but love the term.
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November 19, 2020 at 8:53 am
That makes two of us. I had never heard of having thunder in a snowstorm, but this system moved in so quickly with the high winds, that the two fronts must have collided, hence the loud grumbling.
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November 19, 2020 at 5:38 pm
My mind is working. Hmm…
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November 19, 2020 at 5:46 pm
Do you think there could have been thunder snow 850,000 years ago? What a fearful thing it must have been when they heard that loud rumbling going on for many, many seconds – at least 10 seconds?
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November 19, 2020 at 2:15 pm
Wonderful viewed at a safe distance 😏. Wild weather!
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November 19, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Safe distance is right. It’s easy to get soaked. Wouldn’t want to walk on the beach on a day like that with those big logs being thrown around.
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November 20, 2020 at 8:45 am
We’ve had horrible winds here, too, but no snow. The wind carried away all the lustrous colors. It’s actually been unusually warm.
Brrrr, that looks blustery and cold by you.
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November 20, 2020 at 9:09 am
It’s especially cold when the wind comes from the N or NW, right down from Alaska. Usually we have SE winds that bring only rain, and that’s cold enough, but when it switches, it can be brutal. Like you, we have very little colour left on the trees.
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November 20, 2020 at 11:26 am
Whew, that’s a raucous storm, Anneli. There’s something exciting when a storm like that comes in, so much swirling energy and powerful forces. But that excitement lasts only a few minutes for me, and then yikes, time to take cover. It’s worrying and dangerous. Your friend’s videos, espec. that second one with the churning waves, really drove home the picture. Good luck and stay warm.
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November 20, 2020 at 11:58 am
It was really wild. Things were blowing around all over the yard, but when I saw pictures later of places where trees fell on homes and across the road, leaving live wires dangling, I realized I was lucky to only have the power out for three hours.
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November 20, 2020 at 11:29 am
Wow, amazing capture of weather we don’t see here. So powerful. Yes, weather is so important. When it’s super hot here it’s just the PITS.
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November 20, 2020 at 11:59 am
It’s too bad it is often a case of extremes. Both kinds of weather are difficult to deal with.
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November 20, 2020 at 11:59 am
So true. I used to love blizzards though. For five days. Then “go away now.”
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November 20, 2020 at 1:11 pm
I feel sorry for the birds and little animals that are out in the bad weather, cold and hungry, but I suppose most of them are prepared for it. I try to help with extra food for them. But yes, five days is enough to last for the whole season.
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November 20, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Vyeld Vedder, Anneli. Wow. I love storms, but only the ones that don’t do any damage. 🙂
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November 20, 2020 at 1:15 pm
It sure was. This one did some damage but we escaped most of that.
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November 20, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Fantastic photos of the ocean spray showering the vehicles. We often take for granted just how powerful Mother Nature can be! Stay cozy!
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November 20, 2020 at 11:09 pm
That’s what I’m doing. Can’t wait for spring.
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November 21, 2020 at 5:29 am
Wow! That’s wild!!
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November 21, 2020 at 9:55 am
Yes, it was honking pretty good.
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November 22, 2020 at 5:22 am
🙂
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