Why, the weather of course!
Environment Canada just published their results of a survey of the weather in the 100 largest cities in Canada over the past 30 years. They looked at 75 different categories (e.g. warmest summer, coldest winter, snowiest city, et cetera). Those of us who live here are well aware of how extreme and variable our weather can be but those of you “from away” might need to be educated a bit. Here are the categories in which St. John’s, NL , made it into the Top 10:
Foggiest city (days) – 1st
Windiest city year-round – 1st
Windiest winter – 1st
Windiest summer – 1st
Most windy days (40 km/h or more) – 1st
Most hours with low visibility – 1st
Cloudiest skies year-round – 2nd
Most freezing rain days – 2nd
Most wet days – 3rd
Fewest sunny days year-round – 3rd
Lowest average pressure – 3rd
Coolest summer – 3rd
Wettest city (rain and snow) – 5th
Least sunshine year-round – 5th
Most snow days – 6th
Most blowing snow days – 6th
Rainiest city – 8th
Most very wet days (25mm or more) – 9th
Fewest thunderstorm days – 9th
Snowiest city – 9th
Snowiest Spring – 10th
We made the Top 10 in 21 different areas, few of them conducive to good cycling. Even with my rose coloured glasses on there are only four categories in which we are in the Top 10 that I can see that benefit biking: coolest summer (hey, I said I had my rose coloured glasses on!); most snow days; snowiest city; and, snowiest Spring. The latter three categories, of course, a benefit to those who choose to ride on the snow and clearly a detriment to our brothers and sisters who are dedicated roadies or mountain bikers.
For more on cycling on "The RocK" click on the link to my blog below:
Environment Canada just published their results of a survey of the weather in the 100 largest cities in Canada over the past 30 years. They looked at 75 different categories (e.g. warmest summer, coldest winter, snowiest city, et cetera). Those of us who live here are well aware of how extreme and variable our weather can be but those of you “from away” might need to be educated a bit. Here are the categories in which St. John’s, NL , made it into the Top 10:
Foggiest city (days) – 1st
Windiest city year-round – 1st
Windiest winter – 1st
Windiest summer – 1st
Most windy days (40 km/h or more) – 1st
Most hours with low visibility – 1st
Cloudiest skies year-round – 2nd
Most freezing rain days – 2nd
Most wet days – 3rd
Fewest sunny days year-round – 3rd
Lowest average pressure – 3rd
Coolest summer – 3rd
Wettest city (rain and snow) – 5th
Least sunshine year-round – 5th
Most snow days – 6th
Most blowing snow days – 6th
Rainiest city – 8th
Most very wet days (25mm or more) – 9th
Fewest thunderstorm days – 9th
Snowiest city – 9th
Snowiest Spring – 10th
We made the Top 10 in 21 different areas, few of them conducive to good cycling. Even with my rose coloured glasses on there are only four categories in which we are in the Top 10 that I can see that benefit biking: coolest summer (hey, I said I had my rose coloured glasses on!); most snow days; snowiest city; and, snowiest Spring. The latter three categories, of course, a benefit to those who choose to ride on the snow and clearly a detriment to our brothers and sisters who are dedicated roadies or mountain bikers.
For more on cycling on "The RocK" click on the link to my blog below: