Local News

Hamilton Groundhog Day Storm Coverage

Raise The Hammer will provide live coverage of the upcoming winter storm in Hamilton.

By Joey Coleman
Published February 01, 2011

Hamilton is expecting its largest snow storm since 2007 tonight and into Wednesday. Quickly dubbed the "Groundhog Day storm" on Sunday by Accuweather.com, Environment Canada is forecasting that Hamilton will be impacted by 20 to 30 cm of snow before the end of Wednesday.

Raise The Hammer will provide live coverage of the storm. In the discussion box below, we'll inform you of closures as we learn of them, you can share your experiences, add your photos or video, and help us inform each other of what's happening in our neighbourhoods.

On Twitter, use the hashtag #HamOntSnow to join the coverage.

Below our live discussion box, you'll find another live coverage box that will only list confirmed closures.

At the bottom of the page, we've listed important links that you can follow for more storm information.

Most of all, let's look out for each other and help our neighbours.

Live Coverage

Confirmed Closures

Please email your updates to editor@raisethehammer.org and joey@joeycoleman.ca to include your closure, snow day event, or public service announcement to the coverage.

Links

Weather conditions

Hamilton cancellation listings and updates:

Power Utilities

City of Hamilton “Snow Advisory” and “Snow Emergency” information

Hamilton Police media advisory reminding motorists of snow procedures

Road conditions:

Other news sources:

Joey Coleman covers Hamilton Civic Affairs.

Read more of his work at The Public Record, or follow him on Twitter @JoeyColeman.

38 Comments

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By rednic (registered) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 11:30:11

lol so i wait another month for my rezoning to be approved ... delayed twice because of stadium and now this.... they meet inside right why cancel a meeting before it starts snowing... i thought snow days were for kindergarden

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By JoeyColeman (registered) - website | Posted February 01, 2011 at 11:51:12 in reply to Comment 59012

I believe they did so because many of the participates travel from the rural areas of our city.

They could face appeals if they meet and individuals are unable to attend due to circumstances outside their control.

It's better to cancel the meeting than be required by the OMB to restart the entire process.

  • Joey

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By Revbrian (anonymous) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 12:53:53

Thanks for this effort Joey.
Any more Death Glares from Hizzoner our Mayor?

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By rednic (registered) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 13:58:29

nope it's snowing so bob went to regina!

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By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted February 01, 2011 at 14:14:48

Since meteorologists love to ignore Hamilton's split climate, I've got a Q: anybody know if it's expected to be worse in the lower city vs. mountain?

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By JoeyColeman (registered) - website | Posted February 01, 2011 at 14:30:08 in reply to Comment 59032

Not likely to be a significant difference for the main storm itself as it will hit overnight and the temperature will be well below zero so the difference in elevation will have a negligible effect.

Lake effect is the wildcard for this entire system. If there is lake effect, then some pockets of the city will get it worse than others - but it will not be a lower/upper split. It will be a east/west split.

  • Joey

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By mrgrande (registered) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 14:52:42

PREPARE FOR SNOWMAGGEDDON 2K11!

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By wentworthst (anonymous) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 14:59:37

Here's a contribution from News-ON assets:

[Ontario Weather - Cam Views](http://hamilton-on.ca/ontario-cam/ "Ontario Weather - Cam Views")

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted February 01, 2011 at 15:00:16

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By slodrive (registered) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 15:39:18

I'll expect more up in "Lloyd Ferguson-land" (...man, I've shot my mouth off so much with this handle, I cringe at giving any hint of my address!! LOL...is that bad??). Perhaps, due to more drifting than folks in the lower city.

That tends to happen in areas that have been clear cut and/or are post-agriculture subdivisions (aka - sprawl).

Comment edited by slodrive on 2011-02-01 16:21:55

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By MonkeySee (anonymous) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 18:01:54

Before you could tap into computers at work - Big Snow Storms usually allowed for a lazy day. That has changed! Pissed off. Any day I can get off is a blessing!

MS

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By TreyS (registered) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 19:52:02

Wards 1 and 2 will be fine while the rest of the city gets dumped on.

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By Andrea (registered) | Posted February 01, 2011 at 20:18:07

I am SO lucky living where I do in Ward 3 - so close to the main arteries that are cleared first.

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By drb (registered) - website | Posted February 01, 2011 at 21:07:48

I love going out with my neighbours to help clear snow, dig out and push cars. Snow storms make communities closer.

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By Undustrial (registered) - website | Posted February 01, 2011 at 21:52:23

It intrigues me that some people around the world don't get the joyful bliss that is "snow days". No matter how bad it gets, driving a car, riding a bike or trudging around on foot, it always brings out the little kid in me. Missing work is always fun, too, especially when it's unexpected and you're not deathly ill.

I worked downtown today - from everyone I talked to, I doubt many are going to even attempt to get to work tomorrow. Most of the rest have been told to wait for word in the morning. If the storm's anywhere near as bad as they're suggesting, it should be a lot of fun.

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By mugrat (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 07:07:44

Come on people we are only getting about 2 feet of snow. We live in Canada get use to it.

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By adrian (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 07:13:28

Snow storms make communities closer.

and

it always brings out the little kid in me.

I mostly love big snow storms. The tragic aspect is that often there are injuries and even fatalities as a result, and of course, that's very unfortunate. But I love everything else about it: the way it slows the city right down. The way everything looks clean and new. The way people come together to help one another. With kids, the snowmen, tobogganing, snow forts and snowballs and all that good stuff.

The fact that cars don't rule the city, even if just for a few hours!

But looking outside it doesn't look like we had that much snow. They always seem to overestimate snowfall for these events.

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 09:20:23

Agreed, Adrian, on every count. One of the superficial losses Canadians have experienced as a result of climate change is the near-total disappearance of phenomenal snowfalls. (Summer monsoons, by comparison, don't jibe as well with our Canuck identity.) Three decades ago, you might have had three or four snow days every winter, and deservedly so – huge dunes of the white stuff were not uncommon, and the blizzards of '76-'78 are almost mythological.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-gRb_MuUgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL7eXnIqUV4

I would say, though, that even minor storms bring accidents, injuries and fatalities. Given the level of awareness and preparedness in a case such as this (and the fact that most people over the age of 40 remembers how bad winter can get), I should think that more ballyooed events such as this (oversold) blizzard might not ratchet up the numbers by much; perhaps not at all. And yes, Hamilton looks great under a blanket of snow. Less so after temps rise and the streets are strewn with dirty cream of wheat.

BTW, even without a snow day (and the city streets I've seen are anything but impassible) the timing is great in some other regards.

http://www.hamiltonwinterfest.ca
http://cms.burlington.ca/Page6727.aspx

Nothing worse than planning events like those and having them land in the middle of an unexpected thaw.

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By FOS (anonymous) | Posted February 05, 2011 at 13:57:56 in reply to Comment 59092

Geiko, those were extreme years not the norm. We didn't have three or four snow days every winter, we generally had a couple like this weeks. Quit lying to make a point.

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted February 05, 2011 at 21:59:52 in reply to Comment 59314

The blizzards I mentioned as being particularly unusual, not normative – but you might (notice the language: "might") have had three or four "snow days" in the 70s (though perhaps more so in Stoney Creek/Ancaster/Dundas/Flamborough than the lower city).

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted February 05, 2011 at 22:01:46 in reply to Comment 59338

*Note that the speculative snow day count was intended as annual and not for the entirety of the decade.

Feel better?

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 09:26:51 in reply to Comment 59092

PS: Love the "the windchill is -54" mention in that first YT link. Fahrenheit, that is. In other words, -48°C.

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By MattM (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 09:26:35

Another big media hype for nothing. I got into work on time as usual. Good ol' HSR.

Comment edited by MattM on 2011-02-02 09:26:50

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By Andrea (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 09:58:54 in reply to Comment 59093

If I worked in Hamilton and had the option of HSR I would have made it in too. Unfortunately I haven't even finished shovelling a path to my car yet :-(

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By MattM (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 10:14:49

Rumor I had heard is that the TTC was running subway trains through the tunnels all night to keep em clear. I wonder if the mayor's phone still has the army on speed dial.

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By Andrea (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 10:21:23 in reply to Comment 59101

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By jasonaallen (registered) - website | Posted February 02, 2011 at 11:16:25

Just an FYI - GO Transit will be remaining on the modified schedule for the rest of the day. That means all trains to/from Hamilton will run All Stops, and the #16 QEW Express bus will only run from Hamilton to Aldershot to connect to the trains. Going from T.O. to Hamilton there will only be train service, no bus. Trust me, you don't want to be on the bus today.

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 12:06:11

Here's a city that knows how to do a snow day.

"Chicago officials warn that more snow is on the way. At a Wednesday morning news conference, Chicago emergency management director Jose Santiago said there will likely be 15 to 20 inches of snow on the ground -- 25 inches in some places -- by the time the storm leaves the area."

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/02/winter.storm/index.html?on.cnn=1

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 12:27:06 in reply to Comment 59107

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-110201-monster-snowstorm-2011-pictures,0,6718278.photogallery

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By jason (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 12:51:24 in reply to Comment 59110

awesome!
This was a great storm for Hamilton, especially compared with recent years. I've never been in a more powerful, wind-blown storm before. We'll end up with half of Chicago's total, but still, a great storm.

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By snowman (anonymous) | Posted February 05, 2011 at 12:27:00 in reply to Comment 59112

What are you, three years old? This was a typical strong winter storm. Wow.

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By mikeonthemountain (registered) | Posted February 04, 2011 at 20:24:40 in reply to Comment 59112

It was a fun storm! I wanted to stay up and take time lapse pictures but fell asleep :(

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By Undustrial (registered) - website | Posted February 02, 2011 at 13:20:32

Is the fatality rate actually that much higher on days like this? So few people are on the roads, and those who are out generally are taking it pretty easy. I've no doubt that fenders will be bent, but I doubt we'll see mass deaths.

Heat waves - now there's danger. In the summer of 2003 an estimated 35 000 people died in Europe. For seniors and those with respiratory issues, hot weather can be a serious health threat.

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By Andrea (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 14:34:53 in reply to Comment 59114

MVA fatalities may be lower, but I would imagine hospital visits from heart attacks (from shovelling) and slips and falls would be higher.

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By Andrea (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 16:56:08 in reply to Comment 59119

For example ...ME!!! I just finished clearing the snow.

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By goin'downtown (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 15:17:13

Did anyone catch this cheeky article in The Spec?

http://www.thespec.com/living/article/479842--snow-day-survival

What a hoot.

And listen to everyone wax poetic about the warm & fuzzy side of a winter storm! :) How beautifully Canuck! But I'm there, too. The sound of that ol' wind blowing through the 80+ year old windows...ahh. But we wouldn't have it any other way. Love the drafts. Keeps the air fresh.

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By jason (registered) | Posted February 02, 2011 at 20:04:18

this was great coverage and great pics. I hope to see more threads like this . Great job.

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted February 03, 2011 at 13:33:25

Video composite from NOAA-NASA GOES 13 perspective...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/5412274642

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