Weather

[Lisa]

Unfortunately the forecast says rain, but when you look deeper at it, it says 2mm expected in the next 24 hours. Not exactly the deluge we need. Also not great is that they say the winds will blow from the west, bringing the rain in, which will turn it back towards DV.

OH spent the whole day doing the following:
1. Going to the EXPO Center here in Edmonton, where the evacuees who didn’t have anywhere else to go are housed, to see how people are doing and what they might need. Discovered a friend there (Val) who is 88 years old and who needs to be somewhere where she is looked after better.
2. Driving to DV to go to the command Center to see how things are going with the fire (1.5 hours drive from here) and as well tried to figure out where Val could be taken
3. Driving back to Edmonton to put into motion the plan he had cobbled together for Val. Several more meetings, phone calls, etc to continue to get that figured out
4. Found a place, thankfully, but he had to drive her there - to a small town about 40 minutes away
5. Drove back to Edmonton and collapsed on a couch.

The ironic thing is that a provincial election has just been called which means technically he’s not actually an MLA anymore and has no “official” duties. Ha ha ha.

 

[Lisa]

You might be able to see this, which gives you an idea of the size of the fire
Drayton Valley What's Going On

 

[Jacqui-S]

Scarily close to houses there Lisa.....

 

[Selina27]

Oh @Lisa .... xx

 

[HAH]

Goodness @Lisa , only just catching up - what a scary time for you all. I hope you get proper rain very soon, and you all stay safe. I know you’re experienced in these events, but even so it must take its toll. X

 

[Lab_adore]

It seems like last week you posted a picture of deep snow and now this. Everything is crossed for your beautiful town and your home

 

[Atemas]

It seems like last week you posted a picture of deep snow and now this

I was thinking that - it’s certainly extremes. Stay safe @Lisa

 

[Stacia]

The fires look horrifying, how upsetting for you all who have had to leave your town behind. Where have most of the people gone? How very caring of your OH to find somewhere for Val.

 

[Emily]

Unfortunately the forecast says rain, but when you look deeper at it, it says 2mm expected in the next 24 hours. Not exactly the deluge we need. Also not great is that they say the winds will blow from the west, bringing the rain in, which will turn it back towards DV.

Sometimes a little bit of rain can be worse too especially when it doesn't impact the fire but creates wet and slippery conditions for the firies. I really hope things settle down quickly for you and that there aren't significant losses xx

 

[Emily]

It was freezing here today. We woke up to the sound of torrential hail at about 3am and the ground was still icey at 9am .

Nathan had footy at 10am so we all froze

 

[Lab_adore]

Two days ago we were still in short sleeves then that same cold front hit here yesterday. It was our coldest day in 3 years and today the wind is blowing a freezing gale making the dog walk rather unpleasant

 

[Lisa]

The fires look horrifying, how upsetting for you all who have had to leave your town behind. Where have most of the people gone? How very caring of your OH to find somewhere for Val.

People are scattered all over. Some had trailers and are camping on friends or relatives properties outside of the evac zone near or far. Some are staying with friends or family across the province or beyond. Some are in hotels. Some have other properties elsewhere (like us). And those who had nowhere to go are in the EXPO centre (on cots, basically) where OH was helping Val.

 

[Lisa]

We had rain today!!
It wasn’t a lot, and it’s not enough to be really signifcsnt, but it’s certainly better than nothing.
No word on re-entry yet. The fire grew 40% overnight and is now almost 5000 hectares in size. Still classified as out of control.
Unfortunately 4 houses have been lost, all on the outskirts of Drayton Valley.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Oh @Lisa I can't really imagine what you are going through.
Are you safe where you are in Edmonton? As in, are the fires far enough away?

 

[Lisa]

Oh @Lisa I can't really imagine what you are going through.
Are you safe where you are in Edmonton? As in, are the fires far enough away?

Yes, we are safe here. A fire sprang up just on the outskirts of Edmonton over the weekend and prompted an evacuation of a rural area but it was stamped out pretty quickly. There have been some grassfires in and around the city over the past week as it has been very hot and dry. It is cooler here now and we got a little rain, plus things are staying to green up over the last few days with leaves budding out and the grass getting green. That really helps too!
wWe are doing fine overall. It was really dicey last Friday/Saturday when the wind was blowing towards DV. There’s no doubt part of the town would have burnt if not for the efforts of firefighters and if the wind hadn’t shifted. It came right up to the highway that circles the town on that edge. They set up water cannons lining the highway that are still there keeping the ditches and trees etc wet amd have been knocking down trees all around making a fire guard around the south and west of town where the fire is still burning. But the winds could shift again so until they get it under control they can’t allow us back in. So, we wait.

 

[Stacia]

Saw the fires on our TV this evening, looks dreadful.

 

[Stacia]

@Lisa, how are you?

 

[Lisa]

We are doing fine. Getting antsy to go home but no news on that yet so trying to be patient. I registered to go back to town so I could pick up an important cheque at work that has to be paid by the 15th so at some point I’ll do that. They will let me know when and then I meet the RCMP escort at the checkpoint and we go to the building, I get in to get it, and they take me out again. Hopefully that will happen in the next couple days

 

[Lab_adore]

Spring is here! Although I must say we had a very mild winter and I just read it was the warmest in 25 years

The outlook for summer is grim with a strong risk of El Nino and other climate drivers that is most likely going to bring a very hot and very dry spring and summer. That means a high risk of bushfires, especially given the 3 wet years we have had fuelling undergrowth

But for now here is a cute pic to welcome Spring for we UpsideDownLand people

 

[HAH]

The emoji is for the gorgeous Maxx, but the rest is really unwelcome news - although not surprising. Here’s hoping the impacts are far less than feared x