#2217 "Ontario Snowsquall Sunset"

Southwesterly squalls off Lake Ontario are a very rare event for Singleton Lake. The fetch over the relatively warm waters of Lake Ontario is not very long from 210 degrees. Seldom is the air originating from the southwest cold enough to achieve the crucial 13 Celsius degree temperature difference between the water and the air at about 5000 feet above the surface. Shore line convergence is also not very beneficial with that wind direction. Southwesterly snowsqualls seldom develop.

I believe that a secondary cold front and the associated convergence played a big roll in generating this particular bit of weather. The wind howled and the snow blew and drifted deep. It was a wild day outside. It was also the second day of "Skate the Lake" on the Big Rideau. Only the hardiest souls skated. Making progress against the wind was a challenge on skates but going with the wind was a breeze.

This sunset was after all of the action had died down. Daytime instability over the land even given the meagre input from the late January sun, causes snowsqualls to penetrate much further inland from the lake shore. These snowsqualls were going to fizzle over Singleton Lake and it was going to be a clear and cold wintery night.

There are many shapes in these dissipating and wind torn fragments of cumulus. A dragon, armadillo and several other creatures can be found. There is even the blue bird of happiness flapping its wings.

I included the neighbour's porch light on the dark western shore of Singleton where the sun sets early. My friend Dale was apparently not yet retired and he would have been out working hard to keep the township roads passable. He does a terrific job and will be missed when he does retire.

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