The Ongoing Super Mega Weather Thread v3

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I hope the cops go there and give every one of them a ticket.

I sent an email to CPS in 2021 asking for a blitz or at the very least a media campaign to nip this in the bud before it becomes widely accepted practice. They said they would get back to me. Notta.

I just re-sent the email again. Taking no action is basically turning a blind eye to the problem and saying go for it.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I hope the cops go there and give every one of them a ticket.

Dangerous driving ticket would be a good start. Or just cruise through with a camera and ticket everyone by mail with a whopping fine.

Media/weather personalities can also be part of the solution (like what Kevin Stanfield is doing here) by bringing this up and broadcasting how dangerous it is. And also by shaming people for doing it.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I sent an email to CPS in 2021 asking for a blitz or at the very least a media campaign to nip this in the bud before it becomes widely accepted practice. They said they would get back to me. Notta.

I just re-sent the email again. Taking no action is basically turning a blind eye to the problem and saying go for it.

CPS have warned citizens quite a few times not to do this. Tweets, posts to their Facebook and news articles (https://globalnews.ca/news/7215603/c...in-overpasses/) are some of the ones I can recall.

People don't listen/care.

This is very hard to police because when it hails our call volume goes nuts and it's not like officers can just drop the calls/emergencies they are dealing with to go to the overpasses because drivers are being stupid and selfish.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

This is very hard to police because when it hails our call volume goes nuts and it's not like officers can just drop the calls/emergencies they are dealing with to go to the overpasses because drivers are being stupid and selfish.

There's been plenty of faux outrage on the board lately, but this has me pretty torqued.

These clowns are blocking EMS/CFD from getting to where they need to go. Extremely not cool.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

This is very hard to police because when it hails our call volume goes nuts and it's not like officers can just drop the calls/emergencies they are dealing with to go to the overpasses because drivers are being stupid and selfish.

I'm not sure I agree... It's not like severe thunderstorms are totally unpredictable. And I suspect there are specific underpasses where this is frequently an issue. Having a car ready to be there when the storm you know beforehand is going to happen happens, to make sure traffic keeps moving and no one does this, seems like a reasonable use of resources.

What is the nature of the spike in emergencies that come up specifically during a hailstorm, typically? Is it just injuries from being pelted with ice, or just more traffic accidents?

Anyway, if anyone has any info about whether the NW is getting hit, I'd appreciate it, because I need to drive my car home at some point and I'm not sure when the best time would be.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

CPS have warned citizens quite a few times not to do this. Tweets, posts to their Facebook and news articles (https://globalnews.ca/news/7215603/c...in-overpasses/) are some of the ones I can recall.

People don't listen/care.

This is very hard to police because when it hails our call volume goes nuts and it's not like officers can just drop the calls/emergencies they are dealing with to go to the overpasses because drivers are being stupid and selfish.

Thanks, it sure didn't catch wind then, I didn't even recall this article.

Disagree on the hard to police. Seems like a slam dunk case for the traffic unit. Thunderstorm incoming? Head to that overpass and park there to prevent it from happening. Ok, if there is already an accident they have to attend, fine. But if they can prevent this from happening, please do!

[surferguy]

That is some kinda rainfall…

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

What is the nature of the spike in emergencies that come up specifically during a hailstorm, typically? Is it just injuries from being pelted with ice, or just more traffic accidents?

Injuries are one. Traffic accidents. Traffic calls of all natures pop up tenfold (yes, we get calls about the bridges a lot, and do put them up). Smashed property (though I still don't understand why people think CPS can do anything about hail smashed glass, a lot of folks call and insist on CPS going). Alarm calls go through the roof. Hail sets off alarm systems like crazy, esp panic/duress alarms (which can't be ignored/delayed response). Flooding. "Unwanted guests" spike hard, as the hail drives people inside, and store owners don't like that, esp if the people inside are 'undesirable'.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

What is the nature of the spike in emergencies that come up specifically during a hailstorm, typically?

Building alarms.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Injuries are one.

Doesn't seem like police need to respond to those ones though specifically.

Traffic accidents. Traffic calls of all natures pop up tenfold (yes, we get calls about the bridges a lot, and do put them up).

Right - so aren't resources well spent here on an ounce of prevention vs rushing to scenes afterwards? I mean I guess you have to do both, but having some cars in place prophylactically just seems to make obvious sense to prevent further traffic incidents from happening.

Smashed property (though I still don't understand why people think CPS can do anything about hail smashed glass, a lot of folks call and insist on CPS going).

Why isn't the answer, "No?" or "Your smashed glass is not an emergency, we'll send someone when we can but it'll be a while, probably after the storm has passed"?

Alarm calls go through the roof. Hail sets off alarm systems like crazy, esp panic/duress alarms (which can't be ignored/delayed response).

I can see this being an issue, for sure... I'm not sure what the solution here is but it seems like there must be one. Like fining people for having police respond to those types of alarms when an immediate response wasn't required, which is already a thing that happens with peoples' alarm systems in other contexts.

Flooding.

Again, no clue what the police are supposed to do in response to this.

"Unwanted guests" spike hard, as the hail drives people inside, and store owners don't like that, esp if the people inside are 'undesirable'.

Same as broken glass - "this is not an emergency. We'll get to you once we've dealt with the immediately pressing issues".

Just seems like given that this is an annual thing that happens basically the same time every year there should be a system that someone has drawn up to put assets in the places they're expected to be required beforehand, and mitigate the chaos somewhat by doing so. Maybe there is to some extent and I'm misunderstanding you, because from what you're saying it sounds like a bit of a clusterf***.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Maybe there is to some extent and I'm misunderstanding you, because from what you're saying it sounds like a bit of a clusterf***.

Storms are clusterf***.

Honestly I don't know. I don't make the actual dispatch decisions, I'm not the district Sgt. If I had to guess, I'd imagine that because while this problem is annoying and there is some level of danger, it's pretty fleeting. Hail only tends to last 5-15 minutes before moving on. By the time a problem area can be identified, a unit dispatched to it and the unit arrives on scene, the problem has likely taken care of itself already.

However, one can always write to the Traffic dept, and voice specific traffic concerns which are taken into account when deciding on the use of traffic units.

[djsFlames]

Had a outdoors date lined up for tonight. I'm glad we didn't go through with that lol.

This is a Monsoon by YYC standards.

Usually it doesn't come down this heavy without hail involved. I'm glad it's all rain.

[PepsiFree]

I love this thread and Calgary in general because the difference between whining about dry conditions and having to turn on a sprinkler and talking about severe weather events with monsoon-like conditions and overland flooding is about 24-48 hours.

[btimbit]

I love it, hope it rains for a week

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I love this thread and Calgary in general because the difference between whining about dry conditions and having to turn on a sprinkler and talking about severe weather events with monsoon-like conditions and overland flooding is about 24-48 hours.

The small amount of rain we got on Sunday did a good job of softening up the ground such that it soaked today.

It's stopped in Renfrew, would really like it if more came overnight.

[Sainters7]

Weather network saying 25 mm overnight alone. Kinda wonder what we'll be waking up to tomorrow.

[Erick Estrada]

It's why I never worry about droughts in Calgary or any extended weather conditions. Sure we could go a month or months without much precipitation but I always know the switch can and likely will flip at any time and we go from drought to near flooding. June is always by far the wettest month in Calgary and so far it's looking pretty typical.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I love it, hope it rains for a week

For Calgary to only get one week of rain in June would be "getting off easy."

[Jimmy Stang]

It sure smells fantastic out there now. And the creek near my house is flowing again after drying up a couple of weeks ago. Good stuff.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's why I never worry about droughts in Calgary or any extended weather conditions. Sure we could go a month or months without much precipitation but I always know the switch can and likely will flip at any time and we go from drought to near flooding. June is always by far the wettest month in Calgary and so far it's looking pretty typical.

Exactly.

It's never, ever consistent or predictable here, but what you can always bet on is what goes up always comes down.

That switch never stays flipped indefinitely.

Thats why it's dumb to complain that we don't get enough of x type of weather. It always shows up at some point of you're patient (mild, hot, cold, wet, smokey, clear etc)