Snow. In Beijing. Like, Lots of it!

2009-11-01

Every winter since I've been here in Beijing, it's snowed. Once (okay, one year 1.5x). About 1.5cm of snow falls down in late December, is black by day's end, and is gone by day 2. So, imagine our shock this year when not two days after the temperature had been about 18C, we suddenly got about 12cm of snow. Awesome!

The local weather offices chronically lie about snow. They'll promise it every day for the week prior, and then the night prior to the supposed snowfall, they'll suddenly say the next day is expected to be sunny and dry. So, pretty much nobody believed the weather reports that were saying there would be snow this Sunday.

Of course, then came the reports that the Beijing Municipal Weather Modification Bureau had used silver iodide pellets to encourage the snow. And sure, it was 90% gone by day 2, and 100% by day 3, but still — so much beautiful snow, such a beautiful quiet, white day.

I love snow. I can never get enough of it. Even when its gross and slushy and wet afterwards. So much fun.

[Click on any photo for a larger view]

The snow actually started at about 1am Saturday night.	It was just too warm to stick to anything.	But waking up Sunday morning — everything sure was a pretty noticeable shade of white.

	A neighbour and I swapped photos. Kewl!
		It kinda sucked to be the few people who actually had to get somewhere today.
		It was shockingly deep, too. A good 10-12cm in some places (um ... 4" or so)

Great day to be a kid, out playing away.




	That's one way to get all the leaves to fall off the trees.


	Not a lot of the regular vendor guys out and about today.	All the outdoor fruit stands just shut down.
		I took my camera inside for 30 seconds and it started to fog up immediately.
Same photo a minute later.		This lady was looking a bit worse for the wear.


Gorgeous day! Hope there are more like this.