Today we got some 5-10 cm new snow to the top of already existing 25
cm, but strong and gusty wind added accumulation on roads.Reading
about the Midlands misery this week helped to put our local news to a
new perspective:

- Turku (EFTU) suffered the worst, as there the wind was strongest and
gustiest (and if I remember correctly, they have only one runway and
thus side wind today). "Several" flights were cancelled (says Helsinki
newspaper), another source sets the number: three.

- Trains were also in trouble, and there was delays all day long.
Maximum delay up to 20 minutes.

- 78 minor car accidents, no casualities. Many drivers drive 30 km/h.

- The Police wish that people who drive very slowly would occasionally
stop at a bus stop and let the queue pass safely. Amen.

We just came 98 km from the inlaws through the blizzard. We have a bag
of sand in the boot as a stabilizer, and we drove a bit slowlier (70
km/h on a highway where the winter limit is 100 km/h).

Yes there has been power breaks in the east, when wet snow and wind
fall trees to power lines. But the houses are well insulated (double
doors and triple windows), and most houses in sparcely populated areas
have a fireplace or oven as an additional heat source (and firewood
stored for their sauna).

Someone mentioned open fire under lorry motors as a preheater. That's
Siberia. We have an electrical block heater and a timer. Some have a
diesel-fired coolant heater.

Whatever the weather, enjoy...
Elena

Glad to hear Finland is coping quite well..

Next time I hire a car from Helsinki Lentoasema I shall ask for a bag of
sand !

Martin

"Elena" wrote in message
om...
Today we got some 5-10 cm new snow to the top of already existing 25
cm, but strong and gusty wind added accumulation on roads.Reading
about the Midlands misery this week helped to put our local news to a
new perspective:

- Turku (EFTU) suffered the worst, as there the wind was strongest and
gustiest (and if I remember correctly, they have only one runway and
thus side wind today). "Several" flights were cancelled (says Helsinki
newspaper), another source sets the number: three.

- Trains were also in trouble, and there was delays all day long.
Maximum delay up to 20 minutes.

- 78 minor car accidents, no casualities. Many drivers drive 30 km/h.

- The Police wish that people who drive very slowly would occasionally
stop at a bus stop and let the queue pass safely. Amen.

We just came 98 km from the inlaws through the blizzard. We have a bag
of sand in the boot as a stabilizer, and we drove a bit slowlier (70
km/h on a highway where the winter limit is 100 km/h).

Yes there has been power breaks in the east, when wet snow and wind
fall trees to power lines. But the houses are well insulated (double
doors and triple windows), and most houses in sparcely populated areas
have a fireplace or oven as an additional heat source (and firewood
stored for their sauna).

Someone mentioned open fire under lorry motors as a preheater. That's
Siberia. We have an electrical block heater and a timer. Some have a
diesel-fired coolant heater.

Whatever the weather, enjoy...
Elena

Next time I hire a car from Helsinki Lentoasema I shall ask for a bag of
sand !
You can also ask for a front wheel drive car.
Placing the sandbag is art, too. Preferably between the wheels.
Elena

"Elena" wrote in message
om

Placing the sandbag is art, too. Preferably between the wheels.
Elena

I didn't think you meant in your Lapp. (You don't have outriggers do
you?)


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"Martin T" wrote in message
Glad to hear Finland is coping quite well..

Must admit not that well any more. In total we got 20-40 cm yesterday
and last night (that is once-in-a-decade rare) and that was over
capacity of snow clearance. Morning newspapers were late, and the
airport approach transmitter was snowed in. And many trains were late
up to 20 minutes (after returning from UK I still can't stop smiling
when Finns complain about trains being 20 mins late. That's one
pharase you don't hear he "We are sorry to announce of further
delay of the service, already an hour late" - our National Rail never
says they are sorry, but they also seldom are that much late).

Now the temperature is falling so there is red alert of road
conditions in half of the country. Parking is a big problem still
tomorrow: the snow which was on city streets in many places has now
been piled to empty parking squares, and it takes a while for the
lorries to transport it out.

Elena
(taking the train to work tomorrow)