Don't like the weather in Prince George, wait five minutes. That popular refrain hasn't really applied this summer.
For the most part, it's been a glorious few months, filled with extended periods of hot, sunny days. When it has rained, however, local residents can't help but wonder if Noah left behind any design plans on how to build that ark.
The clouds pile up to the west, dark and sinister, before descending on the city, the deluge and thunder the weather equivalent of a temper tantrum, before moving on soon after.
As usual, we have nothing to complain about when it comes to the "severe thunderstorm watch" warnings issued for Prince George and the Central Interior so often this summer.
A thunderstorm slammed into the orchards in East Kelowna last week, dropping hailstones the size of marbles and lashing the fruit trees with fierce winds. In the course of a few minutes, it wiped out crops of apples, pears and grapes, leaving local roadways littered with branches and leaves.
Meanwhile, orchardists a few short kilometres away asked "what storm?"
Calgary and Southern Alberta get natural fireworks each summer, as thunderstorms slide down from the Rockies igniting the sky with spectacular lightning displays and ominous tails dangling from black clouds, forming funnels but only rarely manifesting into outright tornadoes.
Anyone driving the Trans-Canada Highway between Banff and Jasper this summer can see for themselves the power of these storms when they actually bring heavy rain, rather than just sound and fury.
The washouts are impressive in terms of the amount of mud and rock it sent down into the valley and across the highway. What's even more impressive is that there is no water flowing in the area. It came suddenly, caused massive damage and left quickly.
Downtown Calgary is much the same. The water is gone but the effects are still visible, even as essential services and roadways have been restored. The Calgary Zoo is only partially open and it may take years before it is fully restored.
Terrible and deadly summer weather events happen daily across the world but not here. It's easy for us to ignore that when the summer weather turns foul, it can be worse than an inconvenience. Something so often benign as wind and rain is capable of destruction that sweeps aside our man-made marvels as if they were children's playthings.
Summer weather already proves itself deadly in this area every year, with residents swept away by fast-flowing creeks and rivers during the spring or caught in a squall while fishing in the middle of one of the region's larger lakes.
Summer days are wonderful but we should never lose sight of the weather's power to turn deadly on us with no notice.
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Inclement summer weather can be endured, of course. Both the World Baseball Challenge and Summerfest managed to continue through some rough patches Sunday. The cold, soggy weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of residents who came downtown to check out some great food and entertainment. Meanwhile, baseball fans were treated to yet more spectacular, world-class baseball at Citizen Field.
While the residents who attended either one or both events deserve praise, the real thanks must go to the volunteers. Their work began months in advance and both events showcase what a great place Prince George is to live.
