Still icy 3 days later

It’s been 3 days since the big snowstorm in the Tokyo area, and we still have snow and ice on the ground.  Usually it’s gone within 2 or 3 days, but it’s been quite cold this week.

The day after the snow, some of it was melting, resulting in another messy day.  I took these pictures Tuesday morning.

Snowy sidewalks and a wet street.

In my building’s parking lot.

All of this wet snow and melt water froze in the evening, and it was quite dangerous just walking on the sidewalk.  The melting and freezing cycle makes it difficult for people to walk, as well as drive.  It’s much better now, with just a bit of ice and snow in the shadowy areas.  It’s warming up this weekend, so it should be all gone soon.

Snowy day in Yokohama

When I experienced my first snow in Yokohama, I couldn’t believe how everyone used umbrellas.  I quickly realised why.  This isn’t your typical Canadian snow.  This stuff is wet.  It sticks to you and melts right away.  It’s just as bad as walking in the rain, and it’s often mixed with rain.  Also, the snowflakes clump together to create massive supersized floating snow structures.

Today, it snowed.  It snowed a lot.  This was probably one of the biggest snowfalls I’ve seen in Yokohama.  While it may not seem like much, it’s a big deal here.

This morning, before the snow started to accumulate.

This afternoon, the snow was coming down pretty heavily.

Early evening, on my way home.

That last picture shows why snow here is such a nuisance.  It’s extremely wet.  It may look like snow, but it’s really snow coating slush.  As I was crossing the street, I stepped in what appeared to be pretty solid snow, but ended up being a 10 cm deep slushy puddle with white snow on top.  I completely soaked my feet, and had to endure a 30 minute train ride, a wait for the bus, and a 10 minute bus ride.  When I got home, my feet were so cold, I took a quick shower to warm me and my feet up.

I’m looking forward to several days of sunny weather.

2012 Picture of the Week (9/52) – Snowy Day

This has been one of the coldest winters in Japan in 26 years, from what I’ve heard. It’s the coldest I’ve experienced. We’ve had several snowy days this winter. February 29th was the snowiest. This picture shows the wet snow that fell much of the morning and afternoon. March 1st was warm, though. Almost all gone within a day.

The wet snow sticks to everything!

2012 Picture of the Week (3/52) – Snow in Yokohama

Today was our first snow of the year. In Fujisawa, it snowed, but it didn’t stick around at all. However, when I got to work, I was surprised that the snow was staying around in Yokohama. In fact, it stayed all day!

Snowy rooftops from my classroom window.

Snowy Mt. Fuji

These two pictures were taken from the train at Yumegaoka Station. The first one was from yesterday, and the second was this morning. The air was incredibly clear, so I had an amazing view of Mt Fuji. I need to start bringing my digital camera with me. Mt Fuji appears much smaller in the pictures than how it actually looks in person.  The nearby mountains are the Tanzawa-Oyama Mountains, which I have visited before.

Guess what! Snow again

It’s snowing again tonight. The snow has melted a bit, and it’s now a very wet slush. Very messy!