Quick Spring
Listen in RealAudio
Email your weather question

Canada's usual image is of a nation covered with ice and snow lasting well into the year. But on its West Coast, the climate differs dramatically from that, particularly in Vancouver Island's main city, Victoria.

Hi, Iım Bryan Yeaton and this is the Weather Notebook.

While most of Canada experiences a slow unfolding of Spring, Victoria jumps in quickly.

Victoria is known as Canada's Garden City for good reason. The moderating influences of the Pacific Ocean keep the city generally snow-free, and mostly frost-free, all winter.

Given a short, mild winter, Victoria has a "Quick Spring." Frost only touches the surface, not penetrating deeply into the soil. With mild air flowing off surrounding waters and strengthening sunlight, Victoria's February daily air temperatures rise above the 40F threshold temperature critical for plant growth.

After Groundhog Day, the first shoots and blossoms begin emerging. Flower gardens burst forth, tree buds swell, pregnant with flower or leaf. Initially, the outbreak is confined to the near-shore neighborhoods and south-facing slopes but by March covers all the district.

Victoria's most striking Spring signs are the streets and avenues lined with blooming cherry trees. By mid-February, cherry blossoms burst out like a tidal wave rising first along the southern shoreline. The progression then floods north and inland as street after street becomes lined with cherry blossoms.

By March's end, when most of Canada is finally awakening from winter, Victoriaıs gutters fill with "Victoria Snow" – white and pink petals fallen to earth forming miniature drifts.

Thanks to contributing writer Keith Heidorn of Victoria. The Weather Notebook is a production of the Mount Washington Observatory and is supported by the National Science Foundation.