Euronews: Europe has been battling Storm Goretti, bringing heavy snow and icy conditions to many parts of the continent. More than 10 people have died in weather-related accidents across Europe this week, and Germany is now facing snowfalls of up to 20 cm — which the country’s state railway has described as one of the most severe weather events in recent years. In the Paris region, authorities were forced to take 10,000 buses off the roads across 1,900 lines. Many households have lost electricity, air traffic has been severely disrupted, and rail services have been critically suspended. Even though Europe experiences fewer snowstorms than Canada, are Europeans generally bad at anticipating them?
Patrick de Bellefeuille: First and foremost, weather forecasts are part of daily life for Canadians, especially in Quebec and Montreal. People check them all the time, so we aren’t surprised when snow arrives—we know in advance. But it’s also clear that people are well-equipped here. For example, every household has a bucket of de-icing agent. If it’s icy on the steps or in the driveway, we have the de-icer ready. In our cars, we all carry a shovel and a battery system that can plug into the cigarette lighter if we need power. We also have windshield washer fluid and de-icing products. Having this equipment is normal for Canadians—it’s part of everyday life.
