There’s nothing quite like feeling a cool breeze on your skin during a sweltering summer day; it rejuvenates your body and allows you to continue enjoying your outdoor activities.
Some of these activities might even be driven by the wind. Whether you’re out flying kites, sailing, windsurfing or simply watching the clouds go by, there are many reasons to appreciate the summer breeze.
Awaiting “Blew” skies
Heavy wildfire smoke has been polluting our air this summer, making it difficult to enjoy being outside. It is also reminding us how grateful we should be when we do have clear blue skies. Wind and air currents, caused by the uneven heating of the earth by the sun, have a lot to do with how much smoke travels into our area, how long it sticks around and how far the wildfires spread.
By keeping an eye on the air quality index alerts we can better prepare for smokey or blue skies. When the smoke from wildfires is affecting our air quality, make sure you visit the Public Health Sudbury and Districts webpage for tips on how to reduce the impacts of smoke on your personal health. And when we do have clear blue skies, we should make the most of it and the winds that are blowing in our favour.
Gone with the wind
Flying Kites
Kite flying is a thrilling outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by everyone, almost anywhere.
Show off your kites at the beach, at the park or in an open field with your friends and family. Not only is this a fun summer activity, but have you ever considered flying a kite in the winter? The middle of a frozen lake is a great place to get your kite up in the air.
Sports
The wind can make for some more calculated or unexpected moves in sports like golf, tennis and flying disc, which can be a fun challenge.
Try taking frisbee to the next level by playing disc golf. If you haven’t already, check out Greater Sudbury’s two disc golf courses, located at Selkirk Park and Kivi Park.
Sailing and Windsurfing
There are many opportunities for adults and youth to learn how to sail or windsurf in Greater Sudbury through the Sudbury Yacht Club or the Sudbury Canoe Club at the Northern Watersports Centre. Make sure you remember to inspect and wash your boat, boards, canoes and even swimsuits before putting them into a new lake to reduce the spread of invasive species like Eurasion Milfoil and the Spiny Waterflea.
To avoid introducing invasive species, bathing suits, fishing gear and nets should be soaked or washed in hot water after being in an affected lake. The following steps should be taken with any boat, board, canoe or kayak before entering a different lake. You can either:
- rinse with hot water above 50°Celcius;
- clean with high pressure washer at 250 psi; or
- leave your boat or board to dry in the sun for five days.
For more information about Invasive Species Act regulations visit the Government of Ontario webpage.
Keep it breezy
You don’t need to exert too much energy to enjoy the summer breeze., There are many ways you can make the most of the wind from the comfort of your own backyard.
Cloud watching
You’re never too old to let your imagination flow freely and make up images from the changing cloud shapes as they pass by. While enjoying the changing shapes, you can also learn about the weather.
Clouds can indicate upcoming weather conditions so you can learn the types of clouds and what they mean. Two common types of clouds are cumulus that are round and fluffy and cirrus that are thin and wispy.
Wind chimes, flags and windsocks
Personalize your outdoor space with wind-activated decorations such as wind chimes, flags and weathervanes that can be hand-crafted and fun to create.
Keep in mind that wind chimes can create noise pollution for wildlife and neighbours, so consider choosing quieter versions. Flags and windsocks can also be a great indicator of wind direction and speed.
Hanging your clothes to dry
By taking the time to place your laundry on a clothesline, you’re allowing yourself time to enjoy some fresh air while using the wind to save money on your energy bill. Other benefits of using an outdoor clothesline include:
- extends the life of most fabric that are damaged in electric dryers from the tumbling motion or overheating;
- helps whiten and disinfect clothes (to avoid fading, dry them inside out);
- avoids indoor moisture if you were using indoor drying racks; and
- avoids concerns over dryer fires
We’re a big fan of renewable energy
Another way to enjoy the wind is to harness the energy from it. Increasing our renewable energy is a goal in the City of Greater Sudbury’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) and wind power is often a popular choice; however, Greater Sudbury has a more turbulent wind regime compared to some communities near large bodies of water.
At this time, large wind turbines are not feasible in the community, but smaller wind power systems have been seen helping power individual homes and sheds. These little efforts to utilize renewable energy can help reduce our Greenhouse Gas emissions.
Follow these links to learn more about residential wind turbines:
- Residential Wind Turbine Ontario - Wind Facts
- Electricity Generation Using Small Wind Turbines for Home or Farm Use (ontario.ca)
A note about using electric fans to keep cool
Using electric or hand fans is an easy way to stay cool in our hot weather, particularly if you use fans in combination with drinking plenty of cool water and wetting your skin with a damp cloth. It is important to find ways to stay cool during heat waves with advice from Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
- Public Health Sudbury & Districts - How to beat the heat (phsd.ca)
- Public Health Sudbury & Districts - Beat the heat in apartment buildings (phsd.ca)
- Public Health Sudbury & Districts - Avoid heat-related illness with rising summer heat (phsd.ca)
Preparing for strong winds
Strong winds sometimes seemingly come out of nowhere. We must be prepared for such events, especially as they become more prevalent with climate change. Taking the following measures to protect our homes and communities reduces the potential damages caused by these strong wind events.
- Remove or report dead trees and branches that may fall onto your home or powerlines during a storm
- Clean gutters, drains and downpipes
- Ensure your roof is in a good state
- Prepare an emergency kit
- Visit Outage Safety – GSU | Greater Sudbury Utilities (gsuinc.ca)
- You can report hazardous trees near powerlines for both GSU and Hydro One
If you have a project you’d like the City to highlight, contact Jennifer Babin-Fenske at [email protected].