Sky Watch
Today the wind and rain drove fiercely against my apartment window. It was the tail end of a typhoon(台风). Every year, as the calendar indicates the approach of autumn, these destructive tropical(热带的) storms account for both death and destruction along Asia’s coasts. On an average there may be fifteen such storms every year. Although many civilians adopt a casual attitude towards these events, awareness is advisable.
As the water dripped from my balcony and accumulated into free-flowing rivers on the road beneath, I was reminded of the extreme weather that affected the residents of North America. Hurricanes(飓风), tornadoes(龙卷风), snowstorms, ice storms and electrical storms are all examples of extreme weather that may challenge an entire community. Each storm is unique in character, contributing its own particular fascination(魔力) and fear.
Every fall hurricanes slam the United States coast. They upset boats, fell mature trees, wash away sections of public beaches and often cause death. Fortunately with the advantage of modern prior warning systems authorities are able to keep the chaos to a minimum. Regardless, some sectors of the population still ignore the warnings. The burden of rescuing these irresponsible(不负责的) adults falls on the authorities. Mean while government budgets are strained. To assemble enough aid to assure assistance for all regions in a country stretches finances.
Hurricanes seldom reach Ontario, Canada, but in 1954 Hurricane Hazel exposed the residents of Toronto to an awful night of flooding and terror. Responding to the disaster required the supreme effort of all the rescue departments.
In Ontario where a brush(严酷的) winter extends from November until April, snowstorms are regular occurrence. People adjust their travel plans, sports activities and especially their mode of dress when the weather forecasters predict a severe snowstorm. Automobile drivers must be more cautious under these circumstances. Snow removal becomes a major expense for northern cities. Families adjust their weekend plans and stay together at home, sitting safely in front of a blazing(炽烧的) fire, and viewing a video, the beauty of fluffy(蓬松的) white snow can be appreciated when it blankets(覆盖) stately evergreens(常青树) standing against a deep blue sky.
In 1998, Ontario residents were crippled by a severe ice storm. People’s lives came to a grinding halt when power lines crumpled(瘫痪) under the weight of the ice. People lived without electricity for weeks. Remote parts of the province resumed normal living conditions after several months. Rocks, trees and lakes abound(大量的) in the Canadian Shield(地盾) area of Ontario. Electrical storms provide spectacular entertainment for summer evenings. Zigzag(锯齿形的) bolts of lightening flash across the sky the clap of thunder echoes across the water. Each storm provides a remarkable drama, one without parallel in nature.
When individuals encounter the impressive forces of nature we are reminded that we are indeed weak and insignificant(无意义的,无关紧要的)!
天空观察
今天暴风雨不在击打着我的寓所窗户，不过台风就要结束了。每年当日历提示秋天来临时，这些破坏性极强的热带风暴就会给亚洲沿海地区，带来人员伤亡和财产损失。平均每年可能有15次这样的暴风雨。面对这些灾难，很多居民抱着漫不经心的态度，但提高防范意识才是明智的。
雨水从阳台上滴落下来，在下面的道路上汇聚成肆意流淌的水流。这使我联想到侵扰北美居民的那些极端恶劣的气候。飓风、龙卷风、雪暴、冰暴和雷暴，都是可能威胁到整个社会的极端的气候现象。每次风暴都有其独特的特点，展现出特有的魔力和恐怖景象。
每年秋天，飓风都要猛烈攻击美国海岸。它们打翻船只，刮倒大树，冲毁成片的公共海滩，还常常造成人员伤亡。所幸的是，由于有了先进的预警系统，当局能够将这种混乱不堪的状况降到最低限度。但不管怎样，还是有一部分人忽视这些警告。营救这些不负责任的成年人的重任就落在了当局身上。这时，政府预算就显得很勉强。要调集足够的物资，保证为一个国家的所有地区提供帮助，使得财政吃紧。
飓风很少影响到加拿大的安大略省。但在1954年，黑兹尔飓风却使多伦多的居民遭遇了一个充满灌水和恐惧的可怕夜晚。为了应付那次灾难，所有救援机构都尽了最大的努力。
在安大略，严酷的冬天从十一月一直延续到四月，常常有暴风雪。当气象预报员预报说有恶劣的暴风雪时，人们就得调整他们的旅游和体育运动计划，特别是调整他们的衣着。汽车驾驶员在这样的环境里必须更加小心。除雪成了北方城市的主要开支之一。家庭调整了他们的周末休假计划，一起呆在家里，安全地坐在炽热的炉火前观看录像。当挺拔的常青树上挂满蓬松的白雪时，人们就可以欣赏在深蓝色天空衬托下的美丽雪景了。
1998年，安大略的居民又遭受了一场残酷的冰暴的蹂躏。电力线路在冰冻的重压下瘫痪了，人们的生命受到严重威胁。好几个星期，人们的生活中没有电。该省的偏远地区几个月后生活才恢复正常。安大略的加拿大地盾区有大量的岩石、树木和湖泊。夏天夜晚，雷暴会上演蔚为壮观的好戏。锯齿形的道道闪电相继划破长空，声声雷鸣在水面上回响。每次暴风雨都是一次大自然的绝无仅有的精彩演出。
当遭遇到令人难忘的大自然的暴力时，人们就会想到人类的确是柔弱无力而又微不足道的。
