Although we’ve experienced record-setting cold temperatures and several wind warnings affecting the Lethbridge area so far this winter, it seems previous winters were in fact the years with odd weather, and that things seem back to normal this year, not the other way around.

“This year isn’t the anomaly, previous winters have been, says Dory Rossiter, skywatch weather specialist at CTV Lethbridge. “We’ve been spoiled in past years with nice temperatures and El Nino, but we haven’t had that this year. We haven’t been seeing Chinooks much this year.”

The month of December brought extreme wind chills and a record snowfall that left many people scrambling to get out of their driveways, never mind down the streets, and the city had to hire contractors to help get rid of the massive amounts of snow that had accumulated.

Rossiter explains that unlike previous winters, where southern winds and several high pressure systems have helped give southern Alberta in nicer temperatures for the most part; this year, we have more low pressure systems and northern winds, which has caused the temperatures to drop.

The month of December saw cold air kept being pushed down from the arctic, and northerly winds and a huge low pressure system that took forever to move east. As a result, we experienced several inches of snow and plummeting temperatures.

“We got locked into that northern air mass that extended [from] Vancouver Island and east to Winnipeg, and all the way down to Texas. It was huge,” explains Rossiter. “We keep getting these kinds of northern winds, [and] cold air masses coming from the artic,” says Rossiter. “It was a thick air mass. It took a lot of wind to take it across, it was an intense system.”

Now, that same air mass is hovering over central and eastern Canada, bringing them into the extreme double digits, and giving them a lot of snow and icy conditions.

Finally, in early January, we had a Chinook roll through, giving a reprieve from the bitter cold. Although Rossiter doesn’t think we’ll see any more record snowfalls, she makes it very clear that winter isn’t over yet.

In addition, Rossiter predicts next year’s winter will be similar to what we’ve had this year, though it’s impossible to give any specifics this early.

“Next year, [we should] see another version of this winter, but we will definitely have another ‘real’ winter. Buy your parkas while they’re on sale,” says Rossiter.

A definite upside to all the snow is that it should really help farmers avoid any dry spells.

“The snow packs will really help agriculture. It will be a good [year],” says Rossiter.

Originally posted 2009-02-01 03:14:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

  • Share/Bookmark