Classically Canadian: A cold, snowy winter ahead
Hatters can expect a colder than normal winter with above average snowfalls, according to the Weather Network’s winter forecast.
The forecast, which is for December, January and February, predicts Alberta as a whole will have below normal temperatures, while the southern and central regions will experience above normal precipitation.
Michael Carter, a Weather Network meteorologist, told the News that southern Alberta has a “potentially rough ride ahead” in the coming months.
“Winter is going to be coming in at full force,” he said, adding this is the case for most of Canada.
With regards to Western Canada as a whole, the cause is a La Nina coming in off the coast of South America.
“This year we are seeing a fairly well-defined La Nina signature developing, so a pool of colder than normal waters down there,” said Carter. “That comes with a very particular jet stream pattern across the Northern Hemisphere that we can identify and gives us some clues about how things are expecting to develop.”
The jet stream is slated to come up to the northwestern U.S., pass through southern B.C. and bring “lots of Pacific moisture across the Rockies and into both the southern Prairies and the northern Plains in the U.S.,” causing greater than normal precipitation.
“In terms of the below normal temperatures, what we’re going to see is really frequent outbreaks of Arctic air,” Carter said. “We’ve already seen a few of those this year.
“Certainly, that’s not news to folks who’ve experienced the bitter cold that we’ve seen in November.”
The temperature will continue across Canada throughout the winter, with every province hit by the frigid cold “perhaps with the exception of the immediate Atlantic coast, so Nova Scotia (and) eastern New Brunswick.”
Since Alberta is landlocked, its weather patterns are particularly volatile.
“We certainly can have mild winters from time-to-time,” said Carter. “Any time you get away from large bodies of water, your volatility will go up.
“Bodies of water tend to be a moderating influence on the climate. Alberta is a place that can cope with extremes. We’ve seen them before and folks are going to come through this winter just fine, but you still want to be prepared for that additional cold (and) that additional snowfall in the months ahead.”
Those who want to see the full forecast for the upcoming “classic Canadian winter” can visit https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ news/articles/winter-forecast-20172018-la-nina/89578/.