After what was probably the biggest storm system of the winter, it looks like this forecast period will see a break from the active weather for the most part.
Prairie forecast: Stormy start in the east, warming in the west
Issued March 6, covering March 6 to 13, 2024
Prairie forecast: Storm system heads for southern Prairies
Updates forecast issued Feb. 29, covering Feb. 29 to March 6, 2024
The weather models have come into fairly good agreement for the storm system forecasted to impact much of the southern prairies over the next 24 to 48 hours. An area of low pressure is developing over Wyoming with an inverted trough stretching northwestwards.
Volcanic eruptions and climate
Contents of volcanic ejections and location of volcano can change impact
Reading Time: 3 minutes Several weeks ago, I received a question about the Tonga volcanic eruption that occurred Jan. 15, 2022. I was asked what impact that eruption may have had on our climate and whether it contributed to record-breaking global temperatures last year. One headline in particular stood out for me regarding those high temperatures, but probably not […] Read more
Prairie forecast: More much-needed moisture expected
Issued Feb. 29, covering Feb. 29 to March 6, 2024
Cold Arctic air has invaded the Prairies much to many people’s surprise. We have gotten so used to mild spring-like weather that some people may be put off that winter has returned. For those who read my last column, this type of weather shouldn't be surprising since we are now moving into what can be the snowiest time of the year.
Prairie forecast update: Storms roll in
Updates forecast issued Feb. 21, 2024
The weather models are coming into agreement with up coming storm system. The low was forecasted to develop over southern Alberta on Sunday with widespread snow developing to the north and west of the low. This placed the Edmonton region in the main snow band with 10 or so centimetres forecasted to fall across this region. The snow should move out quickly on Monday as cold arctic air pours southwards behind the low dropping temperatures to below average, but only for a couple of day.
There’s still hope for a spring snowstorm
All three provinces have seen their records set in March or April
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s getting pretty late in the winter, and if you’re a Prairie farmer or skier — or maybe both — you might wonder if there’s still a chance for more moisture in the form of snow. As I have mentioned on several occasions over the years, March and April have seen some of our biggest […] Read more
Prairie forecast: Mild start, then a chance of storms
Issued Feb. 21, covering Feb. 21 to 28, 2024
Sunshine prevailed a fair bit more over the last forecast period than expected and so did the milder temperatures. Oh, sure there were a couple of cold nights, especially over the eastern half of the prairies, but overall, temperatures ended up being about 2 to 4 C warmer than what was forecasted.
Prairie forecast: Dry and mild west, seasonal east
Issued Feb. 14, covering Feb 14 to 21, 2024
If you haven’t noticed, it has been an unusual winter, and that unusualness is causing all sorts of headaches with weather forecasting. In particular, cloud cover. In the last forecast period, it looked as if high pressure would dominate the weather bringing plenty of clear skies along with more seasonable temperatures.
Anatomy of a cold snap
While the polar vortex is an important trigger for this phenomenon, it's not the only one
Reading Time: 4 minutes I’ve had a couple of really good questions over the last few weeks. One was very timely about the Polar Vortex, and the other was a question about the impact of volcanic activity on our climate, particularly the Tonga volcanic eruption back in January of 2022. Since the polar vortex question is a little more […] Read more
Prairie forecast: Stormy start in the east, slightly cooler west
Issued Feb. 7, covering Feb. 7 to 14, 2024
You can’t say it has been a strange and interesting winter. First, we saw a wintery end to October, then fall moved back in for most of November and December before we finally saw a big old shot winter in mid-January. Now we have been dealing with spring like conditions over the last two weeks – what’s next? Well, it looks like winter is going to try and make a comeback.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
