Being cold isn't why you get a cold. But it is true that cold weather makes it easier to catch respiratory viruses such as the cold and flu. Research also shows that lower temperatures are associated with higher COVID-19 rates.
COMMENT: Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds – a public health nurse explains the science behind the season
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.
Warmer winter likely across Canada
High probability of warm spring to follow, long-range forecast shows
Warmer than normal temperatures are expected across all of Canada through the winter months, with average precipitation for most of the agricultural areas of the Prairies, according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada, released Dec. 31.
Winter brings no break for drought management
Herd culling and feeding strategies will be top of mind for cattle producers as drought aftermath drags into winter
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Even by the standards of her drought-prone region, the past year has been the worst for moisture since 1949 on Jesse Williams’s ranch in Alberta’s Special Area No. 2. “It wasn’t a fun year,” said the Whiskey Creek Ranch owner. “Of the worst 10 droughts in history for my township, I’ve been […] Read more
Winter unlikely to be a cure against drought
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s not as bad as a year ago, but the moisture situation heading into winter wasn’t good either, the province said in its final Agricultural Moisture Situation Update of the season issued Oct. 25. A year ago, most of the province had moisture deficits that are only seen once every 25 to 50 years. Things […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Australia’s winter pulse production mixed
MarketsFarm — Australia’s 2022 winter pulse crop will see its ups and downs, according to a quarterly crop report released Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). Chickpeas saw the largest projected production decline, dropping 41.5 per cent from the 2021-22 marketing year to 621,000 tonnes this year, Australia’s […] Read more
It’s worth trying winter-hardy crops, but success can be elusive
Reading Time: 2 minutes Profiting from winter-hardy crops can be challenging, but they’re worth planting in small test areas, says the head of research and development at Western Ag Innovations. “It’s something good to keep your eye on,” Eric Bremer said at the recent Farming Smarter field school in Lethbridge. “It’s still difficult to guarantee a good result. Winter […] Read more
La Niña introduces itself with Prairie cold snap
MarketsFarm — The frigid conditions which had enveloped the Prairie provinces in recent weeks is a sign La Niña has come again, according to a Kansas-based meteorologist. Since mid-December, the Prairies have been in a deep freeze beginning with temperatures at least 10 C below-normal. Since the holiday season, many towns and cities in the […] Read more
Seasonal forecast calls for more snow
MarketsFarm — Most of Canada should see above-normal snowfall over the next three months, according to updated seasonal forecasts released Monday from Environment Canada. Weather maps show a 40 to 60 per cent probability of more precipitation than normal across much of the country from December through February, with the heaviest accumulations expected in Quebec. […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Feedlots booking for winter underpin bids
MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices have been strong following Western Canada’s harvest, as feedlots ensure they’re covered heading into the winter. “Last week there was some buying in the deferred months, from January onward,” Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. said. Pirness said the strong prices were unexpected, noting that when prices […] Read more
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