Coldest Winter In Nearly 15 Years Ahead, Environment Canada
Big chill coming for most of country
Paige Aarhus, National Post
30 November 2007
http://www.nationalpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=135813
THE GAZETTE/John KenneyDawson College student Matt Poupart waited for a
bus in the cold in Westmount Thursday, November 22, 2007. The biggest
snowstorm yet of the 2007/2008 winter season, with the inclusion of
freezing rain ...
Canadians who enjoyed last winter's mild temperatures and relatively
light snowfall better get ready to bundle up -- it's going to be a cold
one.
Environment Canada announced Friday that winter this year is expected to
be the coldest in nearly 15 years. From December through February,
conditions are forecast to be the harshest since the early 1990s.
Southwestern Ontario and parts of northern Canada are the only areas
expected to experience the usual weather this winter.
"The highest confidence we have that our forecast will be good is for
the Prairies. We have our models showing that it's going to be quite
cold there," said Richard Moffet, a meteorologist at the Canadian
Meteorological Centre in Montreal.
The last time Canada experienced such a cold season was in 1994, when
temperatures dropped as low as -42C before factoring in the wind chill.
But Mr. Moffet said there could be an upside to the brutal weather.
"Maybe the winter in the Prairies will seem to be like the good old
winters. People will be able to skate outside and play hockey," he said.
Environment Canada has forecast regular amounts of snow, although cities
such as Calgary, Regina and Toronto could get more than usual.
Last year's winter saw green Christmases in the traditionally snowy
cities of Timmins, Quebec City and Ottawa. The provinces of New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Island only had two-thirds of their usual
snowfall.
This year's cold weather is being triggered in part by La Nina, a period
of lower than normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, according to Mr.
Moffet.
"Off the coast of Peru, it's colder than usual and it's going to be
there for all of winter and into the next spring for sure. This is going
to be long-lasting," he said.
--
Warmest Regards
Bonzo
"Let me say it plainly: The environmental movement has been taken over
by anti-capitalist radicals who are using it to wage war against
capitalism and campaign for liberal Democrats. Protecting the
environment is now number three, or lower, on their list of priorities."
Joe Bast, President, Heartland Institute, One-time Ardent
Environmentalist, Has seen it from both sides.
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