"Winter's here, so stock up on beer early and often"
Posted on 11/30/2007 1:55:35 PM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
TORONTO - After years of warmer-than-normal winters that spurred constant talk of global warming, winter this year is expected to be the coldest in almost 15 years and should remind everyone of what real Canadian cold feels like, Environment Canada said Friday.
With the exception of only small pockets of northern Canada and southwestern Ontario, this December through February is forecast to be one of the harshest winters in recent memory across the country, said senior climatologist David Phillips.
"It is somewhat remarkable that we're seeing the same situation from coast to coast to almost coast - from Vancouver Island to Bonavista, Nfld., we're showing the country as being colder than normal," Phillips said.
"The last time Canada had a significantly cold winter was back in 1994, more than a decade ago, and this may very well rival that one in terms of coldness."
1994 started with a bang of winter weather and Canadians across the country shivered through temperatures as cold as -42C - and that was before factoring in the wind chill.
Environment Canada's forecast for precipitation suggests much of the country is due for normal amounts of snow, although some cities could get more than usual, including Calgary, Regina and Toronto, which infamously called in the army in January 1999 to deal with a heavy snowfall.
The precipitation forecasts are less reliable, but Phillips said a colder winter would likely result in a lot of white Christmases across the country - defined as two centimetres of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Even if the forecasts don't hold true, Phillips said the weather will almost certainly be worse than the last couple years for much of the country.
Last year, a number of traditionally cold and snow-covered cities like Quebec City, Ottawa and Timmins, Ont., had a green Christmas for the first time in decades.
And places like Moncton, all of Prince Edward Island and Toronto had only two-thirds of their normal snowfall.
If there is a bright side to the gloomy forecast that most Canadians will probably curse, it's that snow and cold in the winter is good for the economy, Phillips said.
When Canadians see snow outside their windows they'll likely get into the Christmas spirit and start shopping, he said. And others will see the snow and make immediate plans to head south.
"I always think it's good for the economy when weather is behaving like it should, when winters are cold and summers are hot," Phillips said.
"With the Canadian dollar the way it is and with this colder than normal weather, it very well may be that the busiest people in the country are travel agents."
Phillips said the forecast for cold weather is being triggered in part by La Nina, a period of lower than normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.
Notice how they mention La Nina as a probable cause -- but, when we have a warm winter, it's because of "global warming" -- not El Niño.
Well, this should be good for the Ice Road. “Ice Road Truckers” is one of my favorite History Channel series.
Ping
Your list, for.
I’m glad I put a block heater in my car this summer...
They should invite the pompous windbag Algore up for a week. I’d like to see 300 pounds moving down the ice...
Yeah baby! Colder temperature = greater weight per axle! Let’s rock!
What year was the major ice storm up there that took down all the high line towers runnning into one of the big cities?
Saw a show on History or National Geographic about it. After the first couple of days up there things were starting to look a little grim.
Must be caused by global warming.
I lived in the far north for decades & I had a block heater, oil pan heater, electric battery blanket and interior warmer. When I moved to Victoria, people would ask me about the plugs sticking out from the grill of my SUV — they thought it was an electric vehicle.
Impossible!!! The globe is warming. This news agency is wacked!!! lol.
I wonder if that means the northern US will be colder or warmer than usual? Could be warmer down here, if this forecast means that the jet stream will keep the artic air mass up north over Canada.
AlGore says no!
Well, it’s in the forties and raining here in SoCal, and we should have below freezing temps over the weekend.
Opps, I forgot to mention the trickle charger mounted next to the battery. (A partially discharged battery will freeze in no time, at 50 below — even with a blanket.)
"Winter's here, so stock up on beer early and often"
That!, takes some cojones!
That cold wave is bad news for Canada.
First, Canada is threatened by old beer refrigerators:
Study: Canadian Beer Drinkers Threaten Planet
Fox News ^ | November 29, 2007
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1932415/posts
Now there’ll be concern about making sure the beer doesn’t freeze!
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