You guessed it, it’s that time again, to look back at the previous month’s weather, then look ahead to see what the next couple of months might have in store. At this time of year, with spring just around the corner, the long-range forecast takes on a little more importance. Let’s begin by looking back
This February was much warmer than the last
The CanSIPS model predicts a colder-than-average March for the Prairies
Forecast: Storm track setting up to our north
Covering the period from March 4 to March 11
Last issue’s forecast did an OK job. It captured the overall pattern, but was a little off regarding temperatures and overpredicted the amount of snow with a weak area of low pressure. This forecast period looks like it will be an interesting one. Weather models show the main storm track setting up across the central
Weather school: Five reasons for the seasons
Earth is a spinning top tilted to one side – and is always tilted in the same direction
In our previous Weather School class we looked at incoming solar radiation and the solar constant. With no new or exciting happenings in our local weather, we’re going to continue our look at how the incoming energy from the sun drives the seasons and weather we experience here on Earth. Net global radiation is the
Forecast: Winter and spring battling it out
Covering the period from February 26 to March 4
For the first time in a while, last issue’s forecast played out pretty much as the weather models predicted. Mild air moved in last weekend and was followed by a shot of colder air during the middle part of this week. For this forecast period, it looks like we will start off with an area
Weather school: Insolation and the solar constant
Equatorial regions get about 2.5 times more incoming solar energy than polar regions
In my last article, we gently stuck our toes into the idea of going back to school with our first weather school class. In that class we discussed how the sun creates energy and then how that energy travels from the sun to Earth. Today we will start to look at how that energy is
Forecast: Is spring fighting its way in early?
Covering the period from February 19 to February 26
As I pointed out at the beginning of last week’s forecast, when there is a switch in the weather pattern, the devil is in the details and we definitely noticed that last week. The weather models correctly forecasted a couple of outbreaks of cold arctic air. What they failed to get right was just how
Weather school: Let’s start with the basics
The majority of the radiation we get from the sun comes in the form of visible light
At this time of the year, unless the weather is particularly bad, there are not a lot of “new” weather topics to discuss. We still have a month or two of winter left, and a lot can happen in that time that will affect our spring. I’ve spent more than enough time looking at long-range
Forecast: Colder weather definitely moving back in
Covering the period from February 12 to February 19
Any time we see a switch in the weather pattern, the weather models tend to struggle a little bit on the day-to-day details, and we saw this happen with last week’s forecast. Colder air tried to move in several times, but these cold intrusions only lasted a day or so before milder air moved back
Cold February ahead… but not like last year’s
The last 15 years have shown an unusually large number of warm Januarys
For the 11th time over the last 15 years, this January saw above-average temperatures across all of agricultural Manitoba. Along with above-average temperatures came a mixed bag of precipitation totals, with some regions seeing above average, others near average and, you guessed it, some areas continuing to see below average. The one positive during January
Forecast: Winter’s not done yet
Covering the period from February 5 to February 12
It’s starting to sound like a broken record, but once again, the weather models have done a decent job with the short- to medium-term forecasts. It can be tough to get the temperatures bang on when we are dealing with clouds with the occasional clear patch. Also, with the stagnant flow, the weather models were