Warm and dry or cold and wet in 2009?

As we begin a new year, instead of looking back at what the weather was like during 2008, let us peer into the “weatherperson’s” crystal ball and see what the weather might have in store for us in 2009. To do this I usually rely on four different long-range weather forecasts: Environment Canada (EC), the

La Nina could ease Australian drought

Australia’s drought-hit farmlands may see vital summer rains from a La Nina system that could develop next year, bringing relief after a year of sweltering temperatures above the global average, scientists said on Wednesday. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said farms in the wheat belt of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales states had a


Looking back at 2008

With 2008 coming to an end, the year overall turned out to be cooler and wetter than average, with all three of our major stations (Winnipeg, Brandon, and Dauphin) repor ting a mean annual temperature that was around 1.5C below the long-term average. Precipitation was also above average for the year, with all three stations

Warm and wet or warm and dry

The next question is – what will December have in store for us this year? After a spring and summer period that saw five months in a row with below-average monthly temperatures, we have now almost finished a complete 180. Since August, we have experienced four months in a row with above-average temperatures. This has



First Midwest snow complicates remaining harvest

U. S. Midwest farmers who still have corn in their fields got a grim reminder last week that their harvest window was closing fast as the first snowfall of the season fell on parts of the western corn belt Nov. 7. Storms that dropped one to three inches of snow on parts of Iowa and


Issued: Monday, November 10, 2008 Covering: November 12 –19

The weather page is prepared by Daniel Bezte. Dan has a BA Honours degree in geography, specializing in climatology, from the U of W. He has taught climate and weather classes at the U of W, and is a guest climate expert on CJOB’s morning show with Larry Updike. Daniel runs a computerized weather station



Mild, wet weather to continue

It may seem a little simplistic, but chances are, if we experience several months in a row with below-average temperatures, we will see several months in a row with above-average temperatures. After seeing six straight months of below-average temperatures from February through to July 2008, we have now seen three months in a row of