As the leaves turn colour, Saskatchewan minds turn to speculation of what winter will be like.
Will it be cold and windy, unfit for humans? Or will it be warm and sunny, great for outdoor activities?
Homeowners wonder how much snow they will have to shovel.
A glance at both farmer’s almanacs and some reading of Environment Canada interviews with the media leaves some mixed impressions.
Environment Canada spokespeople say long-term weather forecasts such as the almanacs prepare aren’t that accurate; the longer out, the less accuracy,
Nov. 30 is the date for Environment Canada’s winter outlook.
But Environment Canada spokespeople indicated a La Nina ocean current may be forming. La Nina is associated with cooler than normal weather and variable temperatures.
The Canadian edition of the Almanac, published in Las Vegas, rolls the dice in favour of near to above normal temperatures in Saskatchewan with a mild and dry climate.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac of Dublin, New Hampshire’s 118 year experience with solar cycles, predicts below normal temperatures in Western Canada and above normal precipitation and snowfall.
The worst snow periods will be late December, mid and late February to early March.
Once we get out of the cold winter, both almanacs agree upon the spring forecast. The Las Vegas-based almanac says moisture will be below normal through to March with a warm April and June.
The New Hampshire version predicts a warmer and drier April and May.
For summer the almanacs concur: dry July and wetter than usual August.
They agree on the fall too with both suggesting a wet September and drier October.
Urban dwellers, anxious about long weekends, will learn that all the long weekends will feature nice weather except for a cool, showery weekend for Victoria Day and rain on our July 1 activities. Labour Day may see some showers.
Snowbirds won’t miss that much in Arizona where a colder than normal winter is predicted
Those flocking to Texas or Florida may find milder and drier than usual winters.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
