The End of a (Stormy) Era

It has appeared that the active summer is finally coming to an end for the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Unfortunately, the statistics being kept of West Edmonton had become unconfirmed and untracked towards the end. However, all of the statistics for my location in SE Saskatchewan, as well as for Winnipeg (South) were well-kept and well-updated. Due to the unlikelihood of further upcoming weather events, I will now post the pending final statistics. Remember, the specifications were that the storm must include some sort of rainfall directly overhead and have at least one lightning strike. If there are any changes to follow, I will update them: Winnipeg South... 38 storms, 5 of those severe. 10 severe watches and 5 severe warnings. Canora... 34 storms, 3 of those severe. 14 severe watches, 3 severe warnings, and 2 tornado watches (1 of these cold core). There was also 1 roll cloud. COMING UP SHORTLY: A blog post with the top photographs of the year!

Active Summer

First off, somehow my "e-mail post" settings were disabled meaning my last how many posts were never added to my blog. Not happy!! But that's fixed now.

The summer season has been extremely active on the prairies, especially SK and MB.

In terms of keeping track of direct hit storm activity, I have an updated total. There was supposed to be a prior total but again, it was never posted. The criteria for being included is it must rain at least a bit along with the lightning/wind/hail/etc. Watches and warnings must apply to the applicable area. Given these criteria, the following is the total as of July 15th:

- Winnipeg (South): 27 storms, including 3 severe...5 severe thunderstorm watches, 3 severe thunderstorm warnings
- Canora: 25 storms, including 1 severe...5 severe thunderstorm watches, 1 severe thunderstorm warning. Also if worthy note is 1 roll cloud
- Edmonton (West): 7 storms, including 1 severe...2 severe thunderstorm watches, 1 severe thunderstorm warning

As you can see, Edmonton has been lacking weather-wise.


Important note: A possible tornado hit the north end of Good Spirit Lake (aka "Trapper's Cove") on June 26th. There were at least 4 witnesses who saw the tornado or at least the funnel before it touched down. A couple cabins and garages were destroyed, a grain bin threw 1/4 mile into a house, and that eerie noise...I heard the noise for a few minutes, nothing I've ever heard in my life; just like a roaring train. I've lived less than 1/2 mile from a railroad track all my life. I know the sound was not a train. There was no power, and no highway traffic (also live near the highway). The wind was strong all along but suddenly an hour or so into the storm came an extremely powerful wind came up. It broke and uprooted many large trees. In my back alley a tree limb was actually shoved into the ground. I believe it is still being investigated.

Now that the options are fixed any further posts should actually be posted. 'Til then....
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Abnormal Inactivity

The title sounds like a spinoff of the horror movie, and frankly, it is - at least for the prairie stormchasers such as myself. For reasons I am unsure of, the spring has been active all across the prairies (especially the Winnipeg region) -- except for SE Saskatchewan. The Saskatoon region has already received spring storms.

However, with severe season about to kick in, both of my prime locations have been stormless. Not a crack of thunder to be heard.
Professional chasers and role models such as Roger Hill promises me a very active June and July - I am sadly finding this harder to believe each day.

A possible cause of the lack of activity is the lack of daytime heat. Only a few days now have reached into the twenties. The lows have still been dipping down to near-zero temperatures. Trends are showing the below-normal temps to continue.

Will the severe season even come? Stay tuned!
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Cold Spring...Floods to Come?

Haven't updated my blog in over a month now, sad. But there hasn't been too much to update.
Temperatures have been consistently below normal, STILL. In fact, over the weekend the temperature got down to the -20s not including wind chill. Unbelievable for this time of year!
There has still been snow falling, as well. At this rate winter is going to drag on for a long time.

My personal forecast is a lot of major flooding in eastern Saskatchewan. I went an hour north of Canora on the weekend and there is so much snow that the ditches are filled even with the highways. Rivers are flowing without any spring melt yet happening. Not a good sign.

I am ready for severe weather. Going through my old photos from last year, the 2010 storm season started on May 16th. In 2009 it was late April. But if temperatures remain so brutally cold, when will sufficient daytime heating come this year??

BRR!

SE saskatchewan has been hit by another brutal Arctic airmass the last few days, with consistent temps around -30C throughout the day and wind chill warnings the last 3 mornings straight.

Some relief is in store today through Tuesday as the low pressure system brings temps almost normal near -12C and flurries. But then colder temps are due to return. However the strong winds are due to remain causing blowing snow conditions. I will continue to monitor this situation.
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Major Meltdown

The prairies have been hit by a major heatwave once again, bringing temperatures to above freezing. While this may be typical for Alberta it has also spread across Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This slow-moving trough is due to pass in a few days, bringing back cooler - but average - temperatures.

There is currently a Wind Warning out for Regina, along with approximately 1" of snow. This should make for some treacherous driving conditions. The wind will make its way from Alberta border down to S-Central Saskatchewan and later tonight down into the U.S. Regina is due to see a peak of 70km/h winds gusting to 90km/h. I will not be back there until tonight but will document if anything is left of this wind storm when I arrive and post it on my blog.

One of the downsides of this warm front is that with the amount of snow on the ground the temperatures still get below freezing at night, turning things into a skating rink. Be careful out there.

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Thaw Brings Danger

The forecast models were correct in terms of the major heatwave and Chinook-type winds coming from Alberta.

Calgary, Alberta is seeing the biggest warm up in that province, with temperatures above 0 and an average of +5.

Saskatchewan is to see temperatures between -8 and 0 for the highs, and lows around -10, which to due to last until Friday. I should mention that the average high is -10 and average low -23 for Regina.

The warm temperatures will move into Manitoba Wednesday night; Winnipeg will see a temperature of 0 on Thursday with a risk of rain.

That is the danger of this warm weather outbreak: rain. Parts of Saskatchewan received freezing rain drizzle yesterday evening, making for dangerous driving conditions in places. I believe Regina will have another threat on Thursday of rain or freezing rain, but this possibility is always subject to change.

As always I will keep an update on the situation as it progresses...
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Extreme Windchill, then Thaw

The prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are currently being hit with a short-lived EXTREME Arctic blast last night and today, and Manitoba yet tomorrow. Meanwhile, Alberta is being hit by an extreme warm front.

Regina's temperatures overnight and this morning were colder than the majority of the province. Last night Environment Canada issued a Wind-chill warning for wind-chill values around -40 C overnight and morning. Insanely enough, -40 was not the case and on top of that they actually cancelled the warning before a.m., which could have proven dangerous.

Throughout last night and this morning the temperature continued to drop in Regina, and reached its peak at 10 a.m.: -36 C with a wind-chill of -48 C! For anyone who has never experienced -48 wind-chill, I can explain it like this: in a 8 minute walk my sunglasses literally froze, the brim of my hood turned white as did my scarves (yes I wore 2), AND my headphones were so stiff they did not move as I walked!

As mentioned this is short-lived, and the forecast by Monday is calling for the same warm front hitting Alberta now, which is giving them temperatures between 0 C and +10 C! Saskatchewan will see temperatures between 0 and -5 C.

In the meantime, stay warm!
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"Stormchasers" debut..and -40!

Last night (January 12/11) was the debut of the infamous show "Stormchasers" on Discovery Channel Canada. After a 2-year hiatus (without airing Seasons 2 or 3), this was the start of Season 4. It will be aired every Wednesday at both 10pm and midnight EST. I think it's about time!!

As a side note, Regina, Sask. reached the lowest temperature so far this winter at 7 a.m. I was thankfully awake and was able to not only witness it on the Weather Eye application but to actually feel it. The temperature at this point was -27 C, with a -40 windchill. Talk about extreme cold.
During the afternoon it warmed up to -16 with a light snow, but had a -33 windchill due to 60km/h winds. I again unfortunately had to feel that weather. It was frigid enough to make your legs numb and your scarf frost up.
From what I understand this region was colder than even areas in central Sask..

Bundle Up!

The weather on the prairies has been significant the last few days:
Alberta was seeing temperatures above freezing (up to +5*C), and they got the brunt of an intense snowstorm; Edmonton, Alberta reported 32 cm of snow in a day. At the same time, the western half of Saskatchewan had snowfall warnings. Most areas received around 6" of snow, while Regina got around 5" over the entire weekend.

Now Saskatchewan is being hit by brutally cold temperatures. At 12:30 am, the temperature in Regina reached -30*C with a wind chill of -39*C. That has been the coldest temperature we have had this winter.

The local forecasts (which follow the GEM regional and global models) have been consistent with the GFS, as both have been showing this frigid cold weather leaving the region for a couple of days before another Arctic system returns on the weekend. Although one can never trust the long-range forecasts of the GFS it currently has been showing this extreme cold hovering over the area for at least 8 straight days, with a potential for yet another and yet more intense system before the end of the month.

I will continue to monitor this situation and report anymore insane high or low temperatures reached across the prairies over the coming weeks...

Christmas Eve Frost

Back on Christmas Eve I received a pleasant surprise when I awoke in the morning: everything covered with a thick layer of frost. These photos are exclusive to my blog and are not found anywhere else!

2010 Review

I'd like to start my blog by posting some of my top photos from 2010..
It was a very active year here on the Saskatchewan prairies, with several tornado warnings in an area that rarely sees them.
I also spotted around 20 funnels clouds (though most brief), the most I've ever seen as a stormchaser in one year.

June 4, 2010:



June 25, 2010:



June 26, 2010




July 1, 2010:


July 13th, 2010:


July 17, 2010:

Look at the image below carefully, at an angle: it is a large lightning strike with several bolts!


August 8, 2010:


September 5, 2010: