Winter in 2011, in Mississauga, ON shows a moderate snowfall. Predictions show we are in store for more snow in 2012. PHOTO COURTESY FLICKR.
By Melinda Warren
Meteorologists from The Weather Network have released weather predictions for the months of December, January and February.
The 2010-11 winter was one of Canada’s mildest in history, but according to The Weather Network, we are in for typical Canadian weather this year.
This winter will be unsettled with stretches of calm weather followed by a brutal winter storm. Because of this type of pattern, temperatures will most likely become warmer in the Yukon than Southern Ontario on some occasions.
Gina Ressler, meteorologist from The Weather Network told Humber News that Ontario can expect to see more snow than usual.
“We are expecting to see above-normal levels of precipitation near central regions of the Great Lakes. That is basically because we are looking at an increased amount of lake effect snow this winter. The lakes right now are above normal in terms of the lake temperatures. As the cool air comes down from the north,H that is where we get the lake effect snow,” Ressler said.
However, Ressler said the longer-term trend is that Canadians will most likely start seeing milder winters.
“Over the last few decades we have seen our winters become milder and milder. This is especially true for Canada’s north. So that is probably the trend that will continue over the next few decades. That doesn’t mean that everyone will see a milder than normal winter. We will still get that cold arctic temperature and cold spells,” she said.
According to a press release by Canada News Wire, western Canada is expected to see a normal winter and normal temperatures from British Columbia through the Manitoba/Ontario border. Western Nunavut can expect to be drier than normal this winter and the northern Prairies and Northwest Territories are expected to see colder than normal temperatures.
Most areas of Eastern Canada can expect to see normal conditions this winter.
Atlantic Canada can expect to see a winter with more precipitation and colder temperatures because of a storm along the jet stream.
The predictions for Ontario state that we can expect to see lower than normal temperatures from the northwest. We can also expect to see above normal precipitation for the Georgian Bay region into the Nickel Belt.
Environment Canada refers to the “normals” as averages used to determine or summarize the typical conditions for a particular area or region.
These characteristics are recorded and studied for at least 15 years and range from 1971 to 2000.
See below for a predicted breakdown this winter by province:
The Weather Network’s predictions for the 2012 winter in Canada. COURTESY OF THE WEATHER NETWORK.