Westman facing another month of winter
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/02/2019 (2566 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
After dealing with frigid temperatures all winter and weeks below seasonal, Brandonites will have to wait a little bit longer for the spring thaw.
Nadine Powell, a meteorologist for The Weather Network, said the cold will continue through March — and maybe the beginning of April — before a rapid warmup to seasonal temperatures.
“We’ve been stuck in the pattern where the jet stream has really sunk well to the south and that has allowed a lot of cold air from the Arctic to channel right into our area.”
The good news is that by the end of spring, Powell predicts the area will have seen more warm days than average.
“That is after we get past this cold and even into the extension of it into the next week.”
On Tuesday, the temperature was around -19 C. This is well under the average low for late February, which according to Environment Canada is -16.7 C. The average daily high for this time of year is -5.8 C.
Powell said she didn’t have the numbers for the entire winter, but Brandon has been below seasonal for around two-thirds of February.
Prairie temperatures are so cold because the area is far from either the Pacific of the Atlantic Ocean. The area is in the exact middle of the continent, where the jet stream brings arctic air further south, Powell said.
Heading into the spring there is also concern of flooding in southern Manitoba and North Dakota, which could affect Brandon.
“Just based (on) the way the Red River Valley flows, we’re also concerned about what happens on (the United States’) side … With their concern for flooding right now, I would not say the situation is optimistic for us right now.”
Below seasonal temperatures could help with flooding as the valley flows from south to north. If the snow remains frozen, it will give the ground south of the border more time to absorb the meltwater.
“I think the immediate (temperatures) for us as we head into the next couple of weeks are still well into seasonal values,” Powell said. “Not only across the province, we’re also anticipating that other areas of the country could also see below seasonal values.”
» dmay@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @DrewMay_