Friday 1 November 2013

A Rather Dull October in Winnipeg

     October 2013 was fairly uneventful in Winnipeg. Although there were some major events all around us, including widespread rains and thunderstorms in southwestern Manitoba on October 11 and intense snow squalls off the lakes mid-late month, Winnipeg was almost unaffected.

Still green trees Oct 8
     The biggest story was the warmth to start the month as we experienced 4 straight days near 20°C from October 8 to 11. Potentially due to a warm September and warm start to October, in addition to a late first freeze, leaves remained on trees well into the month of October. This may have been a little later than normal, but I don't have any official stats. The picture to the left is one that I took on October 8, and as you can see all these trees were still green!

     Some parts of the city had a very late first freeze of the season this year. Here in south St Vital we froze on October 6 for the first time this season. However, at The Forks the first freeze did not occur until October 20 with a low of -1.6°C.

     An impressive Colorado Low brought the most interesting weather of the month to southern Manitoba on October 11. Widespread thunderstorms brought torrential rains to southwestern Manitoba. A swath of 40-60 mm of rain fell from Wasagaming to Deloraine. Brandon recorded a daily total of 43.4 mm, the second highest daily rainfall total in October in the city since 1890. The greatest daily rainfall in Brandon was 47.0 mm on Oct 5, 1937. The monthly rainfall total ended up being 48.6 mm, the 11th rainiest October on record since 1890.

     This was in sharp contrast to Winnipeg, which received a measly 9.5 mm of rainfall, the 29th least rainy October. However even more impressive is that we only received 9.5 mm of precipitation (melted snow and rain combined), making October 2013 the 12th driest October on record in Winnipeg.

     Other that that, the month was fairly uneventful. The only other major event was snow squalls off Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg around October 21-22. Localized amounts of 20-30 cm fell in the Gimli area.

***Note: Winnipeg precip/rain total was based on a mixture of data from the Winnipeg Richardson AWOS and the 'A CS' station. This is because the official station transitioned to the 'A CS' station on October 3.***

28 comments:

  1. By the way, the 2013 Manitoba thunderstorm season stats summary as well as the 2013 severe storm season for Canada will come in December instead of November this year.

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    1. A new addition to the across Canada part is a comparison of thunderstorm days per city across the country. Some cities like in Ontario or on the coasts can still get storms in November so I'll wait until December to post the stats. I may post the Manitoba one in late November, but I cannot guarantee it (that one is due to time restraints).

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  2. A really hope this winter isn't a repeat of 2012. So far looks far it looks like it might well be. ):

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  3. Looks like some false observations ongoing at YWG Airport which has been reporting light snowshowers over the last couple of hours.

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    1. You posted that on robs blog to

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  4. There is quit a difference between the 1971-2000 normal and the 1981-2010. Right now in the 1971-2000 normal there's a low of -6 and a high of 2 in, the 1981-2010 normal there's a low of -4 and and a high of 3. Just goes to show how much global warming is wrecking our earth in just 10 years.

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  5. A clipper system may bring some snow Friday night into Saturday into southern Manitoba. Will have to be watched as it could bring our first accumulating snowfall of the season depending on track.

    However, don't be too discouraged just yet! Long range models are starting to show a bit of a change mid month, making us transition into a warmer weather pattern. Hopefully this idea sticks! It's still pretty far away though so I wouldn't get too excited just yet ;)

    It is interesting that the AO index has switched to strongly positive recently and forecasts point at it staying high for a while.
    http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/daily_ao_index/ao_index.html

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  6. Be glad we're not in Alberta. Temperatures this morning have plummeted to mid-winter type temperatures thanks to that blanket of snow that fell a few days ago. Getting down to the -20's in spots, including -22°C in Red Deer.

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    1. Some lows this morning in ALBERTA:
      Camrose -25.1°C
      Three Hills -24.7°C
      Sundre -24.1°C
      Rocky Mountain House -23.8°C
      Red Deer -23.3°C
      Coronation -22.2°C
      Edmonton -21.8°C (Int'l Airport)
      Lloydminster -19.3°C

      Most, if not all, of these did not break records.

      I know this isn't Manitoba related, but I find it interesting and goes to show how snow on the ground can really cool things down.

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    2. That's just like what happened last year in southern Mb, We had a huge Colorado in early november then it got very cold.

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  7. Latest model runs have that clipper tracking into our region Friday night and Saturday meaning there's a very good chance that we'll see our first accumulating snowfall of the season.

    JJ, do you think we'll see significant amounts of snow with this system if it indeed affects us?

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    1. It does not look like a hugely major system by any means, nothing like what Alberta and Saskatchewan have gotten in the last few days. In fact, depending on timing, part of the precipitation may fall as rain to begin with and then switch to snow in the evening. If the system pushes further north enough, like what the NAM suggests, areas to our north would have the best chance for accumulating snowfall with 5-15 cm, and a trace to 3 cm further south in Winnipeg. We'll see what happens...

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  8. I'm calling for a few cm in Winnipeg Friday, Friday night. Light flurries will likely hang around on Saturday as well.

    Looks like we'll get a blast of cold on Sunday-Monday with daytime highs well below zero.

    There's still hints of warming up mid-month, really hope that continues!

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  9. Beautiful shot from Saskatoon this week: http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/beautiful-weather/hoar-frost/13828392
    Sure different from here... but not for long!

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    1. Sure different from hear! It must have been taken from a helicopter.

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  10. I'm thinking 5CM as a good possibility for us here in Winnipeg Friday night with that System.

    JJ, do you think the NAM's 10+ CM forecast for us is too much?

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    1. I'm calling for 2-5 cm, most of the accumulation occuring tomorrow night, but snow is expected to begin by afternoon. I think 10 cm is a stretch for the city.

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  11. Hello, Is the bulk of the system suppose to be north of the city? Will highway travel be an issue in the Grand Beach and Gimli areas?

    Thanks!

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    1. Actually the heavier hit area has shifted southwards and westwards from what I thought a couple days ago. Areas along the US border and in the Parklands of western Manitoba might get the highest accumulations with 5-10 cm possible. I'm still calling it 2-5 cm in Winnipeg... however it's a tough call because it's hard to say just how much of it will actually stick to the ground in the beginning. With temperatures above zero tomorrow afternoon, most of it will likely melt on contact to start with depending on how heavy it falls. Also, if things end up a little further south than expected, we may only get 1-2 cm.

      Grand Beach and Gimli areas are expected to pick up in the 1-3 cm range or less. Highways may become slick tomorrow night as temperatures drop to near or just below freezing. During the day tomorrow, visibility would be the main issue I'm guessing.

      More light snow is possible along an arctic front on Sunday with another cm possible. This will usher in much cooler weather on Monday with highs well below zero in the -6 to -9°C range. Things warm up a bit already by Tuesday. I am still seeing a warmer weather return mid month. This has become consistent in the last few days so I'm hoping this continues!

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  12. Great reply! Thanks!!

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  13. I'm sticking with my 2-5 cm for today through to tomorrow afternoon. Looks like snow will begin sometime this afternoon and may be steady at times. On and off flurries will likely continue through to tomorrow afternoon.

    More snow possible Sunday midday with that arctic front. Very cold air, the coldest since last Spring, will be pulled in behind the front. Highs of around -8 to -9°C are expected on Monday. Very cold night Monday night, likely dropping to mid minus teens.

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  14. It just so happens that Winnipeg turns 140 years old today!
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/happy-birthday-winnipeg-river-city-turns-140-years-old-1.2419889

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  15. Sucks that the woodlands radar is stuck rain mode. Anyone no how to see it in snow? Thanks, I really appreciate it.

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    1. You can view the snow-mode here: http://aweathermoment.com/radar-viewer

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  16. Strange, airport still reporting rain this hour. Only been plain snow here in south St Vital so far, and it's even accumulating a tiny bit on grassy surfaces.

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  17. With all the melting that has occurred on contact today, I'm skeptical we'll get 2-5 cm. Only 0.4 cm has accumulated at my place so far and the bulk of the snow has now pushed off. On and off light snow through to tomorrow now.

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  18. 0.6 cm at my place with this system so far. Most of it melting today... snow moving in for this afternoon, but not much accumulation, if any at all, is expected. Thankfully, it's just been too warm yesterday and today to get much accumulation from this system.

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