La Ninas have historically been tough on Argentina, but the impact isn’t expected to be as bad this time
Weather watchers are leaning toward predictions for a La Nina developing this winter and that has ramifications for crop production around the world. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said there is a 70 percent chance or triple the normal likelihood of La Nina occurring. The Climate Prediction Center in the United States predicts a 65 to […] Read moreWeather
U.S. may launch public climate debate in January
WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could launch a public debate about climate change as soon as January, administrator Scott Pruitt said on Thursday, as the agency continued to unwind Obama-era initiatives to fight global warming. The agency had been working over the last several months to set up a “red […] Read more
Many farmers got a break from hailstorms this year
Hail caused less damage across the Prairies in 2017 than it did in 2016, according to the final report tabled Dec. 4 by the Canadian Crop Hail Association. Western Canadian farmers with hail insurance were paid $96 million on about 8,600 claims, making 2017 one of the lightest claim years since 2009, the CCHA said. […] Read more
Cold winter forecast, plentiful snow may offer needed moisture
Farmers can expect a “wild ride” this winter, according to The Weather Network’s 2017 winter forecast. “It is potentially a very harsh winter ahead with widespread below seasonal temperatures and lots of shots of Arctic air,” said meteorologist Michael Carter. The Prairies will experience the worst winter weather in the country with below normal temperatures […] Read more
Australia weather bureau expects short lived La Nina
WELLINGTON, Nov 22 (Reuters) – Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued an alert on Tuesday that the threshold for a La Nina would likely be reached in December. The bureau pegged the chance of a La Nina at 70 percent, adding that all its models reached La Nina thresholds in December with most models suggesting […] Read more
U.S. weather forecaster lifts La Niña chances to 65-75 pct
Nov 9 (Reuters) – A U.S. government weather forecaster on Thursday said La Niña conditions are predicted to continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2017-18. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC), an agency of the National Weather Service, in a monthly forecast pegged the chance of La Niña developing at about 65 percent to 75 percent. […] Read more
Northern Prairies beat south for honey production
This year’s drought in parts of Western Canada hurt honey production, but beekeepers in more northerly regions had a good to excellent honey crop. For example, producers in southern Alberta had a poor year but yields were better north of Calgary. “Everybody is pretty happy with their crop … for the majority,” said Mike DeJong, […] Read more
Memorable storm swept in with hurricane-speed gusts
The destruction caused by a major wind storm that ripped across much of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba last week is sure to leave lasting memories in the minds of those who endured it. But according to David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada, the Oct. 16 windstorm was not particularly unusual in its velocity or […] Read more
Two trains derail in Alberta during windstorm
Wainwright, Alta. — During the wind storm that clobbered much of the Prairies Oct. 17 two trains in Alberta derailed, closing one main line and halting some grain movement. CN crews cleaned up two wrecks after winds in excess of 100 km/h in the area. One 67-car train derailed near Huxley and one 13-car train […] Read more
Bundle up; La Nina expected to bring in prairie deep freeze
The weather outside is going to be frightful this winter, according to forecasters. Temperatures across the Prairies will range from 1C to 4C below normal for the December through February period, says AccuWeather Canadian weather expert Brett Anderson. “Over a three-month period, that’s fairly significant,” he said. Manitoba will be the coldest, followed by Saskatchewan […] Read more
