Nobody jinx it: Warm weather continues

By Gillian Slade on December 9, 2017.

Hatters were out Friday enjoying the trail system on a sunny, blue-sky day. Sunshine and above-seasonal temperatures are in the forecast for the next two weeks.--NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

After two early dumpings of snow and some pretty cold weather, it suddenly feels as though it could be spring already.

Temperatures are about a dozen degrees warmer than usual and we should think of it as “nature’s pre-Christmas gift,” says Environment Canada.

“Normal highs in Medicine Hat would be – 3 C and lows of – 13 C,” said Dave Phillips, senior climatologist.

In fact, a year ago on Dec. 10 it was -18 C. Look to the week ahead and it is wall to wall sunshine with temperatures between 9 C and 12 C.

It will not last but it gives us a winter “interlude.” It gives us some respite from winter and makes the season seem shorter overall. It is nature providing a “psychological boost” during the cold dark days of winter, said Phillips.

There is no need to start worrying that we will not get much needed moisture to soak into the ground. That could still be on its way, said Phillips. It is also too early to predict whether we will have a white Christmas or not.

However, we can attribute the warmer weather to the same system that has devastated California with fires. There is a large, warm, high-pressure ridge over the western part of North America. It is giving wind to California and warm dry air to Medicine Hat, said Phillips.

Environment Canada’s long range forecast is calling for sunshine for the next week, a high of 9 C on Saturday and on Sunday, 6 C on Monday, 7 C Tuesday, 4 C Wednesday and 8 C on Thursday. Even the overnight lows are not bad with Sunday night the coldest at – 6 C.

Closer to Christmas, temperatures are expected to return to the “normal” range and there will possibly be some snow for a white Christmas, said Phillips. All the more reason to get outside and celebrate the outdoors now, without having wrap up against extreme cold and limit your time out of doors.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecasted a winter with temperatures that will be milder than normal. Precipitation and snowfall will be below normal, with the snowiest periods in mid to late November and mid-March.