Has fall felt warmer than usual to you so far? ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not an illusion.
SA国际影视传媒淚t should have been colder already, and we know weSA国际影视传媒檝e had quite a warm October, and of course, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 just lengthened the wildfire season as well, so certainly itSA国际影视传媒檚 behind the times,SA国际影视传媒� said Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
Lang explained that this winter is expected to be influenced by El Nino conditions, which generally results in warmer and drier weather in much of Western Canada, including the North.
SA国际影视传媒淭he El Nino conditions are forecast to last into the spring,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o I would be surprised if it gets a lot colder than average.SA国际影视传媒�
However, she cautioned that long-range forecasts are not very reliable, especially when it comes to precipitation.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just not that good at it,SA国际影视传媒� she admitted. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 just a result of the kind of models that we have and just the way the atmosphere works.SA国际影视传媒�
According to the latest forecast from ECCC, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a higher probability that it will be milder than average from November to January in Yellowknife. However, the precipitation pattern is not showing a clear trend and itSA国际影视传媒檚 hard to predict how much snow will accumulate over the winter.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 winter in Canada. We know itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to get cold. We know itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to snow,SA国际影视传媒� Lang said. SA国际影视传媒淛ust at the end of the day, when we add everything up, is it going to be warmer than average and drier than average? ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what weSA国际影视传媒檙e expecting.SA国际影视传媒�
Snow removal strategy
With heavy snowfalls making roads, including some main thoroughfares, impassable for some vehicles last winter, the City of Yellowknife is planning for snow removal for this winter.
SA国际影视传媒淭he city monitors annual weather trends and if itSA国际影视传媒檚 observed that snow levels are increased for more than three years, an increase to the snow removal budget would then be considered,SA国际影视传媒� said Chris Greencorn, the citySA国际影视传媒檚 public works director.
He noted that the budget for snow removal for 2024 has a SA国际影视传媒渟light increaseSA国际影视传媒� compared to 2023. The snow and ice control budget for 2023 was set at $1.86 million, as detailed on page 88 of the municipal consolidated budget. This figure encompasses various snow-related tasks, staff wages, contracted costs and winter sanding materials.
Looking ahead to 2024, the budget for snow and ice control is slated to increase just barely, to $1.87 million.
Greencorn said the city has about 10 vehicles that can be used for snow removal. Some of the vehicles are multipurpose and are used for other projects within the city.
