(File photo/paNOW News)

By Derek Craddock

WEATHER WHIPLASH

La Niña to bring colder than average temperatures to the Prairies

Nov 29, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Get ready for a “weather whiplash” this winter as temperatures and precipitation levels swing between extremes throughout the season.

That’s according to the latest winter outlook from The Weather Network which says colder water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are creating La Niña conditions.

“This is actually the second year that we are seeing a state of La Niña,” said Weather Network Meteorologist Jessie Uppal. “In this case, La Niña is making for a very wet and cool pattern across Western Canada and also a very mild and somewhat stormy track across portions of the east.”

Uppal said the La Niña system will bring varying degrees of precipitation and cold temperatures across Canada.

The Weather Network’s forecast said Manitoba and Saskatchewan have a greater risk for extended periods of severe cold and for blizzard conditions at times as Arctic air plunges south across the region.

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Uppal said the more arctic temperatures likely won’t hit the Prairies until at least January, but December will still be cooler than normal.

“We’re not seeing a frigid airmass take over the region, but we are seeing typically cooler than normal temperatures from the Rockies, portions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, all the way extending out to the Maritime provinces.”

Over the course of the winter months, temperatures are expected to be below seasonal across the board, which Uppal said is because of the polar vortex.

While some people may look at the forecast and believe relief will come once the calendar turns to March, Uppal said that might not be the case this year.

“It looks like for March that cold kind of lingers for us. We are seeing that cooler pocket of air persists into the region for March.”

Aside from the cold temperatures, Uppal noted many parts of Saskatchewan will see normal levels of precipitation which is good news for farmers who are still reeling from the effects of last summer’s drought.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock