Although snowfalls throughout January 26, along with a rain-snow mixture on January 27 brought much needed moisture to Assiniboia and region, this winter is still unusually dry at the beginning of 2019.
Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips said the lack of precipitation in the Canadian Prairies is extraordinary. “We’ve certainly never – since the 1880s, when observations began – have had two back-to-back drier years than 2017 and 2018,” the scientist stated in a CBC report.
Other experts are in agreement with Phillips. “It’s been a thin year for snowfall so far this year, most of our snow fell in October,” Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang told Global News earlier this month.
Much of the southern and central areas of Saskatchewan are experiencing a snow-less January this year after enduring heavy snowfalls in October and November.
In the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, a report by Phil Tank written on January 9 informed readers about the lack of snow in Diefenbaker Park, affecting plans to transform Optimist Hill into a winter recreation facility. The $2.9 million project, including two lifts and snowboard, ski, tubing and toboggan runs wasn’t able to open until the snowmaking equipment arrived.
The city footed the bill of more than $600,000 in utility groundwork improvements. The dry winter is predicted to continue in the Assiniboia area into mid-February.
Yet, meteorologists are also predicting periods of snow from late January until the middle of February with temperatures plunging to -25 Celsius and possibly lower.
