November the mildest on record, but cold weather is coming
By Nelson Daily Staff
November’s mild weather is going to look pretty good next week as Mother Nature whips up some cooler weather for the region during the next week.
Environment Canada forecasts temperatures as cold as minus 9 C with snow during the end of the week.
That’s in stark contrast to November says Ron Lakeman, Weather Forecasterfor the Southeast Fire Centre in his month synopsis.
“November 2016 was extremely mild . . .. It was the mildest November on record,” Lakeman said.
“The mean monthly temperature was 1.2 degrees warmer than the previous warmest November (1999, 1998 and 1987 all at 4.8 degrees), and almost 4 degrees warmer than an average November,” he added.
Lakeman said record daily maximum temperature of 13.8 degrees was set on November 6th and again on the 8th while another daily record maximum of 12.7 degrees was set on the 14th of the month.
As for cold the cold weather normally associated for the 11th month on the calendar, Lakeman said temperatures only dipped below freezing on two nights — minus 0.9 degrees during the early morning of November 17th and minus 0.9 degrees again last week, during the early morning of the 29th.
“Very similar to last month a south westerly flow with numerous Pacific systems produced extensive cloud cover and frequent rain during the majority of November,” Lakeman said.
“The cloud cover was largely responsible for the mild overnight temperatures while the southerly origin of the air mass meant for warmer than normal daytime values.”
Lakeman said the total amount of precipitation, which was bad news for skiers, was almost all rain, during the month was near normal.
The move to more seasonable winter-like weather began on November 30th as a more seasonally cool air mass and a weak Pacific disturbance produced the initial minor wet snowfall.
However, the 0.6 centimetres of wet snow rapidly melted on contact.
Environment Canada said the thermometer is expected to dip beginning Monday, dropping to minus 5-6 C Tuesday and Wednesday before dropping to minus 9C Thursday with periods of snow heading into the weekend.
