Winter Storm Watch

Gravelbourg, Sask. on Thanksgiving 1998

Now that I have your attention lets clarify that a little...snow in the west, record warmth in the east all from the same low pressure area. A powerful winter storm is taking shape in the Rockies and will move northeast to southern Manitoba. East of the storm center warm air will push northward and bring temperatures in the 20's to Ontario and Quebec. Along the path heavy rain and thunderstorms will occur in Manitoba, and finally west of the track in southern Saskatchewan, heavy snow and blowing snow late Saturday and Sunday. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Montana with a Special Weather Statement for Saskatchewan.

Current indications are that 20-30cm of snow may fall with temperatures at or below freezing. Northeast winds of 30-50km/h will blow the snow around and produce near blizzard conditions Saturday night in areas south of the number 1 towards northern Montana and western North Dakota. This is not the first time snow has fallen in October. My experience living in Saskatchewan was that the biggest storms occur on the fringes of the seasons, October and May. In 1998 on Thanksgiving weekend a big storm dumped over 30cm on Gravelbourg where I was living. I was in Moose Jaw heading south in a heavy rain and thunder along Provincial Highway 2 to Sask 43. By the time I reached Gravelbourg it was snowing & windy and by Sunday morning 20cm of wet snow had brought down trees and power lines. I took the photo above old school, with black and white film on my Canon 35mm while working for the Gravelbourg Tribune. I even developed the film and made the print myself. Anyway more info on this upcoming storm later today.

Ontario and Quebec will be sunny and warm all weekend. However a very impressive cooling trend is in order by the end of the month with a very cold November forecast. Keep that in mind as you enjoy this weekend and prepare for this coming winter.