A warmer than average winter expected, when will snow start flying?
A warmer than average season is what’s anticipated for the first few months of this upcoming winter, but, that’s not to say snow will be absent.
Frost was in the forecast early Monday, but Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Steven Flisfeder predicts snow won’t start falling in Windsor-Essex until mid-November.
“We might make it through October with no snow fall,” says Flisfeder. “But once we get into early November, we see temperatures starting to dip below that freezing mark.”
Flisfeder says warmer temperatures during winter months can lead to an increase in lake effect snow across Southwestern Ontario.
“Areas near Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, if they get the right winds associated with the storm they could get some higher than normal snowfalls through the early winter,” he says.
In Chatham-Kent, council will discuss letting the public name six of its snowplow fleet ahead of the first snowfall.
Officials there say the plows cover upwards of 3500km of roads, about the same distance between Toronto and Calgary.
Counc. Trevor Thompson tells CTV News six plows would be named by the community through Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent and a partnership with Winmar, noting a committee will weed out more questionable name suggestions.
“You would be surprised how personal people take their snowplows," he says. "People track snowplows online, they look for when the last time the plow was down their road. They know their plow drivers as well, so I think it’s a fun opportunity to take some ownership in a snow plow that’s travelling up and down your road.”
Thompson says winter weather in Chatham-Kent is variable, noting the Banana Belt doesn’t see as much snow as other communities further north.
“When the snow does come, it comes pretty hard and pretty heavy," he says.
Flisfeder says snow can definitely be expected, but how much isn’t as clear.
“There’s a general consensus amongst all the guidance that the November throughout January time period should be above normal,” Flisfeder explains. “The precipitation side, we’re not too clear on how it’s going to be rolling out through this winter. All the guidance hasn’t given us a clear indicator.”
Last year, the first significant snowfall in Windsor-Essex came on December 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.