By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Cooler temperatures could bring white Christmas

Dec 11, 2017 | 10:43 AM

LETHBRIDGE — Dreaming of a white Christmas? It’s too soon to rule out, an Environment Canada meteorologist said Monday, but warned two weeks away is a little early to make predictions.

“The forecast information we do have available right now, some of it, is suggesting the warm weather is going to last for about the next week or so,” Dan Kulak said from Edmonton, “but then returning back towards more of a seasonal-type weather condition, maybe a little bit cooler than normal, for the few days leading up to Christmas.

“And when you get these conditions, there’s usually a little bit of snow that comes with them. Right now it’s a little bit too far out to say how much snow might happen.”

“I don’t think we can rule out a white Christmas, though how white it might be isn’t really something that we can say too much for.”

 

– Dan Kulak, Environment Canada

Southern Alberta has been basking in temperatures well-above normal, and the snow that fell earlier in the fall is nearly gone. Claresholm and Vauxhall set new records Sunday. Kulak said despite a “La Nina” year that would indicate colder than normal weather, Alberta is benefiting from the position of the jet stream.

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“The position that it’s in right now is basically north of the province of Alberta. So, we’re in the warm side of the jet stream; we’re getting the warm Pacific winds,” he said.

It’s a striking contrast with one year ago when Lethbridge was recording overnight lows at or near -30 C. Kulak said the average high is around zero, but every year is different, joking that there would be no need for forecasters otherwise.

He said they would have a better idea on the prospects for a white Christmas in another week, but for now all they can go on is the temperature trend.

“I don’t think we can rule out a white Christmas, though how white it might be isn’t really something that we can say too much for.”