Last Friday, record high temperatures were tumbling across Atlantic Canada; the grass was green in backyards throughout the region. A lot has happened since then; none of it unexpected. Winter finally kicked in.
For months now, you’ve heard me talk about La Niña; it wasn’t in a hurry to get here, but it has arrived. The overall weather pattern across North America is being influenced by this cyclical phenomenon.
La Niña is a phase where the water near the equator of the Pacific Ocean is cooler than normal, which, in turn, affects the atmosphere. The effects of La Niña vary; overall, the pattern is quite cold out west, and cool and stormy in the east.
While snow shovels and back muscles have been getting a workout, remember to pace yourself. As winter morphs into spring, La Niña can create quite a volatile situation, with active, severe weather well into March.
In the short term, this weather looks ideal for outdoor enthusiasts; the stalled storm off the coast of Newfoundland is finally pulling out, taking that icy north wind with it. Temperatures will moderate a little, but not enough to make a mess of backyard rinks.
Get out and play - it’s good for the body, the mind and the soul!
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Cindy Day is the chief meteorologist for SaltWire Network
