Severe Weather
Winter Season No matter where you live in Canada, you should expect to see several winter storms each year The Alberta Clipper is a winter storm with high winds but little snow; Cold temperatures can result in severe frostbite.
Nor'easter is large group of severe storms affecting the east, and particularly northeast Atlantic coast of Canada & USA , Panhandle Hook Pacific storms often reform around Colorado. When the jetstream is in its normal position and travelling east around the Canadian border, these and other winter storms forming in the southern Rockies will normally track east, pick up some moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and cause a little rain and rarely snow.
ROAD REPORTS http://www.ama.ab.ca/road-reports/central WEATHER CONDITIONS For local weather reports click on the link to Daniel's weather blog link to the left. The data is collected at a weather station located in the town of St. Paul. For the 7 Day forecast click on the link http://www.spjournal.com/section/stp12
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Blizzard In a blizzard strong winter winds blow snow reducing visibility to less than 1 km for more then three hours. They also often have cold temperatures and heavy snowfall that can make icy road conditions. In Canada blizzards are most common on the prairies, eastern Arctic and eastern Ontario. Meteorologists at environment Canada study the weather to issue storm watches and provide early warnings.
Cold weather In Canada winter temperatures can drop below -40 C. Extreme cold can be deadly to humans. Severe frostbite can damage skin and nerves permanently. Frostbite is characterized by white, waxy skin that feels numb and hard. It requires immediate emergency medical attention. Frostnip is frostbite's early warning signal and is characterized by red and numb or tingly skin. Warming the area with water for 20 to 30 min can treat Frostnip at home.
Avalanches
Avalanches are common in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. A skier or a snowmobiler can start the most dangerous kind of avalanche, a slab avalanche. When a heavy fall of new snow piles up quickly on top of a weak layer, it becomes too heavy and the snow slab cracks sliding down the mountain.
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Global Warming Impacts weather
Global warming is affecting our world by causing changes in the weather and climate. Extreme weather will become more frequent. Some areas will experience severe drought. In extremely dry forest wildfires may blaze out of control. There are already many fire bans this year in Alberta because of the dry conditions. The farm animals and wildlife will suffer, species will go extinct as the ecosystems change. Hurricanes are getting stronger and causing serous damage. Ocean heat is the key ingredient to form hurricanes and as global temperatures continue to rise, the ocean temperaures also rise. As heat and moisture rise into the atmosphere, billowing clouds, scattered showers, and thunderstorms form. The earth's rotation causes thunderstorms to spin around. The ice caps are melting causing sea levels to rise, threatening many coastal cities. Habitats are changing so fast that Mother Nature can't adapt and species will go extinct. Global Warning is caused by the production of green house gasses (GHG) such as carbon dioxide and methane.
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Daniel Desjardins Student Meteorologist
Daniel Desjardins is studying about the weather to become a meteorologist. It has been an interest for 24 years. Severe weather and safety are particularly important areas of research for Daniel. However environmental issues are also a priority.
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