Extreme Temperatures
S


Snowflake

Mount Agung erupts, record snow, Cosmic Ray uptick

Linda Maz shovels out her driveway on Sparks Ave. after the 57cm snowfall on the weekend.
Linda Maz shovels out her driveway on Sparks Ave. Terrace after the 57cm snowfall on the weekend.
As Terrace recovers from Saturday's 105-year record daily snowfall, Environment Canada has upgraded their snowfall warning with up to 40cm of snow Wednesday evening. The storm falls short of Saturday's 57cm snowfall, but Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald warns it will present its own challenges.


Sources

Snowflake Cold

Arctic sea ice advances further each year, and this years growth is faster than expected

arctic sea ice
© NASA/C. Starr

Ice grew at 5,100 square kilometers (2,000 square miles) per day faster than the average rate of ice growth for the month during October

Rapid expansion of the Arctic sea ice cover is the norm for October as solar input dwindles and the remaining heat in the upper ocean is released upwards, warming the lower atmosphere and escaping to space. Because of late season growth, the seasonal Antarctic maximum we previously reported as occurring on September 15 was exceeded, with a new maximum set on October 11 and 12. This is the second-lowest and second-latest seasonal maximum extent in the satellite record.

Snowflake

Week of snowfall sets two daily records in Fort St. John, British Columbia

snow
Nothing throws the notion of fall fully out the window and buried out of sight than two new snowfall records.

So, if shovelling the 47.1 centimetres of snow that fell between Nov. 13 and 20 wasn't enough to send you to the chiropractor, how about this for some heavy lifting—nearly half of it came on Nov. 14 and 19.

The first record was broken Nov. 14 when 11.8 centimetres fell, beating the previous daily record of 10.4 set in 1966.

The second was broken Nov. 19 when another 13.4 centimetres fell, beating the previous record of 10 in 2012.


"Last week, the airport was reporting snow every day," Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa West said.

Snowflake

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming receives historic snowfall with over 100 inches of snow reported

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort groomers carve a traverse under a heavy layer of new snow.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort groomers carve a traverse under a heavy layer of new snow.
After historic early season snowfall, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is pushing up its opening day.

On Friday, skiers and snowboarders will be able to access the Teton, Apres Vous and Teewinot lifts a day earlier than scheduled. The Bridger and Sweetwater gondolas, and Casper and Marmot lifts, are scheduled to open the following day.

Resort spokeswoman Anna Cole said the early push came to fruition because of the work of the resort's operations staff and cooperation from Mother Nature.

"The tools were all in place to open up," she said. "It's the conditions that allowed it to happen."

Weather station data available via the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center reported 53 inches of snow in Rendezvous Bowl, 45 inches at the Raymer plot and 36 inches at midmountain. Over 100 inches of snow have fallen in the upper elevations, with a storm front moving in Monday night expected to drop up to 11 inches at the higher elevations.

Snowflake

Skid row! Cars slide down slippery slope, slamming into others following heavy snowfall in Vladivostok, Russia (VIDEO)

Skid row
© RuptlySkid row
Heavy snowfall in Russia's Far East had car owners showing some extreme driving while negotiating a slippery slope in Vladivostok - but none of them succeeded. Multiple cars skidded downhill and rammed into each other, all caught on camera.

A narrow one-way road down a hill has become a nightmare for drivers. Stunning footage released by RT's Ruptly video news agency shows some drivers tried to simply slide down the road, but failed and ended up slamming into parked cars. Slow driving didn't help much either, as others simply smashed into moving traffic.

More than 250 car accidents were reported earlier last week on the icy up-and-down roads of Vladivostok during the 24 hours after the first massive snowfall of the season. The city was almost brought to a standstill, with many commuters spending hours trying to get home.


Snowflake

Third successive weekend of heavy snowfall over Alps - Up to 2 feet (60cm) recorded

A researcher looking for evidence of man-made global warming adopts an appropriate posture
A researcher looking for evidence of man-made global warming adopts an appropriate posture
The third weekend of November was the third in a row to see heavy snowfall in the Alps with Sunday seeing the most significant snowfall in many areas.

Resorts that had opened to start their 17-18 ski seasons on Saturday including Arosa in Switzerland and the Zugspitz glacier above Garmisch in Germany posted ' powder alarms' for 20cm/8 inches or more of fresh snow in 24 hours.

Snowflake Cold

Anomalous cold weather hits Central Siberia

Siberia
Temperature 10-12°C below the climatic norm.

Severe freezing has hit parts of Evenkia, Irkutsk and Yakutia. On November 19, the temperature fell to -40, -42°C.

It was even colder just east of Yakutia. In Ytyk-Kel and Churapcha, Teplyi Klyuch and Tompo, the thermometers showed -44 ° C, In Deliankir and Oymyakon -47°C.

In Yakutia, such frosts are fairly common at this time of year. But for Central Siberia, this is a serious temperature anomaly (italics added), because the average daily temperature for Nov 18 was 10-12°C below the climatic norm.

For tonight, forecasts call for heavy snowfall in Evenkia, with frosts dropping to -30, -35°C.

In the regions of Katangsky and Northeast is expected to be -33, -38°C.

On the night of Nov 20 in Yakutia, the temperature will be -38 ° to -43 ° C.

Thanks to Martin Siebert for this link.

Comment: See also:


Snowflake

Over 6 feet of fresh snow hits Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia

Mikey Rencz riding on Rat Fink the day before opening day
Mikey Rencz riding on Rat Fink the day before opening day
Whistler Blackcomb kicked off the 2017/2018 winter season yesterday Friday November 17th having received 198 centimetres (78 inches/6.5 feet) of snow falling in the previous seven days.

A resort spokesperson described the result as, "incredible mid-winter like conditions."

Although Whistler's reported snow accumulation is the biggest so far, other ski areas in Western North America have reported several feet of snow. Mammoth in California has come closest with 1.8m/6 feet of new snow at the top of it slopes.

Ski areas in Colorado have also been reporting fresh snow with resorts including Breckenridge reporting 30cm of snow, the first significant snowfall of the autumn there.

Comment: See also: Two ski areas in Wyoming hit 100″ of snow before opening day

Early season snow pounds Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, ski areas open weeks ahead of schedule


Snowflake

Heavy spring snowfall closes Lesotho border post near Matatiele, South Africa

While November is known to be a summer season with frequent rains to cool things down, snow has been spotted in Barkly East, Elliot, Swartberg KZN, Sani Pass, Sani Top, Lesotho, .
© Armelle HalseWhile November is known to be a summer season with frequent rains to cool things down, snow has been spotted in Barkly East, Elliot, Swartberg KZN, Sani Pass, Sani Top, Lesotho, Matatiele, Clarens Free State, St Bernards Peak, Underberg, Himeville and Fouriesburg.
South Africa and Lesotho decided to close the Qasha's Nek border port of entry on Friday because of dangerous conditions caused by heavy snowfalls.

"A heavy disruptive snowfall at the port has created harsh conditions for travellers from both countries, resulting in extremely dangerous underfoot conditions for all including officials," said a statement issued on Friday by department of home affairs spokesman Thabo Mokgola.

Telephone lines have been damaged and electricity outages reported in the area.

The border post is close to Matatiele.


Comment: See also: Heavy snowfall in spring sweeps across South Africa; 30cm (1 foot) recorded


Snowflake

Snow ends dry spell in Lahaul-Spiti, India with up to 25 cm (10) inches

snow
© PTI
Cripples normal life, disrupts traffic in tribal district; many areas receive up to 25 cm snow

Finally, the long dry spell has come to an end with fresh snowfall in the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti. Several areas in the district received up to 25cm of snowfall today.

Koksar, Gondhla, Miyar and Tod valley received considerable snowfall, while Keylong, the district headquarters, received 5cm snow.

Normal life was thrown out of gear as traffic remained disrupted in the district.

The fresh snowfall has brought cheer on the faces of farmers, but at the same time, they are worried about long spell of winter.