Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake

Heavy snowfall further hampers already delayed harvest in Alberta

Ryan White
CTV News
Mon, 08 Oct 2018 13:32 UTC
Tony Marshall tours CTV's Alesia Fieldberg through his field of wheat near Aldersyde as he awaits an opportunity to finish harvesting
Tony Marshall tours CTV's Alesia Fieldberg through his field of wheat near Aldersyde as he awaits an opportunity to finish harvesting
Farmers across the province continue to be challenged by the cold, wet weather of late as most of their crops remain in the fields.

Based on annual averages over the last five years, approximately 80 per cent of crops should have been harvested by this time. This year, only 40 per cent of harvesting has been completed.

Tony Marshall's wheat on Highwood Crossing Farm near Aldersyde remains in rows weeks after it was cut. "It's certainly not dry enough yet," explained Marshall. "We want to get it down to 14 per cent (moisture)."

Tony Marshall tours CTV's Alesia Fieldberg through his field of wheat near Aldersyde as he awaits an opportunity to finish harvesting

Marshall sees little reason for optimism on his combining prospects in the coming days. "The forecast is looking at more snow and moisture in the next couple days so we are definitely running out of time."


Comment: See also this report from late September concerning the earlier delay: Snow hampers harvests in Saskatchewan and Alberta

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Snowflake

Moisture, snow has 'really hampered the harvest' across the Dakotas and Minnesota

Jenny Schlecht
AgWeek
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:02 UTC
Snow covers soybean plants in Stutsman County,
© Jenny Schlecht/AgweekSnow covers soybean plants in Stutsman County, N.D., on Oct. 10, 2018. The storm dropped more than a foot of snow in some parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota.
Heavy, wet snow fell across the Dakotas and Minnesota on Wednesday, Oct. 10, further delaying harvest and possibly damaging crops.

"Harvest will be a real challenge," said Brian Bjork of Forman, N.D.

Even before the snow started falling, harvest already had been delayed by days of wet weather. But with some places reporting more than a foot of snow, it could be weeks until combines roll through the fields again.

Bjork had at least 8 inches of wet snow on his soybeans. He opened up his first field Sept. 28, and most of the low areas were still green. It's been wet ever since, he said.
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Snowflake

As much as 17 inches of snow dumped on eastern North Dakota as early season snowstorm hits


Ottawa Citizen
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 11:54 UTC
UND student Kristin Hane clears away snow
© Eric Hylden / Grand Forks HeraldUND student Kristin Hane clears away snow from her car during Wednesday’s storm in Grand Forks.
The first significant snow of the season has dumped as much as 17 inches in parts of eastern North Dakota.

School buses are running 2 hours behind Thursday as drivers deal with the slippery roads. The National Weather Service says the highest snow totals are in Finley at 17 inches, in Hannaford at 16.5 inches and a little more than 14 inches west of Hope.

Grand Forks set a record snowfall for the date at 5.7 inches.

The state Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Highway Patrol issued a "no travel advisory" for parts of eastern North Dakota on Wednesday evening due to snow and ice-covered roads and reduced visibility.

The advisory included Jamestown, Valley City, Edgeley, Ellendale, Oakes, Cooperstown, Michigan, Larimore and surrounding areas. That advisory was lifted Thursday morning.

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Snowflake

A least 10 inches of early snow falls at ski resorts in Utah - depth at one already 2 feet

Cristina Flores
kutv.com
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 12:56 UTC
Utah ski resorts got at least 10 inches of snow
© Cristina Flores / KUTVUtah ski resorts got at least 10 inches of snow between Tuesday and Wednesday — some as much as one foot at the base.
Utah ski resorts got at least 10 inches of snow between Tuesday and Wednesday — some as much as one foot at the base.

At Brighton, Marketing Manager Jared Winkler said there was nearly two feet of snow at mid mountain.

While that generates a lot of excitement for ski season, it's too soon to know when Brighton will open officially.

"It could warm up in November, so we will keep our fingers crossed," he said, recalling one year the resort opened by Halloween.

While the resort is not officially open, the parking lot was full with visitors enjoying sledding or the "Bone Zone," which is an area open to boarders and skiers.


Comment: Note that prior to this latest snowfall event over the 9th/10th of October, another early season storm over the 7th/8th had already dumped nearly 2 feet of snow at Brian Head Resort, Utah.

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Snowflake

20 inches of early snow in 2 days reported at Wolf Creek Ski Area, Colorado


The Pagosa Sun
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 12:08 UTC
Wolf Creek Ski Area
Wolf Creek Ski Area
With 20 inches of snow falling between Monday and midday Wednesday, Wolf Creek Ski Area is slated to open for the season this weekend.

For the time being, the ski area will only be open on Saturdays and Sundays, with three lifts operating on all-natural snow: Nova, Treasure and Bonanza, according to Sarah Stephens, assistant to the vice president of marketing and sales.

Stephens reported shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday that 20 inches of snow had fallen at the summit, with 18 inches at the midway.

That midway total had settled into a 14-inch base, she reported.
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Snowflake Cold

This is the snowiest October Calgary has ever had — and the month has just begun

Jodi Hughes
Global News
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 11:50 UTC
Snow in northwest Calgary Oct. 2, 2018.
© Jodi Hughes / Global CalgarySnow in northwest Calgary Oct. 2, 2018.
Calgary has marked another weather milestone. As of Oct. 10, this October will go down as the snowiest on record with 48.2 centimetres of snow. The old record was 47.5 centimetres of snow in October 1961, according to Environment Canada's historical records.

Early season snow blanketed the city at the beginning of the month, with snow falling six out of the first 10 days in October this year.

Calgary will normally see 10 centimetres of snow throughout the entire month of October. By Oct. 3, 2018, the city had nearly quadrupled that amount.

A number of snowfall records were set this month: the record of 4.6 centimetres for Oct. 2 was crushed when 32.8 centimetres fell; that snowfall total marked the snowiest single day ever in the month of October; and the record for measurement of snow on the ground was also beaten for a number of days thanks to that system.
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Snowflake

Spring storm brings late snow to South Island, New Zealand


RNZ
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 11:00 UTC
A truck on the Blackmount-Redcliff Rd in
© Southland District CouncilA truck on the Blackmount-Redcliff Rd in western Southland.
The wintry blast that brought snow to high country areas of the South Island overnight is set to sweep up the country with gales and heavy rain.

Snow fell in high country areas of Otago and Southland overnight, closing some roads.

MetService says snow fell down to 200m in Southland.

State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford which was closed from Hollyford Road because of snow, has reopened, but motorists are being warned to drive to the conditions.
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No Entry

Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Montana closed after early storm dumps over a foot of snow

Dennis Bragg
kbzk.com
Wed, 10 Oct 2018 19:07 UTC
Glacier National Park webcam photo
Glacier National Park webcam photo
Time is running out for people to enjoy one last drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park this season.

But the most scenic route in Montana remains closed a week after parts of the Glacier National Park high country were slammed by a snowstorm.

The iconic road was closed as September turned into October, after an early, heavy snowfall blanketed the high country along the Continental Divide, leaving a foot of snow, or more, on the highest peaks.

It's not unusual for Going-to-the-Sun Road to be closed over Logan Pass by an early snow. But usually, a return of warm weather over a few days allows the park to re-open the road.

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Snowflake

Early season storm dumps 2 feet of snow at Brian Head Resort, Utah


Unofficial Networks
Mon, 08 Oct 2018 12:20 UTC
Brian Head Resort
Brian Head Resort on October 7th.
It's been dumping since Saturday at Brian Head Resort and Mike Saemisch (AKA @LifeOfBrianHead) indicated this morning that there's a settled base of 20″.

The snow is massive, especially considering how early it is in the season for the southern Utah ski destination.

There's even been a local or two who've grabbed their first powder turns of the season!

Utah residents are hoping this is a sign of the El Nino to come after a lackluster winter delivered one of the weakest snowpacks in the state's 100 year weather history.

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Snowflake

First snow of the season at Wheeler Peak, New Mexico and Purgatory Resort, Colorado


krqe.com
Mon, 08 Oct 2018 12:04 UTC
first snow
New Mexico and Colorado are getting a taste of winter.

The first snow of the season is here.

A picture from Purgatory Resort shows three inches on the ground, and the ski resort is hopeful they could have as much as 13 inches by Thursday.

New Mexico is getting a taste, too.

Monday morning, Red River Ski Area took a picture of the first snow on Wheeler Peak.

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