Saturday, December 18, 2010

18 December 2010 - Conditions at 9:11 AM: -0.5C, Overcast, Wind: WNW 11 km/h

Yesterday was pretty quiet here with just a few flurries in the morning.The afternoon was sunny with temps above freezing by a few degrees.The evening was clear and temps remained slightly above freezing.

Overnight some clouds moved in and some showers or flurries are expected.Temps are expected to be above freezing for highs over the next few days.It does,however,look like we will be getting another storm on Monday.That seems to be the day of choice lately.

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Forecasts for our area issued by Environment Canada :

(Normals: Max +2C / Min -7C)

Today

A mix of sun and cloud. 60 percent chance of flurries early this morning. 30 percent chance of flurries or rain showers late this afternoon. High plus 2.

Tonight

Cloudy periods. 30 percent chance of flurries early this evening. Low minus 5.

Sunday

Sunny. Wind northwest 20 km/h becoming light in the afternoon. High plus 2.

Monday

Flurries or rain showers. Windy. Low minus 4. High plus 4.

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The marine forecast:

Wind northwest 15 knots diminishing to light Sunday morning then
 increasing to northeast 15 Sunday afternoon. Wind increasing to
 northeast 25 Sunday evening. Chance of showers today. Rain beginning
 Sunday evening.

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Today’s Weather Trivia:

18 December 1873: An old couple near Norton, NB, whose respective ages were 73 and 76, were married. Prior to the wedding and just after an intense snowstorm, the aged bridegroom walked to Saint John and back, a distance of 60 km return, to procure his wedding suit, carrying his purchase with him. Many people thought that not so bad for a man that age.– Excerpt from 'The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar' by David Phillips. © Environment Canada

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Sky Events:

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ISS visible sightings:No visible sightings until Dec 24.

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As twilight fades away, the zodiac arcs high across the southern sky. It's a trail of constellations with one thing in common: The Sun's path across the sky traverses their borders, so the Sun passes through each of those constellations during the year..

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AURORA (‘Northern Lights’) WATCH: Auroral activity will be low.

Friday, December 17, 2010

17 December 2010 - Conditions at 6:49 AM: -5.5C, Overcast, Wind: N 12 km/h

Yesterday was a mostly sunny but cool day with a few passing flurries.Temps were warm enough to melt away the small amount of snow that fell before daybreak.The evening was mostly clear with temps dropping to a few degrees below freezing.

We may see a few more flurries today but the rest of the week is looking uneventful.Stormy weather is a possibility on Monday.We’ll have to keep an eye on this one as it develops.

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Forecasts for our area issued by Environment Canada :

(Normals: Max +2C / Min -7C)

Today

Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries or rain showers. Wind becoming northeast 20 km/h this morning. High plus 1.

Tonight

Cloudy. 60 percent chance of flurries or rain showers this evening. Wind northeast 20 km/h. Low minus 3.

Saturday

Sunny with cloudy periods. High zero.

Sunday

Sunny. Low minus 5. High zero.

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The marine forecast:

Wind light increasing to northeast 20 knots late this morning then
 diminishing to variable 15 late this evening. Wind becoming
 northwest 15 overnight. Periods of rain and snow today. A few
 showers overnight. Visibility 1 mile or less in precipitation.

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Today’s Weather Trivia:

17 December 2007: A massive storm battered six eastern Canadian provinces affecting every major city from Windsor, ON, to St. John's, NL. Cornwall and Russell, ON, reported 50 cm of snow. White-out conditions and deep snows meant thousands of motor-vehicle accidents, stranded air passengers, and several deaths. Tragically, just outside Quebec City, a 7-year-old died when her snow fort collapsed on her. – Excerpt from 'The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar' by David Phillips. © Environment Canada

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Sky Events:

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ISS visible sightings:No visible sightings until Dec 24.

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Today is the beginning of Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival. The early Christian church may have adopted December 25 as the date for Christmas in part to counteract the effects of Saturnalia and other festivals.

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AURORA (‘Northern Lights’) WATCH: Auroral activity will be moderate.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

16 December 2010 - Conditions at 6:26 AM: +0.3C, Overcast, Wind: S 36 km/h

It was cooler here yesterday than it had been but temps were still mild and the high was near +7C.The day was generally sunny with no precip.Overnight temps were near the freezing point and there were a few showers and snow flurries overnight.

We are expecting a few more flurries or showers this morning with some clearing expected this afternoon.Temps will be in the seasonal range for the rest of the week.

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Forecasts for our area issued by Environment Canada :

(Normals: Max +1C / Min -7C)

Today

Flurries or a few rain showers ending near noon then cloudy with sunny periods and 40 percent chance of rain showers or flurries. High plus 2.

Tonight

Cloudy periods. 40 percent chance of flurries this evening. Low minus 5.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. 30 percent chance of flurries or rain showers in the evening. High plus 1.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 1. High plus 2.

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The marine forecast:

Wind southwest 20 knots veering to west 15 late this morning then
 backing to southwest 15 to 20 late this afternoon. Wind diminishing
 to light overnight then increasing to east 10 to 15 Friday morning.
 Wind backing to northeast 15 to 20 near noon Friday then to
 northwest 15 to 20 Friday evening. Chance of showers or flurries
 today. Showers and flurries beginning Friday morning.

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Today’s Weather Trivia:

16 December 2005:2005: Two women survived a deadly drop when their SUV slipped off a bridge and catapulted into an icy river along Winnipeg's (MB) ring road. Their vehicle fell 10 m onto an ice-covered section of the Assiniboine River, just missing open water. Although they landed on solid ice, the impact weakened the ice and made rescue difficult. – Excerpt from 'The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar' by David Phillips. © Environment Canada

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Sky Events:

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ISS visible sightings:No visible sightings until Dec 24.

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Two star clusters stand side by side, high overhead this evening. The clusters are at the northwestern corner of Perseus, the hero. Together, they are known as the double cluster. Binoculars or a telescope reveal dozens of individual stars.

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AURORA (‘Northern Lights’) WATCH: Auroral activity will be active.

A solar event occurred on Dec 14th that may produce auroral displays greater than our auroral forecast index 4, sometime after midnight (0836 Greenwich time) on the 16th of Dec. This means the shock may reach Earth sometime around midnight on Dec 15 in North America. Depending on the character of the disturbance following the shock, viewing may be good on the night of the 16th and 17th.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

15 December 2010 - Conditions at 8:22 AM: +1.7C, Partly clear, Wind: WSW 5 km/h

Yesterday was like a Spring day here with temps in the lower double digits,lots of sunshine and calm winds.The evening remained mild and some rain began falling shortly after sunset.

The rain and mild weather ended overnight.Temps are now back to more seasonable values and will remain there for the next while.We may see a few flurries over the next couple of days but no significant amounts are expected.Temps will not reach sub-zero reading like they have to our west.

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Forecasts for our area issued by Environment Canada :

(Normals: Max +2C / Min -7C)

Today

Cloudy with sunny periods and 60 percent chance of rain showers or flurries. Wind west 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light near noon. Temperature steady near plus 3.

Tonight

Cloudy. 60 percent chance of flurries early this evening. A few flurries beginning this evening. Wind becoming northwest 20 km/h near midnight. Low minus 3.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods and 40 percent chance of flurries. High zero.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 3. High minus 1.

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The marine forecast:

Wind westerly 25 knots with gusts to 35 backing to southwest 20 early
 this morning then diminishing to 10 to 15 this afternoon. Wind
 increasing to southwest 20 late this evening then veering to
 westerly 15 Thursday morning. Chance of showers today. Chance of
 showers or flurries beginning near midnight.

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Today’s Weather Trivia:

15 December 2006:2006: Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland (BC) residents were reeling after the 3rd powerful storm in 5 days. Wind gusts over 100 km/h struck the same locations straight on, toppling groves of trees seeded 2 centuries ago. Stanley Park lost 1000s of trees and was closed for days. It was the most destructive storm in provincial history for electrical and telephone infrastructure. – Excerpt from 'The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar' by David Phillips. © Environment Canada

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Sky Events:

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ISS visible sightings:No visible sightings until Dec 24.

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December's evening skies abound with bright constellations, especially in the south and east. Look for Orion, the hunter; Gemini, the twins; and Orion's dogs, Canis Minor and Canis Major, home of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky..

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AURORA (‘Northern Lights’) WATCH: Auroral activity will be low.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

14 December 2010 - Conditions at 7:22 AM: +9.0C, Overcast, Wind: S 15 km/h

Yesterday was a very windy but unbelievably mild day here.Afternoon temps were in the lower teens.There were numerous power outages throughout the province due to the high winds.Rain began in the early evening and was quite heavy through the overnight hours.Most of the rain has eneded now and the winds have died out.We did not receive as much rain as predicted here with only about 20mm measured at the Western Head weather station.

Today is expected to be fairly mild for this time of the year with more rain a good possibility.Temps are to remain above freezing until the latter part of the week.We may see a few flurries as temps drop to more seasonal values then.

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Forecasts for our area issued by Environment Canada :

(Normals: Max +2C / Min -7C)

Today

Showers ending near noon then cloudy. Amount 5 to 10 mm. Fog patches early this morning. Wind southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this morning. Temperature steady near 7.

Tonight

Cloudy. Rain beginning this evening and ending after midnight. Amount 10 to 15 mm. Wind becoming northeast 30 km/h gusting to 50 this evening then becoming southwest 30 gusting to 50 after midnight. Low plus 3.

Wednesday

Cloudy with sunny periods. Wind southwest 20 km/h. High plus 5.

Thursday

Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 2. High plus 3.

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The marine forecast:

Wind variable 15 to 20 knots becoming southerly 20 early this morning
 then diminishing to light near noon. Wind increasing to
 northwesterly 20 to 30 this evening then diminishing to southwest 15
 to 20 overnight. Periods of rain ending early this morning. Showers
 tonight. Fog patches dissipating near midnight.

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Today’s Weather Trivia:

14 December 2008:2008: Prairie residents shivered in temperatures 12 degrees colder than normal. A minimum temperature of -36°C in Edmonton made it colder than the North Pole-too cold for skating, jogging, or skiing. In Saskatchewan, Key Lake was the coldest at -42°C. Meadow Lake felt more like -53 with the wind. Being it was the first blast of winter, many motorists had not plugged in their block heaters. – Excerpt from 'The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar' by David Phillips. © Environment Canada

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Sky Events:

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ISS visible sightings:No visible sightings until Dec 24.

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The constellation Gemini is in good view in the eastern sky by around 8 p.m. It is best known for Castor and Pollux, the two bright stars that represent the heads of the twins. They are low in the east-northeast at that hour, with Castor above Pollux.

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AURORA (‘Northern Lights’) WATCH: Auroral activity will be low.

Monday, December 13, 2010

13 December 2010 - Conditions at 7:50 AM: +11.8C, Overcast, Wind: SE 44 gust 54 km/h

Yesterday was a mostly cloudy day that saw temps steadily rise along with increasing winds.By mid evening temps were near +7C and continued to rise through the overnight hours to the values we have this morning which is about 5 times above seasonal normals.

The stormy weather that is moving in will be with us for the next few days.High winds and heavy rains are expected.

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Forecasts for our area issued by Environment Canada :

(Normals: Max +2C / Min -6C)

Wind warning in effect

Rainfall warning in effect.

Today

Showers. Amount 5 mm. Wind southeast 50 km/h gusting to 70 increasing to 70 gusting to 100 near noon. High 13.

Tonight

Showers changing to rain at times heavy this evening. Amount 30 to 40 mm. Wind southeast 70 km/h gusting to 100 becoming southwest 20 gusting to 40 overnight. Low 9.

Tuesday

Rain at times heavy changing to showers near noon. Amount 10 to 20 mm. Wind southwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light in the morning. Temperature steady near 7.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Low zero. High plus 1.

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The marine forecast:

Storm warning in effect.
Wind southeast 35 to 40 knots increasing to 40 to 50 early this
 evening then diminishing to south 35 after midnight. Wind
 diminishing to west 15 overnight and to light Tuesday morning. Wind
 becoming northwest 15 Tuesday evening. Showers at times heavy and
 fog patches ending Tuesday evening. Risk of thunderstorms this
 evening.

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Today’s Weather Trivia:

13 December 1963:1963: A Quebec MP rose in the House of Commons to ask the minister of transport for help for his constituents in remote communities along the St. Lawrence River. A recent storm sank a ship carrying 1,100 tonnes of beer. He asked what the government would do "so that my constituents can have beer for Christmas." The transport minister promised quick consideration of the problem. – Excerpt from 'The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar' by David Phillips. © Environment Canada

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Sky Events:

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ISS visible sightings:

Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Time: 06:18 AM Duration: 2 minutes Maximum Elevation: 22° Approach: 22° above SW Departure: 15° above S

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The Moon and the planet Jupiter are in the south at nightfall, with brilliant Jupiter just below the Moon. After they set, around midnight, the Geminid meteor shower could light the sky with up to a few dozen meteors per hours.

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AURORA (‘Northern Lights’) WATCH: Auroral activity will be low.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

12 December 2010 - Conditions at 7:41 AM: -3.2C, Clear, Wind: NNE 9 km/h

Yesterday was a mostly overcast day with a few showers and a few flurries.Temps were near +5C.The evening was mild with temps dropping below freezing overnight.

Today is expected to be quiet and cool with rain moving in tonight.Temps are expected to rise to well above normal values over the next couple of days.Windy conditions are also expected as this front moves through the area.

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Forecasts for our area issued by Environment Canada :

(Normals: Max +3C / Min -6C)

Wind warning in effect.

Today

Sunny. Increasing cloudiness late this afternoon. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High plus 2.

Tonight

Cloudy. Rain beginning after midnight. Amount 2 mm. Wind southeast 20 km/h increasing to 40 gusting to 70 after midnight. Temperature rising to 6 by morning.

Monday

Periods of rain. Amount 10 mm. Wind southeast 40 km/h gusting to 70 increasing to 60 gusting to 90 in the afternoon. High 11.

Tuesday

Periods of rain. Low 7. High 7.

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The marine forecast:

Gale warning in effect.
Wind light increasing to east 15 knots this morning and to southeast
 35 this evening. Wind increasing to southeast 35 to 45 after
 midnight. Showers beginning after midnight. Risk of thunderstorms
 Monday late in the day.

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Today’s Weather Trivia:

12 December 1955:1955: One of the worst blizzards in living memory raced across Saskatchewan, closing schools and disrupting bus, train, and plane schedules. An RCMP officer suffocated in his snowed-in car near Cutknife. Farm children spent the night in schools or nearby homes. In Regina, 4 motorists drove over a steep embankment and a truck plunged into snow so deep only its box and spare wheel were visible. .– Excerpt from 'The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar' by David Phillips. © Environment Canada

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Sky Events:

ISS visible sightings:

Date: Monday, December 13, 2010

Time: 05:54 AM Duration: 1 minutes Maximum Elevation: 55° Approach: 55° above SSE Departure: 20° above SE

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The Moon stands high in the south as night falls, with brilliant Jupiter to its left. They set around midnight. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, and the fifth planet out from the Sun.

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AURORA (‘Northern Lights’) WATCH: Auroral activity will be moderate.

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Special weather statement in effect for: Queens County Potential storm over the Maritimes at anytime this Fall and Winter . A storm will lik...