North American Weather (U.S.A & Canada)

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

@Coopsy this part of the Rockies is roughly out your way, although the mountains will look different from your perspective. It makes for an interesting outlook from the living room :

Just a shame about the pylons 🙄

At least the models are showing decent signs of proper winter heading our way by the end of next week:

[Coopsy 2,683]

5 hours ago, CatchMyDrift said:

@Coopsy this part of the Rockies is roughly out your way, although the mountains will look different from your perspective. It makes for an interesting outlook from the living room :

Just a shame about the pylons 🙄

At least the models are showing decent signs of proper winter heading our way by the end of next week:

I love that view from your living room. I often say I prefer the view of the mountains than being in them. It’s like looking at the Mona Lisa from the other side of the room rather than your nose touching the canvas - bigger sky, better sunsets.

My daughter would love the pylon view though - she has a weird infatuation with them 🤷‍♂️

The charts are starting to tie in with the forecast we’ve been seeing for weeks now. Cold backing west and the jet stream running from NW to SE right through us. Fun times ahead! 🥶

Edited January 15 by Coopsy

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

1 hour ago, Coopsy said:

I love that view from your living room. I often say I prefer the view of the mountains than being in them. It’s like looking at the Mona Lisa from the other side of the room rather than your nose touching the canvas - bigger sky, better sunsets.

My daughter would love the pylon view though - she has a weird infatuation with them 🤷‍♂️

The charts are starting to tie in with the forecast we’ve been seeing for weeks now. Cold backing west and the jet stream running from NW to SE right through us. Fun times ahead! 🥶

My eldest had a huge thing for pylons when he was younger, a real obsession and he even had categories and rankings for them.

We have had an incredible sunny day here after yesterday's dross:

 

[Coopsy 2,683]

12 hours ago, CatchMyDrift said:

My eldest had a huge thing for pylons when he was younger, a real obsession and he even had categories and rankings for them.

We have had an incredible sunny day here after yesterday's dross:

 

That’s good to hear - thought she was becoming a weirdo child lol. 

Cracking  shots - they really show how deep blue the sky gets in winter. There’s three things I never get bored of - mountains, blue skies and sunsets. Oh and I’ll add to the that Canadian wildlife too. 

[Coopsy 2,683]

The big numbers are starting to show now in the 7 day forecast...

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

The World's Biggest Dinosaur apparently in the World Capital of Dinosaurs (Drumheller, Alberta) via a very icy Badlands: 

[Coopsy 2,683]

Fascinating place Drumheller. Did you find any fossils? 

I think we’ll finally see a change to the overall weather pattern this week. It looks like a clipper will form as a high builds in over BC region. I’d expect high winds from the Rockies down through Calgary probably strongest around Tuesday am into pm as the down-sloping winds kick in. Maybe 100km/h - no doubt warnings will be issued soon.

Then as the high moves into BC, the clipper will move from NW to SE through the prairies on a strong jet stream, and then a change to an arctic airflow. Not looking overly cold by Canadian standards but still noticeably colder. 

The snow from the clipper affecting more SK and east. I think Edmonton might get a quick few cm’s from it, being on the fringe of it.  

Then the temps only go one way from there....time to dig out the winter clothes.

 

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

Still looking forward to winter coming at the end of the week...nothing much doing at all:

[Coopsy 2,683]

I was starting to second guess my wind forecast as I went to bed last night and there were no warnings. Woke up and half of Alberta is now under a wind warning. 

I think Edmonton out of range for any real snow from this clipper so north and east of Alberta likely and then on into SK and beyond.

After that pretty dry for the foreseeable and colder. Looking at Monday as the next possible snowmaker as a low comes into BC and comes up against the high. 

 

 

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

At least the sunrises & sunsets are spectacular here cos the weather is a snoozefest at the moment...

[Coopsy 2,683]

2 hours ago, CatchMyDrift said:

At least the sunrises & sunsets are spectacular here cos the weather is a snoozefest at the moment...

You can never get bored of that view and those sunsets. Are you missing the rain? Lol. I know what you mean though. It’s been pretty benign but perfect ice fishing weather though. 🎣 (before the wind) 

Edited January 19 by Coopsy

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

1 hour ago, Coopsy said:

You can never get bored of that view and those sunsets. Are you missing the rain? Lol. I know what you mean though. It’s been pretty benign but perfect ice fishing weather though. 🎣 (before the wind) 

I haven't missed the rain any more than I used to miss west of Scotland wind & rain after I moved to the Borders nine years ago. I moved from somewhere which got 1500mm+ a year to somewhere which got 600mm, so I still miss proper west of Scotland rain but haven't missed the Borders rain.

Where do you go ice fishing? I've seen a few places with folk out fishing when we've been out and about. I am sure it was Ghost Lake where there were quite a lot of people and cars out on the ice. 

 

[Coopsy 2,683]

22 minutes ago, CatchMyDrift said:

I haven't missed the rain any more than I used to miss west of Scotland wind & rain after I moved to the Borders nine years ago. I moved from somewhere which got 1500mm+ a year to somewhere which got 600mm, so I still miss proper west of Scotland rain but haven't missed the Borders rain.

Where do you go ice fishing? I've seen a few places with folk out fishing when we've been out and about. I am sure it was Ghost Lake where there were quite a lot of people and cars out on the ice. 

 

It’s always amazed me the differences in Scotland weather. Having lived in Edinburgh many years back and having family living in glasgow, it can be night and day depending on where you are. 

My usual spot is spray lakes for ice fishing. It’s about 30 minutes up from Canmore in the true mountains. (Near Mount Engadine lodge - a nice place to stay for some solitude). At 6000ft plus asl the ice starts early and can get pretty thick. Hard work with a manual auger though lol. Not too many go there mainly locals and a few long timers with their huts. 

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

I've been stalking you again today @Coopsy 😬

I'm looking forward to some colder weather but it doesn't seem to last too long on the current output. Winter in February maybe?

[Coopsy 2,683]

13 hours ago, CatchMyDrift said:

I've been stalking you again today @Coopsy 😬

I'm looking forward to some colder weather but it doesn't seem to last too long on the current output. Winter in February maybe?

Just round the corner. Not far from where I took this pic. (Except yours are much better) 

And you manage to get the blue to come out in your pics much better than me....do you use a proper camera? 

I thought it was going to settle into minus 10 (day) to minus 20 (night) range for a while - which output are you looking at? maybe winter proper next month. Fancy a minus 40? 

Edited January 21 by Coopsy

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

1 hour ago, Coopsy said:

Just round the corner. Not far from where I took this pic. (Except yours are much better) 

And you manage to get the blue to come out in your pics much better than me....do you use a proper camera? 

I thought it was going to settle into minus 10 (day) to minus 20 (night) range for a while - which output are you looking at? maybe winter proper next month. Fancy a minus 40? 

I gave up on my camera a while ago, I just use my phone now. I've got a Samsung S20 which takes pretty decent pics, I had a S10 last which was also good for snaps. I do miss a proper zoom but for convenience a mobile is a hands down winner. I have a weird way with photos, it usually takes me 30 seconds to take a few snaps and they turn out pretty decent. I'm very much a see it snap it post it person with little to no mucking about with settings or post-snap editing.

I had been looking at the GFS and ECM which both brought a week or so of proper cold and then seemed to end up milder towards the end. This morning's output seems colder in the longer term. Medium term definitely looks cold, we may even see some snow to clean up the dirty mess we've got now.

[Coopsy 2,683]

2 hours ago, CatchMyDrift said:

I gave up on my camera a while ago, I just use my phone now. I've got a Samsung S20 which takes pretty decent pics, I had a S10 last which was also good for snaps. I do miss a proper zoom but for convenience a mobile is a hands down winner. I have a weird way with photos, it usually takes me 30 seconds to take a few snaps and they turn out pretty decent. I'm very much a see it snap it post it person with little to no mucking about with settings or post-snap editing.

I had been looking at the GFS and ECM which both brought a week or so of proper cold and then seemed to end up milder towards the end. This morning's output seems colder in the longer term. Medium term definitely looks cold, we may even see some snow to clean up the dirty mess we've got now.

You’ve def got a natural eye. You’re not the first person to say they’ve got a Samsung when I’ve seen good pics. Maybe it’s time to make the switch as I just don’t think I phones cut it for photos. I agree about proper cameras. I used to have a Rebel and it took great pics but too much hassle for quick snapping. 

I think you’re right that the trend is towards colder for longer - it’ll be interesting to see how cold it’ll go if it stays that way. Hoping the white stuff comes along to freshen things up. The snow that I was interested in that was showing for Monday/Tuesday seems to be looking less likely on the ECM though 

[Coopsy 2,683]

Only 3.9% of the Great Lakes is currently frozen. A record low. It’s estimated that by the end of winter only 30% max will be frozen. 

This could potentially have an impact on lake effect snow. Effectively enhancing it when usually it slows down due to lack of warm water.

However that hasn’t translated yet as the jet stream hasn’t been conducive to this so snowfall totals are actually a fair bit lower in those regions.

Expect some big lake effect snow stories once the jet stream gets it act together over the Great Lakes. It’s just a matter of time.

Having spent some time in Collingwood Ontario there’s nothing like a direct hit from lake effect snow. It’s like a wall of snow akin to seeing a sandstorm progress across a desert. And when it slams into you it’s instant. 4/5 inches per hour not out of the ordinary. Feet and feet of snow a day. It’s insane. 

 

Edited January 22 by Coopsy

[Kirkcaldy Weather 13,235]

Might be worth keeping an eye on 

 

 

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

Maybe a change on the way?

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

We have the most gorgeous tiny sparkly snowflakes falling:

 

[Coopsy 2,683]

9 hours ago, CatchMyDrift said:

We have the most gorgeous tiny sparkly snowflakes falling:

 

I love it when ice crystals fall when it’s super cold - especially when the suns shining through them. Did you get enough to whiten everything up? Nothing here. 

The weather’s been so samey samey I’ve been virtually snow chasing with the SE contingent. Nothing like a marginal event in the U.K.  to witness the spectrum between euphoria and despair 

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

3 hours ago, Coopsy said:

I love it when ice crystals fall when it’s super cold - especially when the suns shining through them. Did you get enough to whiten everything up? Nothing here. 

The weather’s been so samey samey I’ve been virtually snow chasing with the SE contingent. Nothing like a marginal event in the U.K.  to witness the spectrum between euphoria and despair 

We have something between a dusting and a covering, the world is white again:

It's just snizzly tiny light sparkly snowflakes, we seem to have a thing for these where I live. 

[Coopsy 2,683]

5 minutes ago, CatchMyDrift said:

We have something between a dusting and a covering, the world is white again:

It's just snizzly tiny light sparkly snowflakes, we seem to have a thing for these where I live. 

It’s a different world - looks like a hoar frost it’s coated everything so much. 

[CatchMyDrift 17,185]

12 minutes ago, Coopsy said:

It’s a different world - looks like a hoar frost it’s coated everything so much. 

Aye it's been a freezing fog snizzle combo. It seems to be common here as this is the 3rd time in the 8 weeks I've been in Canada.