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Your weekend weather

By: Doug Speirs

Posted: 12/24/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

It's Christmas Eve, a traditional time when we look deep in our hearts and ask ourselves a burning question from one of the greatest holiday movies of all time.

The question: Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?

Sorry, my bad. That gem was from Dirty Harry, starring Clint Eastwood. The real question we find ourselves asking at this festive time of year comes from a film featuring legendary crooner Bing Crosby, namely: Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?

You are? Awesome! Well, guess what? Your dreams are about to come true. My buddy Dale Marciski, a weather expert with Environment Canada, says Winnipeg will enjoy another white Christmas, but only by the whiskers on Santa's chinny chin chin.

"We've got about three centimetres of snow on the ground," Dale says. "That will still be enough to call it an official white Christmas in Winnipeg, but it's a pretty close call. The snow we've got on the ground should hang around for Christmas.

"But if you're down in Morden, Winkler, Emerson and the places near the border in the south Red River Valley, there's really nothing there and there's nothing in the forecast."

According to my pal Dale, we are looking at freakishly balmy highs of about 1 C today and the same on Christmas Day, compared to the normal bone-chilling daytime high of -12 C at this most joyous time of year.

On Boxing Day, while you exchange your gifts for stuff you really wanted, it may hit 4 C, with a 40 per cent chance of showers.

"It won't be record-breaking, but it'll be way above normal," Dale predicts. "The people in B.C. are continuing to send that mild Pacific air across the mountains. They're being very generous this Christmas."

Speaking of fascinating weather statistics to fill you full of mirth and joy, here's a few holiday nuggets from Dale:

-- In the last 139 years, there have been four official "brown" Christmases: 1877, 1913, 1939 and 1997.

-- The most snow Winnipeg has had on the ground Christmas day in the last 15 years was 45 centimetres in 1996; the least was in 1997, when we only had a "trace," meaning there were only dollops of snow hiding in shady spots or ditches.

But I have just looked out my window, Winnipeg, and we are looking good to go in terms of being a Winter Wonderland, so to speak. As for festive things to do over the next few days, here's a couple of hints:

1) Stand under some mistletoe and pucker up.

2) Roast a few chestnuts and hang some stockings with care.

3) Eat enough turkey to put you in a coma.

4) Have a wonderful holiday full of peace and joy and friends and eggnog.

Now, put down this newspaper, pull on your boots and go dashing through whatever snow happens to be on your lawn at the moment. And since you're already out there, maybe you wouldn't mind shovelling my driveway.

Merry Christmas.

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 24, 2011 A2

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