Sudburians will think of the weather in 2006 with some
trepidation-from the devastating windstorm on Monday, July
17-where 450 South End property owners alone called ING
Insurance to report damage claims-to the record-setting warm
temperatures in December.
But for the most part Canada's chief meteorologist, David
Phillips of Environment Canada, says 2006 was a comfortable,
although unusual weather year for Greater Sudbury.
"Overall Greater Sudbury fit in with the national and world
trends, where Canada is warming at twice the rate of the world
average," he said.
"Your January was the warmest January on record, going back to
1952-53, a full 6 Celsius above the normals, especially when
you look at night time lows. Where you see the biggest
difference is in the lows during the night. The normal is minus
18.4 degrees night time temperature. Sudbury had 11.3 degrees C
average evening lows meaning night temperatures scored 7.1
Celsius milder than normal."
Many Sudburians can recall winter lows reaching minus 40 C
and often minus 30 C for days at a time, sometimes even more.
Phillips told Northern Life the lowest the temperature
plunged last winter was on Feb. 18 when the night time low
reached minus 27 C.
Phillips accounted for the major snow dumps last winter as
being caused by a combination of cold fronts laden with
precipitation picked up from water still unfrozen on the Great
Lakes.
"The mild winter meant the big waters were still open when
bands of precipitation did blow in so that they picked up even
more moisture meaning big snowfalls hit your city in late
January when the temperature did bottom out," said Phillips.
Snow levels in March were below normal, although the amount
of snow was normal for the winter, said Phillips.
"Greater Sudbury got double its normal snow load in February
but got only 10 centimetres of snow in March. Usually you get
40 centimetres."
This was a long and beautiful summer, he said.
"Summer was hotter. You had nine days with above 30 C
temperatures versus your normal six days and your highest
temperature was Aug. 1 when it was 33.2 C."
The hottest day recorded in Greater Sudbury dates back to
1975 when Environment Canada says the temperature reached 36.7
C.
"So overall you had a comfortable summer, apart from the
vicious July 17 windstorm in the southern end of your city," he
said.
"All told, except for the property damage in July from the
windstorm, you fared quite well in 2006. Not bad overall. If
you enjoy the warmth. If you like cold or winter sports, then
you are suffering," he said.
