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Estevan breaks a snowfall record

Estevan has set a record for the largest accumulation of snow for December. The Energy City received 52 centimetres of snow last month, according to data compiled by Environment Canada at the Estevan Airport.
There are some large snow piles around the Energy City, after Estevan received a record-setting amou
There are some large snow piles around the Energy City, after Estevan received a record-setting amount of snow for December.

Estevan has set a record for the largest accumulation of snow for December.

The Energy City received 52 centimetres of snow last month, according to data compiled by Environment Canada at the Estevan Airport. The previous December record of 42 centimetres was set back in 2002.

Environment Canada’s records for snowfall date back more than 100 years.

“Most of Saskatchewan is dry, especially through the winter months,” said John Paul Cragg, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada. “The average snowfall in Estevan for the year is 110 centimetres.”

December accounted for about half of the average yearly snowfall in the city.

Cragg compared Estevan’s annual snowfall figures with the amount that Ottawa receives each year. Canada’s capital city receives about 220 centimetres in a typical year, which is twice as much as Estevan.

Estevan already had a thick blanket of snow on the ground when December arrived, thanks to about 20 centimetres of snow that fell on the city in late November.

Then the city received about 26 centimetres on Dec. 5 and 6, and another 19 centimetres from a storm that started on Christmas Day.

Both of the storms in December were accompanied by high winds, creating blizzard-like conditions and low visibility.

“These two storms in December were the results of Colorado lows, which do happen in the Prairies, but don’t occur that often, and to have two affecting the area in one month is fairly uncommon,” said Cragg. “And that’s the reason there’s been so much snow.”

Cragg admits the measurements aren’t perfect, since the wind will whip the snow around so much, creating large drifts in some areas, and lower accumulations in others.

“If you’re downwind from an open field, there could be huge drifts in front of your house,” said Cragg.

The average snowfall for December is around 18 centimetres.

December was also colder than normal. The average daytime high in December was -9.8, compared with the average of about -6 C, while the night time low was -18.3 C, which is lower than the average of -17 C.

While Estevan hasn’t received a lot of snow so far in January, the frigid temperatures have persisted. The daytime high has been above -10 C only once so far this year, and according to Cragg, the frigid temperatures are to remain until the weekend.

“Some models are showing the potential for a warmup, but it’s not for sure right now, and there’s still quite a bit of deviation in the models for what they’re showing,” said Cragg.

It’s hard to tell the extent of the warmup, but Cragg expects temperatures will be closer to normal.