Near normal snowfall, below average temperatures mark January in Sioux Lookout

Mike Lawrence - Staff Writer

If January’s cold snaps seemed colder and snowfall amounts seemed higher than last winter, you’re right. 

“I’ve been seeing all the extreme cold warnings going out your way and I just get chills,” commented Environment Canada Meteorologist Steven Flisfeder, when asked about this January’s cold spells. 

Flisfeder added, “This year is the second year in a row of La Nina, so it’s been pretty much in line with what you would be expecting for a La Nina year, especially with the cold. Last year you got spared a little bit of what you should be expecting.”

So that being said, how did our January temperatures shape up?

“In terms of temperatures,” Flisfeder continued, “the average daytime high was -15.4 °C, and ordinarily you’d be expecting an average daytime high of -12. So about three or four degrees below normal for January. Last year in January the average daytime high was -6.7°C, so it’s a lot colder, almost 10 degrees colder than last year.” 

Looking at snowfall amounts proves to be a bit harder to quantify, as Flisfeder explains. “In terms of snowfall amounts, the records I have are based off of the airport and their reporting of snow is very low. That’s all I can say as to official amounts, unfortunately, but it’s a little difficult to give a real perspective. In terms of surrounding area, we do have some proxy data that puts it near normal for January, and I can tell you that normal for January would be 35.5 cm which seems a lot more accurate based on what you guys are experiencing.”

As for any records, Flisfeder finished by adding, “I did ask one of our climate data specialists and no daily high or low temperature records were set for January. It’s cold, but it isn’t the coldest it’s ever been.”