(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Weather forecast

Christmas weather outlook promising for Battlefords-Meadow Lake area

Dec 21, 2023 | 5:00 PM

If hitting the highway is on your agenda this holiday season, you are in luck.

Environment and Climate Change Canada reports weather conditions will remain mild and stable in the Battlefords and Meadow Lake area.

Meteorologist Terri Lang noted there are no adverse weather systems going through the province at this time.

“You have to go way far north to see any kind of weather systems moving through,” she said. “It looks like it’s going to be pretty sunny and pretty dry, so it makes for pretty good driving conditions across much of the province.”

However, people may still experience pavement frost or hoarfrost that forms on the clear nights.

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“Because there is not a lot of snow around; there is not a lot of melting going on,” Lang said. “There is not a lot of re-freezing, so it’s just mostly that morning-pavement frost.”

Lang noted the milder weather experienced is consistent with the El Niño pattern, with warmer than average and drier than average conditions.

“We are in a strong El Niño situation right now,” she said.

Lang noted the low-pressure systems that bring snow, rain and precipitation tend to follow the jet stream conditions.

“If the jet stream is to the north, then we are not getting any of those big weather systems moving through. That’s why the north is getting so many storms,” she said.

Looking ahead to the new year, Lang said people can expect to continue to see warmer conditions.

“The long-range outlook for the winter – December, January and February – is warmer than average and drier than average, consistent with the El Niño pattern,” Lang said. “It doesn’t mean it’s not going to get cold; it doesn’t mean that it’s not going to snow an any point. It just means on average, when you add things up at the end of the winter, that we tend to be drier than average and warmer than average.”

She noted that people should still expect to see winter conditions coming ahead.

“They are possible, but certainly this winter is just one of those ones that kind of stands out,” Lang said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsnow