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I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones you used to know.
Where the tree tops sparkle
And children listen
To hear the snow sleigh bells.
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Irving Berlin, music composer
Quinte might get the best holiday gift: a white Christmas.
The first major snowfall was recorded in the region on Saturday, with more expected this week. It is possible that scenic postcard-like snows will remain in place until Christmas.
Environment Canada has released a new forecast showing that Quinte is located on the northern shoreline of Lake Ontario. This area experienced a white Christmas every year for 50-60% of the time.
Environment Canada looked at 65 years worth of weather records to create its white Christmas forecast for 2021. This included Toronto’s Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which Environment Canada said has more than 50 percent chance of snow this weekend.
The data is based the amount snow-on the-ground recorded on Christmas Day between 1955 and 2019. This allows you to calculate a statistical probability of having a white Christmas in the future.
Environment Canada stated that a perfect Christmas is one with snow on the ground 2 cm or more on Christmas morning and snowmeasurable on Christmas day.
Last weekend snow fell amid a major storm warning issued by Environment Canada. It advised Belleville, QuinteWest and Northumberland residents that they could expect snow accumulations of up to 14 cm.
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Belleville and Quinte West municipal workers were busy clearing, sanding or salting streets, roadways, sidewalks and streets overnight Saturday and Sunday to keep pedestrians as well as motorists safe.
Environment Canada forecasts that more snow will arrive in the next week.
On Wednesday, the weather will be cloudy with a high of 0C during the day and a low of -12C at night.
Temperatures will fall to -4C on Thursday in cloudy conditions. There is a 60% chance that there will be flurries. The overnight low will be -6C.
Friday will be characterized by a 70% chance for snow flurries and temperatures of -3C.
Environment Canada said that snow flurries are possible on Christmas Day Saturday. Temperatures will be between 0C and 7C.
