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The warmest December in 141 years is causing concern in Calgary

Your snow shovel and booster cables may be gathering dust, but while many people are happy to avoid the hassles of winter, warmer and drier conditions are also likely.

Calgary has set a record for temperature in December. According to Environment Canada and Climate Change (ECCC), the December 2023 mean daily average (average day and night temperature) for Calgary was 0.1 when normal was minus 6.8.

“(It was) a big departure from the norm, certainly noteworthy,” said Natalie Hassell of the ECCC.

“(It was) the warmest December we've ever had, and that would be over 141 years of data.”

OVER BUDGET

That's good news for the City of Calgary's snow removal budget.

Year-end budgets are not yet available, but the city expects to have a balance of up to $12 million starting in 2023.

But that could be bad news after a few months.

It's not just Calgary with heavy snow, Alberta and much of the mountains are experiencing this.

“We need more precipitation this winter to improve the wildfire situation in the spring and summer. There are also agricultural issues,” Hasel said.

DROUGHT MANAGEMENT TEAM

The Alberta government has requested a proposal to improve drought modeling and help the province prepare for 2024, and already has a drought management team and the first draft of a 2024 emergency plan.

“The risk is high this year and Alberta is taking action to be fully prepared,” Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schultz said in a statement to CTV Calgary.

“In the coming weeks, we will be contracting for drought simulation work to help the province in its efforts to maximize water supply. Alberta is also hitting a drought advisory committee that will be announced soon.,”

Droughts are getting longer and more intense in western North America, including the prairies, according to a recently released University of Calgary study of global climate models. Climate change in nature.

Tricia Stadnick, professor of civil engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering and Geography, is one of the study's authors.

“The Prairies, particularly in Canada and the lower continental United States, are one of the few hotspots in the world where drought is projected to reduce average annual runoff,” he explained, which could lead to water restrictions.

WATER RESTRICTIONS

Calgary has restricted outdoor watering in 2023, but two extremely dry years in a row may require stricter measures.

“Some areas in Canada have restrictions on when you can do laundry and when you can wash dishes depending on the water supply. I think it's in our future to see these kinds of restrictions in a drought scenario,” he said.

Stadnik said Alberta needs to improve irrigation efficiency to meet current agricultural demand.

The amount of snow and cold that will fall in the coming months will set the course for spring and summer.

“Our forecast for the next three months does not have a dominant precipitation trend across most of the Prairies, but forecasts are subject to change,” Hassell said.

'I'M A LITTLE SAD'

Some Calgary ice rinks have opened late this winter due to warm weather.

Albertans take the good with the bad.

Pond skaters may not be at risk of frostbite during the laces, but many outdoor rinks open late and begin wintering after a very mild fall.

“We love it,” said Bethany Himmelreich, who was skating with her husband Christophe at Prince Island Park on Thursday.

“I was a little disappointed. We didn't get to go sledding during Christmas, but now there is ice. That's good,”

“This winter was stellar. Yeah, we walked a lot,” said Tracy Seibert, walking.

“I grew up on a farm, so I know it really affects farmers,” Dwayne Seibert said.

“We still have three or four months to go, so we're still going to get a lot of cold and a lot of snow,” he added.

“Take it while we can,” Tracy added.

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