In December, temperatures were colder and snowfall exceeded the norm, according to the latest findings from the E.D. Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo. The report reveals that December experienced an average temperature three degrees lower than usual, ranking it as the second coldest December in the past two decades, with 2017 holding the record for the coldest. Notably, there was a significant temperature spike on the morning of December 29, with a rapid rise from 0.8°C to 8.9°C within an hour, followed by a drop to 4.8°C an hour later, and eventually plummeting well below zero a few hours after that.
Precipitation levels were also notably higher than average, with a total of 113.2 millimetres recorded for the month, surpassing the typical 72.1 millimetres. Snowfall was particularly abundant, totaling 54.5 centimetres, significantly exceeding the average of 30.7 centimetres and marking the snowiest December since 2008. Additionally, on December 28, a mix of rain, ice pellets, and snow added another 50 millimetres to the overall precipitation levels.
The report highlights that the ongoing snowfall season has seen a total accumulation of 113.5 centimetres, more than double the average of 41.8 centimetres. The trend of snowfall has continued into the new year, with Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasting snowfall in the region until Tuesday. However, a temporary warm-up is anticipated, with temperatures expected to rise above zero for a few days.
As temperatures fluctuate, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has issued a cautionary advisory urging people to avoid venturing onto ponds, rivers, or streams due to potentially unsafe conditions. The GRCA emphasized that despite the formation of ice from colder temperatures, various factors such as temperature variations, wind, precipitation, and underwater currents significantly impact the stability of the ice. The authority warned that the ice could be fragile and unfit for winter activities, particularly as higher flows weaken existing ice sheets. Snow accumulation on the ice may conceal weak spots and impede proper freezing.
Ice fishing remains prohibited at all GRCA parks, with the authority noting that recent warm and wet weather has led to increased runoff, elevated water levels, and enhanced flows in the Grand River watershed. To mitigate downstream flood risks, major GRCA reservoirs were utilized, maintaining elevated water levels into the following week as stored runoff gradually dissipates.
