As winter settles in, Canada faces wild weather extremes during Christmas
Fort McMurray: Can you believe it’s almost the end of December? The excitement is in the air as we dive into the cozy, chilly nights of winter.
This time of year, the weather can really throw us for a loop. It’s like a rollercoaster ride, especially around Christmas.
Canada has seen some wild weather on Christmas in the past. So, which extreme would you pick to deal with this holiday season?
Let’s talk about temperature swings. They can be pretty jaw-dropping. Fort McMurray holds the record for the biggest temperature difference on Christmas Day.
Back in 1917, it hit a bone-chilling -50.7°C, but then in 1956, it soared to a warm 10°C. That’s a crazy 60.6°C difference!
Other places in Canada have also experienced swings of 40-50 degrees. It’s wild, from Toronto to Whitehorse, everyone feels it.
Now, if you’re on the coasts, you might not see those big temperature changes, but you’ll face some fierce storms. They can bring heavy snow and strong winds.
For instance, Campbell River, B.C., got hit with 53 cm of snow on Christmas in 1965. That’s one of their biggest snowfalls ever!
And in Nain, Labrador, they once had a snow depth of 267 cm. Just imagine Santa trying to keep track of his reindeer in that!
St. John’s also had some wild winds, with gusts reaching 115 km/h on Christmas. A storm in 1999 brought the same gusts to The Pas, Manitoba, along with a sudden 30-degree drop in temperature by Boxing Day.
So, what do you think? Would you rather brave the cold or the storms this Christmas?
