Before I get started, I’d like to remind everyone who has left a trip report this winter to send me a photo of yourself(if you haven’t already). I have photos of many of you(see previous post for updated list), but if you’re not on the list, I’d welcome your email with a photo attached.
I was pleased to see that Elk Pass and Blueberry Hill were groomed last night. I hope someone checks it out today, and lets us know if you survived the “attack of the collembola.”
Ray Perrott
I received this email from stats-man Ray Perrott regarding March weather:
Its been a tough winter for cross-country skiers in this part of the world. Seems like skiing got going a bit late (not until early Dec for most areas), and then was significantly interrupted by 4 strong chinooks Dec.8 – Dec. 12; Jan. 22 – Jan. 27; Feb. 11 – Feb. 14; Mar. 5 – present. These chinooks, combined with lower than average snowfalls, made for a short and challenging ski season. The only consistently reasonable skiing was from Christmas through the third week of January. Will there be any more skiing???
Out of curiosity, I looked at the past 25 years weather histories at Banff. Here’s a look at the first 11 days of March for three of those years:
2015 (current year March): Avg. daily high: 5.9C; Total snowfall 5cm
1992 (warmest March ): Avg. daily high: 9.1C; Total snowfall
1cm (snowfall for the full month was a paltry 4cm)
2002 (coldest March) : Avg. daily high: -6.0C; Total
snowfall 14cm (snowfall for the full month was a wonderful 60cm)
So, things have been worse, and of course, much better (for skiers).
Incidentally, March 2014 was the second coldest in the past 25 years.
Thanks for the stats, helps to put this year into perspective with the last 25. I did notice a sure sign of spring, heard a robin this morning in NW Calgary.