Although warm weather could arrive next week, a meteorologist wants Saultites to be careful if they plan to travel over the holidays.
“It’s looking like a pretty quiet week for weather overall for the area,” said Trudy Kidd, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
“With people travelling this weekend and the start of next week, it would be good to check forecasts since it might not be quiet like this everywhere else.”
On Friday, the Sault could see a low of -21 and a high of -7. The average high for that day in Sault Ste. Marie is -4 and the average low is -13, Kidd said.
On Saturday, Kidd said the area could have a high of -13 and low of -19, and Sunday the area could experience a high of -6 and a low of -7.
For those travelling, Kidd recommended checking the weather for the Sault and all of the areas you will be travelling through.
“Pack an emergency kit and take your time,” Kidd said.
She is expecting the snow to remain in the Sault over Christmas.
“Between now and the 24th, there are negative temperatures. The snow isn’t going anywhere, there’s no threat,” Kidd said.
“There’s no rain to wash it away. Your snow pack is safe.”
On Tuesday, Dec. 24, the forecast is calling for a high of one degree, and Wednesday, Dec. 25 it could be two degrees.
Kidd said those are not even close to being records. The record high for Dec. 24 for Sault Ste. Marie was 11.7 degrees in 1931 and for Dec. 25 was 12.8 degrees in 1928. Last year was the fifth warmest Dec. 25 in Sault history at 6.4 degrees.
“It’s safe to say it’ll be a white Christmas. You never get a ton of certainty from a meteorologist, but I think your snow is safe.”
Kidd said some records may have been broken with snowfall in the area in late November and early December, although it depends on where you live in the city.
“Usually Sault Ste. Marie would typically have under 90 cm at this time of year. It looks like 135 cm has fallen so far.”
On Nov. 25, 17.2 cm fell, which was a record for that day. Nov. 28 and 29 were records too - with 15.4 cm and 24.4 cm falling, respectively.
As for the month of November, Kidd said the Sault was not even close to breaking any records for snowfall.
“November placed 10th for highest snowfall for Sault Ste. Marie,” Kidd said.
In 2014, Sault Ste. Marie received a record of 197.5 cm of snow, a lot compared to the 73.8 cm of snow that fell in the Sault last month.
She said it would take a lot more snow to break a record for the area in December.
“December 1995 was a doozy with 207.2 cm of snow . . . The Sault is certainly no stranger to big snow dumps,” Kidd said.