The autumn equinox has come and gone as of September 23rd, as Environment Canada believes the coming season in the East Kootenay will be a guessing game as to what exactly will transpire over the coming months.
Doug Lundquist, Environment Canada Meteorologist, told MyEastKootenayNow.com that their projected forecast for the season is undecided as it could go one of three directions.
“It’s looking like neither of the three categories we forecast is being chosen above the others, which is unusual,” said Lundquist. “Usually the computer models pick above or below average, with near-average not often picked. This year it can’t decide between the three, that means there is almost equal chances that it could be above, below or near average.”
Even though the next couple of weeks are forecasting lower temperatures to begin the fall season, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be cold and snowy until the winter solstice.
Lundquist did forecast potential snow this weekend in higher elevations, however, getting off to a chilly start to the season.
“We have a system moving in that will probably, by the end of the weekend make our mountains look an awful lot whiter,” said Lundquist. “We’ll be talking about snow in the high elevation passes, which means that people are travelling to and from the valley bottom sites and Alberta or into the coast, we’re gonna want to think about getting our snow tires on already.”
As of Tuesday, the weekend forecast for Cranbrook predicts a high of 7 on Friday with rain showers, a high of 9 on Saturday with a 60% chance of rain, and another high of 9 degrees on Sunday with a mix of sun and cloud.