Submitted by Bill Caulfeild-Browne
In the 20th century, Tobermory’s February temperature averaged -6.7C. This year the mean was -3.3C, continuing the change to a warmer climate that has characterized this century.
The high for the month was 7.1C on the 15th, while the low on the 3rd was -21.3C, closer to winters a few decades back and the coldest day we’ve had since 2016. But the cold snap was short-lived and gave way to positive temperatures in a couple of days. In fact, exactly half the days of the month saw the mercury above the freezing level at some point.
We were not alone. Southern Ontario generally saw thermometers registering 3-5C above historic levels, though the far north showed 2-4C below normal. Moosonee saw wind chills of -50C. In contrast, Toronto reached +15C on the 15th.
Precipitation here was right on normal for my station for February – 39 mm. The wettest day – actually a combination of rain, sleet and snow – was the 9th with 9.2 mm. Ice storms which crippled areas to the south in the last week managed to stay south of us, as has often been the case this winter.
Ice levels on the Great Lakes are amongst the lowest ever. According to Environment & Climate Change Canada, the amount of ice cover, at 6.8%, is only a third of historic levels at mid-month. I can see that from my own living room – there’s a few hundred meters of brash ice offshore that piles up with north winds, only to disappear with the southwesterlies. Big Tub Harbour is iced over but certainly would not support a person. Yet only a few years ago the Chi-Cheemaun’s first crossing of the season was delayed because of ice stretching to the horizon.
March has started out fairly normal. Let’s hope it persists as Spring will have sprung by the time you read this!
