PRINCE GEORGE, FEATURED by Shane Chevalier

Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Last updated on December 21, 2023

UPDATE – No snow for Christmas eve. A further 8.1mm of rain fell on Wednesday bringing the monthly total to 48.1mm of rain, beating out December 2022 precipitation. Additional rain is forecast for Thursday and Friday.

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What has gotten into our weather for this December? It is much like 2014 and 2018 and say what, 1939?, rain!

Face it we know that El Nino is here and with that weather pattern change it brings warmth and rain to areas that, well, are typically cold in December thanks to La Nina. Last year at this time, it was minus 42 degrees due to the La Nina pattern effect. Factor in the wind and it was close to minus 50. It was a “polar vortex” or in reality terms an Arctic Ridge of High Pressure that made it bitterly cold just before Christmas in 2022.

Last December however was not the snowiest month, as precipitation then was only 31mm for the whole month, according to Environment Canada. This month, the Prince George Airport has recorded 40mm of precipitation, mostly thanks to the heavy rainfall on Tuesday evening. The snow is trying but the weather pattern of warmth has other plans.. Maybe!

The upcoming forecast for Sunday suggests Snow. And, for Christmas Day, cloud! However, it is only Wednesday and the forecast is expected to change by then but it is possible we could see a white Christmas eve. ☃️☃️

At least for the end of December 2023, folks who are planning to have an awesome time on New Year’s Eve won’t be freezing their butts as there will be NO Arctic Ridge of High Pressure.

Expect more rain for Wednesday and Thursday in Prince George with a high of plus 5 both days.

Below is an excerpt from the Prince George Citizen Archives. In early December of this year, 1939 came up for a week straight for record warm temperatures so I had to find out what was going on. Read what the Citizen had to say back in November 1939 about climate change! Except they didn’t call it climate change. Top left corner! The picture is clickable on mobile devices.