We're at the high end of a cold semi-arid climate in Calgary. Average 17 - 20 inches of precip. per year. (1971-2000). Without looking it up, I'd guess since 2000 we've averaged more than that though. Trouble is it isn't ever spread out. Like Jimmy Stang said, we get the huge dumps of snow in the spring, along with the June monsoon. That's about our only guaranteed moisture. The rest is pretty much hit and miss thunderstorms, and spotty snow/rain showers. All in all, we live in a pretty dry place when 10 inches a year is considered true desert.
Makes me think of this good ol' Ian Tyson song.
Between 2000 and 2009 we averaged 16.5 inches of precipitation.
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You think we had rain look at Saskatchewan many places broke precipitation records in May. Look at the watershed to the west of Calgary it' is still 60% of normal maybe that explains the low Bow.
You think we had rain look at Saskatchewan many places broke precipitation records in May. Look at the watershed to the west of Calgary it' is still 60% of normal maybe that explains the low Bow.
We don't actually get that much, it's just that Calgarians start complaining the second we get more than one day of rain in a row. I personally love it.
Between 2000 and 2009 we averaged 16.5 inches of precipitation.
I guess I proved my own point. It's all about perception. It seems we have so much crappy weather (which no doubt we do), but the actual precip involved with it is little.
Look at the watershed to the west of Calgary it' is still 60% of normal maybe that explains the low Bow.
Rain and melting snow affect the Bow in different ways. Rain does raise the level, often a greater amount, but it's temporary and the effect doesn't last. To sustain a higher level, temperatures must rise to melt the snowpack and precip that is still in the mountains, giving a steady increase of flow to the streams and feeders for the Bow.
Below you can see how Three Isle Lake melt really hasn't started yet. The graph is similar to Little Elbow summit.
And here is Sunshine Village. The snow depth was less than normal and the rate of melt overall this spring is lower as well. Which leaves us with an total snow depth which is on par with the average at this time of the year. Now all we need are some warm days or else this graph will show a trend of falling behind like the others. In this graph, you can also see the large melt that occured in May which you can see in the rise of the water levels in the previously posted Bow graph.
Even in the South Okanagan our weather has been unseasonably bad. Lots of rain, and very little in terms of warm weather. I think so far this year we have had maybe 3 days where the day time temperature got over 25 degrees which down here is very low. Often we'll have 3-5 days in May where it gets to 30. The hills are so green that the vinyards don't stand out anymore. Oh well should help keep the forest fire season in check this year.
The golf course is nice and lush if it would clear up long enough to go play it. Who am I kidding....I have neither the time or money to play that game anymore.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Looks like I'll be cleaning the gutters tonight instead of next weekend.....
I wish I'd read this post before you invited me over, gave me a beer... Then had me stand under a ladder while you threw decomposed leaves on me for an evening.
Why bother looking out 4-5 days weather wise in this city. I am happy if they can get the 1 day forecast right. Often they can't. About as volatile as the markets....Both my kids got farmer tans today....Sunny Days Are Here Again....
I don't know how I lived in Calgary 25 years of my life.. 1 month summers blow.
I'm not sure which is better - over 40 deg C in Phoenix or rain and 15 in Calgary. Today was great - but this coming week looks horrible here in Alberta. I guess it doesn't matter either way - I'd be in my house keeping cool in Arizona, or in my house here in Strathmore keeping out of the rain.
I'm not sure which is better - over 40 deg C in Phoenix or rain and 15 in Calgary. Today was great - but this coming week looks horrible here in Alberta. I guess it doesn't matter either way - I'd be in my house keeping cool in Arizona, or in my house here in Strathmore keeping out of the rain.
I'll take Arizona's weather over Calgary any day of the week.
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