Photo by Whitehorse Star

ENJOYING THE WHITE STUFF - Wood Street School students come back from a sled party Monday. Last month's record snowfall has helped create ideal conditions for winter fun. Star photo by BRIELLE WILL

February buried snowfall record

After the territory recorded a record-setting 42.8 centimetres of snow in February, the RCMP are reminding motorists to be careful while driving in winter conditions.

By Stephanie Waddell on March 4, 2009

After the territory recorded a record-setting 42.8 centimetres of snow in February, the RCMP are reminding motorists to be careful while driving in winter conditions.

"As the snow continues to descend on the roadways in the Yukon, RCMP would like to remind motorists to take extra caution when driving in winter conditions," RCMP said in a statement today.

Bill Miller, Environment Canada's meteorologist in Whitehorse, said Tuesday afternoon the snowfall for last month beat the previous February record of 40.4 centimetres set in 1982.

The month also saw daily records set when 14.2 centimetres fell on Feb. 7, smashing the 1984 record for that day of 5.7 cm. On Feb. 21, another daily record of 9.6 cm was also set.

In light of the recent snowfall, police have listed off six tips for winter driving:

remember the posted speed limits are for ideal driving conditions;
stay alert, slow down and stay in control;
keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you;
be more realistic about travel times, allowing plenty of time to get to your destination;
use good winter tires and have a winter survival kit on hand; and
ensure any firewood you may have is properly secured.

Bison hunters are also reminded to use the designated pull-outs on the Alaska Highway after RCMP in Haines Junction have received complaints about vehicles parking on the highway, a dangerous situation in low visibility conditions, RCMP noted.

Maintained throughout the year, the pull-outs are designed as a safer parking option, police said.

"Vehicles parked on the shoulder of the road may be towed to make the roadway safe," police said.

It's expected temperatures will be below normal for March, which can generally mean clear skies and colder nights.

While Environment Canada doesn't forecast precipitation weeks in advance, Miller said, the clear skies are an indication there won't be much snow.

Heading into the weekend, Miller said there's a 30 per cent chance of flurries on Friday, followed by a 60 per cent chance on Saturday.

Comments (8)

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Arn Anderson on Mar 13, 2009 at 11:05 am

Derrick, you have proven my point very well. Please refute and duh DEBATE.

Its really fun when you are so obessessed with my comments but cannot argue let alone make a point about the issue being debated.

Wa Wa Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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Derrick B on Mar 12, 2009 at 10:23 am

Democracy! Well that places you in the minority than Arn, in the last three successive nation elections Canadians (sans Arn) have place the environment either first or second on their priority list.

Seems to me Arn, that you are the one who tries to shut down debate by frothing at the mouth at every given topic....didn't you just say 'duh' to Andrew up thread. tsk tsk Arn. Pot, meet kettle.

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Arn Anderson on Mar 12, 2009 at 6:10 am

Are you serious with your statement Andrew? This is sad, links to graphs that anyone can make up. Read the previous statement: data falsified and manipulated to fit the hockey stick curve. Why dont you look at the sunspots theory? After all, duh, that is where all the HEAT comes from. Believe me there is more probable theories out there then what Al Gore endorses and we know all what he is about: MONEY.

Is pretty sad when I make valid points and debate and all you can do is make insults and name calling. Please debate and refrain yourself from defamation comments because this is a DEMOCRACY. Democracy encourages debate not slander.

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Joel on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:20 am

Climate change sounds better when you have a cold snap in the middle of your global warming

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Andrew on Mar 9, 2009 at 7:46 am

Arn.

I found your tin foil hat in a snow bank downtown.

Have a look at this graph:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Instrumental_Temperature_Record.png

Now, in your mind (if your able) over lay the industrial revolution. While both experts and casual observers agree that global temperatures are cyclical modern mankind had contributed to a massive increase in the global temperature with seemingly no end in sight.

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Arn Anderson on Mar 7, 2009 at 11:39 am

Anthony, do you ever look at anything besides what the media tells you? Climate Change, Global warming, same crap, different piles. Try googling climate change with a twist and read the other sides statements and facts. Also when they mention 90% of scientists agree on climate change, I dont care what the APA (American Pyschological association) and CFSO (Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations) to name a few, say about cimate change, yet they are "experts" in weather. Gee, if we had that many experts in weather, we would have down to the minute weather reporting eh?

Weather becomes an extreme event when it is full blown reported. So tornadoes and droughts and all the other crap never happened before? Or are they more extreme? They are not extreme, but can be when you turn the volume up on your TV with constant media coverage on it. You tell me because there is lots of snow, its climate change, but if there wasnt snow, its climate change. Is there supposed to be a happy balance and an average where the Earth is in a happy medium.Any person can take any event and spin into climate change. They cant even predict the weather for a week, yet Im supposed to believe Al Gore?

Read what the IPCC did, falsfying data to fit there little hockey stick curve and throwing out data that didnt fit the curve. Weather stations conviently placed in locations that collects the data they want but nulling the data at different locations. Please research this yourself because basically that is the best learning tool.

Were you here in the Yukon last summer? Coldest ever, but let me guess, climate change eh. Two worded answer for everything. So pull your head outta the establishment sand and open your eyes because climate change/global warming only results in one thing

MONEY

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Anthony on Mar 5, 2009 at 10:42 am

Arn. The term is 'climate change'. And and while it is true that the global temperature is rising drastically (google it) the manifestations humans can noticeably see in their 70 year window on the planetare weather extremes. Droughts, floods, hurricanes, famine, tornadoes, ice storms etc.

You'd have to have you head firmly buried in the sand not to notice. Take a look out the window right now and the sheer volume of snow in your yard.

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Arn Anderson on Mar 4, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Lots of global warming, lots of it