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Workweek Outlook: Plenty of sunshine this weekend as abnormally dry March continues

Sault Ste. Marie usually receives an average of 38.3 cm of snow in March. Only 5.8 cm of the white stuff has been accounted for so far this month
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With an abundance of sunshine in the forecast for this weekend and a lack of precipitation into next week, I could not help but reminisce about how dry the month has been thus far. Based on climatology from the weather station at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport, the month of March usually has an average of 13.6 days with measurable precipitation and a total monthly precipitation count of 55.6 mm (which includes both rain and snow). As we move into the second half of March 2018, the Sault Ste. Marie Airport has only seen four days with measurable precipitation and a mere 5.4 mm of total precipitation thus far. Sault Ste. Marie usually receives an average of 38.3 cm of snow in March. Only 5.8 cm of the white stuff has been accounted for so far this month.

After the fifth snowiest December in the last 25 years, snowfall amounts measured at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport were below-average this past January and near-normal for February. Since ‘normal’ is based on 30-year climatology, one may still wonder about the overall trends of snowfall that make up these averages.

A recent analysis on annual snowfall compares the consecutive 30-year periods of 1957-58 to 1986-87 and 1987-88 to 2016-17. The data shows that the Sault region has seen an uptick in annual snowfall of between 5% and 20% in the most recent 30-year period. Many areas downwind of the Great Lakes have also seen an increase in snowfall in the most recent period according to the data from the Global Historical Climatology Network. This is suggestive of more lake-effect snows and can be attributed to longer ice-free periods on the individual Great Lakes.

Skies remain mostly sunny for Friday, although temperatures continue to be below-seasonal. Highs climb to -3°C, but northwesterly winds will make it feel closer to -8°C.

Sunny skies on Saturday become a mix of sun and cloud at times in the afternoon. Light winds will accompany highs that hover near -1°C.

A mix of sun and cloud is likely on Sunday. There is a slight chance of a few light flurries early in the morning. Highs near 0°C are anticipated as a light northerly flow develops.

Chances remain quite slim for a prolonged ‘warm-up’ through the next week or so. The probability of measurable precipitation in the Sault region through next weekend currently remains very low.

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