After Easter Thoughts

Just to let everyone know, some new stuff has been added to saskatoonscanner.com including photos of the flood, the sunset and the changing sky. Also, the severe weather outlook map for the Canadian prairies has been recently re-built. There are a few bugs to work out and it will be vastly improved before the summer storm season really hits. Look forward to seeing more animated icons and some real juicy, highly secretive, utterly amazing, and possibly shocking features. Oh, and by the way, those photos can be found at saskatoonscanner.com/features/

As for the weather today, more rain, more rain. Flooding sucks and there are plenty of people affected this spring. Thunderstorms are possible in southern areas today but updating the map is going to have to wait until later.

In the United States, the tornado reports are coming in a steady pace in 2006. If April ends up with over 300 tornado reports, then it would be my guess that May will not be nearly as busy as last year. The storms seem to be moving north faster than normal so this seems to suggest a shortened storm chasing season in the states and an earlier one in Canada. This may be a bold prediction but the month of May could bring the most tornadoes Canada has seen ever in that month. Keep in mind that will be due mostly in part to the huge and growing numbers of digital cameras out there. Hopefully we can all use this fantasic technology to understand the weather a little better, before things get really crazy.

notes:

-COD has updated their site with a Canadian section.

-Stormtrack forums are spitting out new tornado photos and chase blogs every day.

Windy in Saskatoon

Winds are now gusting to over 60km/hr here in Saskatoon causing some ust to get kicked up into the air. Thunderstorms are a possibility today east of us.

It's getting closer!

Today there is a slight risk of severe weather in the states of Montana and South Dakota, bringing the storm season a bit closer to Canada for 2006. Thursday makes for another big day to watch as a moderate risk has been issued for areas further south and east. Our storm prediction map will have to get back into operation very soon as the snow is nearly all gone here in Saskatoon. Some general thundershowers are possible today in extreme southern Alberta.

Tornado Numbers See Huge Increase

Monthly tornado statistics are a bit disturbing so far this year. After this past Sunday's numbers have been tabulated, the month of March claimed over 200 tornadoes. Is this due to more chasers, more media, or is the weather going bonkers. What are we to prepare for this summer in Canada? It is not uncommon to have one or two isolated but powerful storms in the month of April somewhere in Saskatchewan, but maybe this year we will see summer type action starting very early.

SPC Monthly Tornado Statistics

PDS ISSUED: Strong Tornadoes Possible Today

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma today has issued a "PDS" or particularly dangerous situation. The Stormtrack.org forums are buzzing with activity and it looks like it is going to be a busy day for storms on the plains. So far only hail has been reported but shear is very strong and violent tornadoes are expected this afternoon in eastern Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missori.

"This is an extremely dangerous situation"

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

Weather on the Canadian prairies is mixed with a heavy snowfall warning in west-central Manitoba and warm temperatures for the rest of us.