Even a climatologist can be wrong when trying to predict the future
Posted Feb 1, 2012 05:28:53 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON – The chief climatologist for Environment Canada admits he has egg on his face.
Dave Phillips predicted last fall that Western Canada would have a colder than normal winter, but it’s been the exact opposite.
It’s the second- or third-warmest winter on record for some of the prairie provinces.
Phillips says sometimes they don’t get it right.
He says maybe nature sneers at the forecasts and gives them the opposite.
But he’s not alone — most forecasters across Canada and the U-S got it wrong.
The Weather Network suggested a roller-coaster winter with major storms for the West.
AccuWeather also forecast parts of North America would be hit with the worst winter in 20 years.
Instead, temperatures are about seven degrees warmer than normal and there has been loads less snow.
A golf course in southern Alberta is even opening for the season today.
