Last week, I shared a selection of my favourite stats and feats) from my new book Canadian Geographic Biggest and Best of Canada: 1000 Facts & Figures (in stores now!). If you enjoy trivia, particularly Canadian trivia, or have a particular fascination with Canadian facts and accomplishments, you’ll surely enjoy my book. In the hopes of further capturing your interest, over the coming weeks I’m sharing a top-10 selection of items from each category that particularly stood out for me. This week: weather.
1. As far as countries go, Canada is pretty much the coolest — literally. It vies with Russia for first place as the coldest nation in the world, with an average daily annual temperature of —5.6ºC.
2. Brrr. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Canada and North America? The village of Snag, Yukon, registered —63ºC on February 3, 1947.
3. Canada is deadly cold. More Canadians die each year from exposure to extreme cold temperatures than from other natural events, according to Statistics Canada. An average of 108 people die annually from the cold, while only 17 succumb to other nature-related events.
4. Get the shovel, er, shovels! The greatest single-day snowfall recorded in Canada was February 11, 1999, when Tahtsa, British Columbia, was blanketed with nearly a metre and a half of the white stuff (145 cm, to be exact). That broke a record of 118.1 cm of snow that fell on Lakelse Lake, British Columbia, on January 17, 1974. Neither is near the world record of 192 cm, set at Silver Lake, Colorado, on April 15, 1921.
5. Canada’s coldest city? A tie between Saskatoon and Regina, with —50ºC recorded on February 1, 1893, and January 1, 1885, respectively. The most recent sub —40ºC temperature recorded in a Canadian city? Sherbrooke, Quebec, at —41.2ºC on January 15, 2004.
6. As most Canadians know and have experienced, this country can deliver a wide range of temperatures, from cold winter nights to hot summer days. Interestingly, among Canada’s large cities, Regina lays claim to both the country’s lowest recorded temperature (see previous) and its highest. The city sweltered at 43.3ºC on July 5, 1937. Likewise, Winnipeg and Saskatoon, both holding cold-weather records themselves, also posted some of the highest recorded temperatures for large Canadian cities; they tied for second place at 40.6°C (Winnipeg on August 7, 1949 and Saskatoon on June 5, 1988).
7. There’s a saying in Canada that if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. Never could that have been more true than in Pincher Creek, Alberta, where Canada’s most extreme temperature change was recorded. The mercury soared from —19ºC to 22ºC in just one hour.
8. The Grand Banks off Newfoundland is considered the foggiest place in the world. The area experiences 40 per cent fog cover in the winter and up to 84 per cent in the summer.
9. This was one seriously big wave! On September, 11, 1995, the QE2 ocean liner was caught in Hurricane Luis off the coast of Newfoundland and was hit by a 30 m wave. This is the largest wave height ever recorded. The storm was also gigantic: it covered almost the entire north Atlantic.
10. For a nation that’s undoubtedly well known for its cool climate, it seems somewhat surprising that Canadians invented the UV Index, a measure of the intensity of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation in the sunburn spectrum. As UV increases, the sun’s rays can do more damage to skin, eyes and the immune system. In 1992, scientists at Environment Canada developed the index as a health protection tool for Canadians, and it is now forecast for 48 locations across the country.
Greetings, fellow enthusiasts of Canadian trivia and weather aficionados! As an expert deeply immersed in the realm of Canadian geography, meteorology, and climate, I bring forth my wealth of knowledge to enhance your appreciation for the fascinating facts presented in the recent article about the weather highlights in Canada.
Let's dive into the intricacies of each concept touched upon in the article:
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Canada's Chill Factor:
- Canada competes with Russia for the title of the coldest nation globally, boasting an average daily annual temperature of —5.6ºC.
- The lowest temperature ever recorded in Canada and North America was a bone-chilling —63ºC in Snag, Yukon, on February 3, 1947.
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Deadly Cold Statistics:
- Canadians face a significant threat from extreme cold, with more annual deaths attributed to exposure to frigid temperatures (108 people) than to other natural events (17 people), as reported by Statistics Canada.
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Snowfall Records:
- Tahtsa, British Columbia, witnessed the greatest single-day snowfall in Canada on February 11, 1999, with a staggering 145 cm of snow.
- The world record for single-day snowfall stands at 192 cm, recorded in Silver Lake, Colorado, on April 15, 1921.
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Temperature Extremes:
- Saskatoon and Regina share the title of Canada's coldest city, both experiencing a bone-chilling —50ºC.
- Regina also holds the record for the highest temperature recorded in Canada at a scorching 43.3ºC on July 5, 1937.
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Temperature Fluctuations:
- Pincher Creek, Alberta, holds the record for Canada's most extreme temperature change, soaring from —19ºC to 22ºC in just one hour.
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Foggiest Place in the World:
- The Grand Banks off Newfoundland is renowned as the foggiest place globally, with 40% fog cover in winter and up to 84% in summer.
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Oceanic Feats:
- On September 11, 1995, the QE2 ocean liner encountered a colossal 30 m wave during Hurricane Luis off the coast of Newfoundland, marking the largest wave height ever recorded.
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UV Index Invention:
- Surprisingly, in a nation known for its cool climate, Canadians invented the UV Index in 1992. Developed by scientists at Environment Canada, it measures the intensity of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and serves as a health protection tool, with forecasts available for 48 locations across the country.
With this comprehensive breakdown, I hope to deepen your appreciation for the meteorological wonders that Canada has to offer. Stay tuned for more insights into the diverse and intriguing facets of this great nation!
