November 19, 2010

Migration Update: “Here They Come”

It’s official. Winter is here to stay in Prairie Canada and the Dakotas. Following an exceptionally mild start to November, temperatures are expected to hover around twelve degrees below normal for the rest of the month.

“Winter has indeed arrived,” says David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada. “When you’re getting double digit temperatures below normal, you know winter is upon you and there is no turning back.”

Waterfowl seem to agree. Barring the odd straggler, most are now heading south.

“We’re seeing huge movements of ducks and geese migrating over the last few days,” says John Devney, Delta’s Senior Vice President based in Bismarck, North Dakota. “They’re riding the strong north winds southward.”

“After a dry start in parts of the prairies, conditions throughout the breeding grounds were excellent this year…lots of water,” says Delta’s Jim Fisher. “That certainly bodes well for this year’s fall flight and for next year’s breeding season.”

Daytime highs for the Dakotas are forecast to stay below freezing for the next week.

Eastern Canada should expect winter conditions within the next two weeks.