Chinook Watch

One of the many oddities that make up Calgary weather is the Chinook.  It is essentially

“…moist weather patterns, originating off the Pacific coast, cooling as they climb the western slopes, and then rapidly warming as they drop down the eastern side of the mountains. The Chinook usually begins with a sudden change in wind direction towards the west or southwest, and a rapid increase in wind speed.” –MountainNature.com

Translation: warm winds that allow us to wear shorts in the middle of winter.

An example might be waking up to -15, only to see the temperature increase to +15 in a matter of hours.  It’s great when you go to work in the morning (when it’s freezing) and then come out when it’s golfing weather (good thing the clubs are still in the trunk).

Well, today promises to be one of those days.  It’s -13 now and the forecast is that it’ll go up to +8 in the afternoon.  We’ll go from having a beautiful, snowy winter to a slushy mess in no time.  I’m not sure what’s worse.