Brace yourself: Dead of winter arrives on P.E.I.

Prince Edward Islanders have entered into what are statisticallythe coldest four days of the year, as measured by climate averages at Charlottetown Airport.

The dead of winter is when the average temperatures are the lowest of the year. That starts Jan. 30 , when the average high temperature on P.E.I., as measured at Charlottetown Airport from 1981 to 2010, is -4.0 C, and the average low is -13.4 C. It will stay there until Sunday, when the average low creeps up -13.3 C.

The weather, of course, varies a lot from year to year and the temperatures for this year's dead of winter look to be considerably colder than average.

After a mild day Wednesday, the temperature is forecast to dive, with a high of just -10 C Thursday. The overall high temperature average for the four days is forecast to be closer to -7 C. The overnight low average will be about -15 C.

Snow ahead of the pace

Climate averages put the dead of winter for snowfall on Jan. 25.

As of that date, Charlottetown Airport has seen 157.6 centimetres of snow this season, with November being the snowiest month so far.

That puts snowfall a little ahead of the pace, with a normal annual snowfall of 290.4 centimetres.

Looking ahead

Environment Canada's seasonal forecast calls for normal temperatures and precipitation through to the start of spring for P.E.I. but CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland cautions that the accuracy of this long-range outlook is little better than a coin toss.

One thing is certain, however, for those looking forward to spring. There is going to be more daylight. Currently the sun is rising shortly before 7:40 a.m. and setting near 5:15 p.m. By the end of February the sun will be rising before 7 a.m. with sunset close to 6 p.m., which means the Island will enjoy almost an hour and a half of more daylight.

Crucial to the coming of warmer days, said Scotland, is that the sun's angle is increasing.

"As the sun climbs higher in the sky we enjoy more direct sun rays which means more of that solar energy is absorbed by the Earth's surface and converted to heat," he said.

"By the end of February the midday sun will climb nearly 10 degrees higher in the sky than it is right now."

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