By Cheryl Jahn

Warmth on the Way

Milder weather coming

Jan 17, 2020 | 3:45 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – There is a light at the end of the tunnel, weather-wise.

UNBC Meteorologist Dr. Peter Jackson says much of Western Canada was under a Polar Vortex.

“What was happening was the Polar Vortex was plunging to the south over Western North America and driving that cold air much further south than it would otherwise normally go,” he explains.

He says Prince George is an unusual location in that it is home to “The Battle of the Air Masses.”

“So you have what we call the Continental Arctic Air. That’s when the Polar Vortex is bringing the cold air from the high Arctic further south. So Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska. That cold air gets here. Cold, clear, dry conditions and sometimes snow as well. And then Maritime Polar Air. That’s the air that’s originally over the Pacific Ocean. So you think about a battle of the two air masses.”

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But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Environment Canada is posting temperatures around -4C by next Thursday.

However, Dr. Jackson cautions, we are far from over in terms of winter weather, with similar conditions likely in February and, perhaps, even March.