Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/02) - Wishful thinking for spring will just have to carry on a few days longer.

The unseasonable double-digit lows last month have nullified, at least for the time being, any talk of global warming.

"It's something we really haven't seen in the North a long time," says Environment Canada meteorologist, Yvonne Bilan-Wallace, who predicted a cold spring back in January. "You've had 19 consecutive springs with above normal temperatures."

Yellowknifer posed the question two weeks ago, asking whether spring was really on its way after temperatures finally rose above -10 C.

It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as the cold snap resumed its relentless schedule last week, and has stood ever since.

"There's a very stagnant weather pattern over the western Arctic right now," says Bilan-Wallace.

"It's not allowing warm Pacific air to infiltrate the North. The only positive thing I can say is that you're getting plenty of sunshine."

The average temperature for the beginning of April is normally -5 C. With highs averaging around -14 C and lows into the - 20s C this week, it's obvious this spring's thaw is falling well behind.

The earliest snow has left the ground was on April 16, 1998. The latest was May 29, 1979.

Bilan-Wallace says it appears this spring is heading towards the latter end of the scale.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, however. Bilan-Wallace predicts temperatures will begin to rise Monday or Tuesday as a warm Pacific front pushes out a particularly stubborn Arctic air mass out of the way.

Linda Wood, owner of Polar Parkas, says she is still selling plenty of winter garments.

"We just sold a parka last week," says Wood, who does sell summer apparel as well.

"There are definitely benefits to being in this business when it's cold."

Nonetheless, like most Yellowknifers, Woods says she wouldn't mind seeing some nicer weather, even if it means fewer parka sales.

"When you live in Yellowknife, and you're waiting for winter to end, we're all ready for it," says Wood.