Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jan 27/06) - Recent blasts of cold and snowy weather are finally making it feel more like winter.

Until this past week, residents marvelled at the mild winter weather.

Paul Guyot can remember average winter temperatures of -25C when he moved to Fort Simpson in 1981. This winter has been windier but certainly warmer, he said.

"At -19C I'm still walking around with a baseball cap," said Guyot.

Raymond Horassi agrees.

"It's been a mild winter, not as cold as it should have been,"

Despite recent blizzard conditions, it has also been warmer than normal in Fort Liard.

"It hasn't been that cold all winter," said Brenda Berreault.

Northern meteorologist Yvonne Bilan-Wallace of Environment Canada has the scientific evidence to confirm residents' claims. Since mid-December it's been about 10 degrees above normal in the Deh Cho, said Bilan-Wallace.

After a summer where most of the Northwest Territories was more than half a degree below normal the winter has been really mild, Bilan-Wallace said.

Bilan-Wallace said the Arctic vortex that normally sets up over the Arctic islands and drags down cold air might be establishing itself.

"Mother Nature is finally telling you that winter is setting in," Bilan-Wallace said.