Ottawa set a new record today on a mid-December day that made it feel like early fall. It is the warmest December 10th in Ottawa’s history and the forecast for the next few days is calling for nothing but heat. Today’s high temperature hit 11 degrees in the middle of the afternoon, which is just above the old record that stood for nearly 70 years. It is hard to believe that on this very day last year, Ottawa and the area were blasted with 15 centimetres of snow. Today, the only white stuff in the sky were golf balls. You would swear it was a summer day to see the parking lot at the Falcon Ridge Golf Course in south Ottawa as packed as it was. Charles Docherty and his son were thrilled to be able to book a tee time. "I can't believe I’m in Canada,” said Docherty, “Usually we go down south to play golf this time of year.” Docherty wasn’t the only one who had golfing in mind. The golf course has booked tee off times back to back since 8 a.m. this morning. “The latest we've been open is December 12th,” said Stephanie Spratt with Falcon Ridge, “and today is December 10th so I’m hoping for couple more days of this great weather to beat that record which looks possible looking at forecast.” On this very day last year, Ottawa was hit with 15 centimetres of snow. So far this fall, according to Peter Kimbell, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, we have had only 0.6 cm. of snow, which is a far cry from normal. “This is way below normal,” says Kimbell, “we would normally have had about 50 centimetres of snow by now.” Golfers aren’t complaining. “I think climate change is finally giving us some hope,” says golfer Jan Boogerd. Others, though, aren't so convinced this is a good thing. Ottawa resident Denise Howell has lived in Ottawa for eight years, “I’ve never experienced a winter like this before. It feels a little scary,” she says, “I’m a little freaked out actually because of climate change.” In fact, this is the warmest December 10th on record. We broke the last record set in 1946. “I’d like to see the snow,” says Ottawa resident Diane Karson, “and a white Christmas.” That may not happen according to Kimbell. “You know what the probability this year is about 50% this year and getting lower as we go forward,” he says, “so it’s not the best chances for white Christmas this year.” So, is that spoiling the Christmas spirit for people? Not according to merchant Claire Lavoie, making and selling Christmas wreaths in the Byward Market. ‘It's been more busy than ever because it's mild,” says Lavoie, “people are decorating more so they are buying more this year.” Besides, this wonderful weather gives Ottawa resident Ami Armit a chance to show off her pedicure in the middle of December. “I went out for walk this morning and it was nice, and so I said this is sandals weather,” says Armit, showing off her feet, “plus I’m having my toenails done.” There are drawbacks, of course, if this mild weather continues...lack of moisture, problems with ice roads up north. In the meantime, though, people are loving it.
