so, is it still not winter yet?

cold snap 1:
jan 3: +0.9/-4.3
jan 4: -3.6/-11.4
jan 5: -2.4/ -13.2
jan 6: +1.9/-6.8

and, that -11.4 was late on the 4th and the -13.2 was early on the 5th, so we actually only got a few hours of cold weather. that's an autumn cold snap. most generously, this is four days - not the five required to define a winter.

cold snap 2:
jan 10: +5.4/-7.3
jan 11: -7.3/-12.1
jan 12: -2.9/-9.2
jan 13: -8.5/-11.1
jan 14: 0.5/-8.2

so, this was a more extended period of cold. but, it did not produce a snow cover (there was a dusting of snow that disappeared in the rain storm we got right after). and, it's still not a solid 5 days of cold - although it is very close. this is still late autumn weather, not winter weather. remember: this is canada. we need stringent definitions of sustained cold, not just a cold snap.

cold snap 3:
jan 16: +3.3/-1.2
jan 17: -1.2/-11.9
jan 18: cold
jan 19: cold
jan 20: cold
jan 21: warming up

we'll have to see. it's shaping up to be very close. and, if you take the broader view from the 10th-25th, it could be seen as a two-week period of winter.

but, the long range after the 21st suggests a very early spring.

i may have to concede the point on the length of cold snap #3. but, it will be very close. and, i'm not there yet.