Major pattern change heading into 2015

Saturday, December 27, 2014, 7:53 PM - During the weeks leading up to Christmas, the weather across Canada has been quite a contrast to what we were seeing this time last year. 

While November and the first week of December were reminiscent of last winter, the past two to three weeks have been very mild. 

The map below shows temperature anomalies so far for the month of December. The various shades of orange and red highlight the regions where December temperatures have been warmer than what we typically see this time of year.  

The days leading up to Christmas have been especially mild. The map below shows temperature anomalies for Christmas Eve. 

The temperatures are so mild that the scale doesn’t work very well. The white and pink colors from Manitoba to New Brunswick highlight temperatures 10 to 18 degrees warmer than average.

However, one can already see signs of the upcoming pattern change with the below seasonal temperatures (indicated the shades of blue, green and violet) across parts of the Territories and northern Alberta.  

The map below shows temperature anomalies for Saturday, December 27th. By that time, below seasonal temperatures (as indicated by the shades of blue, green, and violet) are forecast to have spread across the Prairies, while above seasonal temperature continue from the Great Lakes to Atlantic Canada. 

The return to more winter-like temperatures will continue to spread east during the weekend and early next week, so that by New Year’s Eve (shown below) most of Southern Canada (and the U.S. as well) is forecast to have below seasonal temperatures.

With the arrival of the colder temperatures, lake effect snow will return to the Great Lakes region with substantial accumulations likely during the final days of 2014 and into early 2015.

Elsewhere across the country, the weather pattern will be relatively quiet. 

Coastal British Columbia will have a less active weather pattern, but there is some good news for skiers with some snow for Saturday and colder temperatures which will allow for making snow. 

The one region to watch for a potentially active pattern later next week is from southern Ontario to Atlantic Canada. 

While the models have been unable to consistently show any particular system impacting the region, the overall pattern favors the development of a couple of systems that track from near the Gulf of Mexico and towards the Maritimes.  

The storm track for next week is still highly uncertain and it is even possible that the systems stay well south of the region. 

However, the overall pattern suggests that at least one and possibly two systems will have some impact on those regions later next week.

Looking further ahead into January, it appears that the more wintry pattern will persist. The image below is a model forecast for January 3-8, 2015. 

While there is the potential for down-sloping winds to bring milder temperatures at times for the western Prairies, most of Canada should see an extended period of more wintry weather.

TUNE IN: We'll have ongoing coverage of active weather in your area on The Weather Network on TV.