Today's global warming snapshot: Record warm December in NWT

[Newsjock]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/12/30/nwtweather051230.html

CBC News

Warmer than usual temperatures have created road closures, ferry delays and flooding dangers throughout the Northwest Territories.

Yellowknife is experiencing its warmest December on record.

Usually at this time of year Yellowknifers are braving average temperatures of -25 to -30 C.

On Friday it was -8 and everyone was taking advantage of the nice weather.

... Trapper Lawrence Casaway also says the weather changes aren't a good thing.

He points to the disruption of animal habitats; the caribou are leaving and new animals like grizzly bears are showing up, he says.

[seabeyond]

1. 71 degrees today.

we have had two cold periods that lasted a week or less..... and that is it. i have never seen this nice and easy of a winter. my grass is turning green. now who knwos what is to come, but..... seeing our gas bill, i am not minding this year if it doesnt get too cold.

[Clarkie1]

2. It has been unusually warm in California as well.

We have been getting mostly rain in the Sierras, and temperatures in bay area recently have been in 60s.

[Lisa]

3. I'm worried about the winter roads

If they get mushy, people might fall through the ice. (And at the very least, if the trucks can't get through, the price of groceries in remote towns is going to skyrocket -- air freight is very expensive.)