I know, I know. Weather is big news these days. We've just escaped from 2005, the year the American National Climatic Data Center has determined to be the "third worst year for extreme weather in U.S. history". (1998 was the worst, followed by 1934). But Montreal isn't really about these extremes, it is better characterized by it's sheer variety. In a recent study by David Phillips, Environment Canada's Senior Climatologist has compiled over thirty years of climatic data. From this Montreal has emerged as the 'Quintessential City for Canadian Weather'. Montreal ranks near the average in nearly half of the weather categories, but doesnt appear in the top ten of any of them. Montreal does record weather types in nearly all of the categories however, making it the best single location to experience all facets of Canada's climate.



When discussing the endless trivia about the weather it is interesting to note how internet has changed our relationship with our climate and the statistics we use to try and understand it. How many of us this winter, I wonder, checked the weather online before going out, rather than opening the door? Goverment agencies like NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC and Environment Canada have grown to become sprawling depositories of constantly updating climatic information, We now have access to live updated temperature, cloud cover and precipitation information, Doppler radar and GOES satellite imagery delivered to our computers via website add-ons (see our informative RM sidebar!!) , pop-up desktop announcements and browser plug-ins. It is apparent that the delivery of this information has evolved past the weatherman and thermometer we once depended on.