Canada lottery winner used the weather to pick numbers

Jan 23, 2007, 9:51 am (8 comments)

Canada 6/49

Scarborough's weather can forecast big bucks.

Just ask recent multi-millionaire Robert Medwid, a 39-year-old stucco contractor from Red Deer, Alberta who won almost $14 million on Lotto 6/49.

For the last four years Medwid has played numbers based on Scarborough's weather patterns, because lottery draws take place at the CTV studios near Hwy. 401 and Brimley Road.

How the sun, rain and snow in Scarborough led to the actual numbers Medwid picked remains cloudy but the unorthodox system worked.

Kathleen Polyak of the Alberta Lottery Fund said Medwid's system was unusual, but worked nevertheless.

"He watched the weather and he assessed the weather patterns in Scarborough where Lotto 6/49 is drawn. So he looked at things like climate and humidity and he came up with a way of picking numbers using that method and he used those for four years."

On Nov. 29, the numbers came up, earning him $13.8 million.

Medwid and his partner, Sabrina Lonsberry, a 32-year-old department store claims employee, have declined media interviews.

But in a press release issued last week, Medwid explained his winning strategy.

"A few winters ago, I decided to research the climate, humidity and snowfall on Lotto 6/49 draw nights in Scarborough, Ontario and I chose my numbers based on that information."

The couple, who have faced financial difficulties, usually only buy tickets when the jackpot is estimated at $5 million or more.

Lonsberry was the one who shelled out the money for two tickets — one playing six numbers and a second ticket with four numbers.

She needn't have bothered buying more than that first line on the first ticket because those numbers — 5, 9, 14, 31, 37 and 46 — were the winning combination.

Lonsberry was at a local mall when she heard an Alberta ticket had won the jackpot. She later as Medwid if he had checked their numbers.

"She asked if I had checked our tickets and when I did, I saw the first three numbers (were correct) and then I couldn't look anymore," Medwid said in the release.

"It was hard to believe that all the numbers were there."

Although the news is still sinking in, the couple is paying off some debts and socking some money away for their son's future.

The pair say they are unsure what to do next and are taking leaves of absence from their jobs.

No word, however, if they will continue playing the same numbers with the hopes lightning will strike twice.

The $14 million jackpot is the third-largest lottery prize ever won in Alberta. A $14.9 million prize from a June draw remains unclaimed, although the winning ticket was purchased in Alberta.

The largest ever win in Alberta, and in Canada, was $54 million, in October 2005. That prize was claimed by 17 oil company workers from Camrose, who each pocketed $3 million in the 6/49 draw.

Lottery Post Staff

Tags for this story

Other popular tags

Comments

CASH Only

I couldn't tell if temperature was used in picking the numbers. Canada now uses Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, and metric measurements for snow and rain.

CA LotteryGuy

Ok, four years of using weather pattern for his numbers.  Is this a system or just plain old luck?

 

My vote is for luck!!!! 

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Quote: Originally posted by CA LotteryGuy on Jan 23, 2007

Ok, four years of using weather pattern for his numbers.  Is this a system or just plain old luck?

 

My vote is for luck!!!! 

In the sense that he stuck with it for four years, kind of a system.

But since it was a weather report and he probalby chose six numbers from among many, and he chose the numbers from the report he watched (which one? Early a.m.? Noon? Evening? Late night?), LUCK.

datamatx

It's called "synchronicity".  When Fl. 1st started their lottery, i remember reading how 1 of the largest (this was the late 80's) jackpots was picked by a elderly lady.  She simply used the 1st 6 numbers she read on her sunday  paper!  And in TX? , a couple played the numbers that their cat picked, using a 'lotto pen'.  The couple won the jackpot.  No matter how you do it, it's all sychronicity.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Well then there must be a lot of us here on LP that are out of synch! 

Synchronicity or luck?:

From Infinite Finanacial Freedom, What to do Before and After You Hit the Lottery:

Some of the more unusual ways winners have picked their numbers:

A dart boards number hits by thowing darts

A camera's serial number

The rural route numbers on the commute to buy the ticket

The serial number from a Social Security check

A lot number from a box of donuts bought while waiting in line to buy the winning ticket.

You can't say that is solely synchronicity because  even though that person was "in tune with" the numbers in those examples, it was nothing but flat luck that those numbers went to those people. 

What I mean is how about all the other people that have tried playing numbers off of checks, camera serial numbers, etc...and did not hit.

When playing such numbers as above works for on person and not for millions of others, it's luck. The one person is lucky. 

datamatx

Coin Toss; i have another 'theory' on why some people win.   This is a true story based on personal experence.  About 12 years ago, in the early days of GA. Lotto, my mom (who never had a desire to play lotto), was anxiouis about buying a ticket, using 3 numbers that had 'popped' out at her on interstate road signs.  Naturally, i was skeptical, but helped her buy her ticker.  Lo & behold, her 3 numbers showed up later that nite!  If only i had used those 3 numbers as 'key' numbers, and played the remaining 43 digits, i would of greatly enhanced our chances.  So what is my theory?  I think my mom had a 'spirit' guide/angle/deceased relative show her those numbers.  And also, she was doing something out of her normal routine at the time (rafting down the chatthoochie) in my inflatable raft .   I could'nt help but wonder if that had something to do with it.    

LckyLary

Many of my algorithms seem to do better in colder months like December, January. But, only when it's not abmormally warm; it has to be like we're having now. I've sometimes picked numbers in unusual ways i.e. the truck or bus # in front of me and won once or twice, but normally I use my program. Notice that he used the weather at the drawing site. I'd say it might NOT be pure luck because it was a game that has odds of millions to one so 4 years with a few tickets a day he might be on to something! The temp. being F or C might not matter if the system was not based on hard numbers i.e. temp. from 5C to 10C = play #09 & #14...

So, does anyone have a link to the Trenton weather forecast page? How about in Atlanta?

Wintariofan

Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on Jan 23, 2007

I couldn't tell if temperature was used in picking the numbers. Canada now uses Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, and metric measurements for snow and rain.

It was more than likely the temperatures or at least an average of them for different places on draw night/day. We do use celcius as opposed to fahrenheit..since about the early 1980's.   It's not uncommon here to have Yellowknife at plus 5 and Toronto be in a heatwave at 46 in July.  Strange enough is the weather board at CFTO TV where they conduct the Lotto-649 and Super 7 drawings is right beside the lottery machine (literally).  Although that's ironic...that guy was lucky to find something that ended up paying for him in the end .

End of comments
Subscribe to this news story
Guest