Most Canadians can look forward to a warmer-than-normal spring, but they should also brace for the seasonB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址減rofound mood swings,B次元官网网址� according to The Weather NetworkB次元官网网址檚 latest outlook.
The forecast released Wednesday predicts that the unusually mild winter seen across much of the country thanks to El Ni帽o conditions will pave the way for even more pleasant weather in the coming weeks, but not without some interruptions.
B次元官网网址淥verall, we will average out above normal for temperatures across the vast majority of the nation, from Vancouver through to Montreal,B次元官网网址� the networkB次元官网网址檚 chief meteorologist Chris Scott said in an interview. B次元官网网址淏ut keep in mind that spring is a time of transition, and it is a roller-coaster.B次元官网网址�
That could mean almost summer-like days quickly followed by cold snaps, stormy weather and even some potentially significant snowfall in parts of Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, he said.
B次元官网网址�(This winter) weB次元官网网址檝e seen exceptional warmth, followed by some really bitter cold and then back to warm again. ThatB次元官网网址檚 going to be the case for the first half of spring,B次元官网网址� Scott said. B次元官网网址淭hat very moody feel to the atmosphere is what we will experience.B次元官网网址�
But starting in late April, the season is expected to usher in more settled and drier weather in most regions, including some B次元官网网址渜uintessential beautiful spring days where the temperature is 16 Celsius and itB次元官网网址檚 sunny,B次元官网网址� he added.
Exceptions may include east-central Saskatchewan, central Manitoba and southwest Nova Scotia, where the forecast calls for above-normal precipitation.
In British Columbia, March will start on the cooler side before spring fully kicks in, and that comes with potential for snow B次元官网网址� which would be good news for the provinceB次元官网网址檚 ski resorts after a disappointing winter season, Scott said. However, as temperatures rise and precipitation drops, there is worry those conditions could set the stage for early forest fires.
Below-normal precipitation expected after March may also be cause for concern in parts of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec hit hard by wildfires and the resulting poor air quality last year, he noted.
B次元官网网址淭his does not mean weB次元官网网址檙e predicting a bad fire season. It just means that the way the weather looks, we are concerned about the start of the season,B次元官网网址� Scott said.
The good news, he said, is that a lack of significant snowpack across most of the country means the risk of widespread spring flooding is lower than it otherwise would be.
Warm and relatively dry spring conditions will also extend to Northern Canada, including Yukon and much of the Northwest Territories, according to the forecast.
B次元官网网址淣ow, the story does change in Atlantic Canada,B次元官网网址� Scott said, noting the region has experienced a harsher winter, including a fierce early February storm that dumped up to 150 centimetres of snow in parts of Nova Scotia.
Atlantic provinces are expected to see normal spring temperatures, with B次元官网网址渁 lot of ups and downsB次元官网网址� and dramatic pattern changes, he said. That could mean significant rain or snow events, depending on the storm tracks.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the one part of the country where we think winter may hang on a bit longer,B次元官网网址� Scott said.
And despite the overall sunny outlook for the season, he said we must remember that this is still Canada and anything is possible.
B次元官网网址淚 think the caution here is: donB次元官网网址檛 put away the salt or the shovel or the boots or that winter wardrobe just yet.B次元官网网址�
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