A normal spring ahead for most of the Prairies
ECCC looks ahead three months
By WeatherFarm
WINNIPEG, Feb. 28 (WeatherFarm) – The Canadian Prairies are looking at normal temperatures over the next one to three months, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The department issued its Temperature and Precipitation Probabilistic Forecasts on Feb. 28, which also called for normal precipitation for most of the region.
“The forecast is really neutral for the Prairies, with ‘normal’ temperatures forecast for April, May and June,” commented Bruce Burnett, MarketsFarm director of markets and weather.
Temperature-wise, ECCC projected below normal weather for British Columbia and parts of western Alberta. To the east, much of Ontario is expected to be above normal, with most of the southern portion being normal to above normal. The growing areas of Quebec are expected to be near normal with the Maritimes to be near normal.
“The main driver of the forecast is likely the transition of the La Nina into the neutral phase over the forecast period,” said Burnett.
As for precipitation over the same time frame, ECCC has not called for any growing areas in Canada to receive anything above normal. However, southern Alberta and western Saskatchewan are projected to receive below normal precipitation, as are Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick. That left the remainder of Canada’s growing areas likely to get normal levels of rain or snow over the coming months.
“The lower-than-normal precipitation probability in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan is a concern as this was the driest region going into the fall,” said Burnett.
