TORONTO –
Seasonal or larger than regular temperatures throughout a lot of the nation will supply Canadians an opportunity to benefit from the summer time, however predictions from a distinguished nationwide forecaster warn the humidity might welcome a moderately stormy few months.
Chris Scott, chief meteorologist at The Climate Community, says the warmth coupled with an energetic jet stream will result in above regular precipitation that runs throughout the Prairies via to Ontario and Quebec.
Whereas that “doesn’t suggest day-after-day goes to be a wash-out,” Scott says he expects “some moderately intense storms occasionally.”
Scott says Western Canada is not shaping as much as face the identical situations that led to final yr’s devastating warmth wave and wildfires in British Columbia.
The westernmost province is predicted to progressively emerge from a cool spring and into near-normal temperatures beginning in June, which he says will drag out the snow soften and sluggish the beginning of wildfire season.
Throughout the Rockies, the extremes of springtime dryness in Alberta and floods in Manitoba will start to even out, he stated, as precipitation throughout the Prairies returns to extra regular ranges.
Nonetheless, he famous the specter of drought situations lingers in southern Alberta, which could possibly be influenced by the “epic warmth” anticipated to grip areas simply south of the border.
“We’ll have to look at precisely the place that large warmth dome units up,” he stated.
“This does set the stage for thunderstorms … We are able to get large hail, large wind within the Prairies and we predict this summer time truly has a reasonably good likelihood of getting a couple of extra of these large storms than typical.”
In Ontario and Quebec, many of the area is more likely to expertise a “very heat and humid summer time” that does not fairly contact the degrees of final yr’s sweltering June.
“We’ll see a number of heat climate, a number of dry days,” he stated, forward of the beginning of the meteorological summer time on June 1. The official begin of summer time is June 21.
“However after we get the setups for precipitation, simply be further vigilant this summer time as a result of we predict these storms can actually pack a punch.”
Scott does not anticipate a duplication of the “extraordinarily uncommon” extreme wind and thunderstorm that swept via Ontario and Quebec on Might 21, however he urges Canadians — notably campers — to be vigilant in the case of fast-moving climate patterns.
The Atlantic provinces can count on above regular precipitation and above regular temperatures. These elements recommend a really energetic hurricane season within the area, he stated.
“We will not say precisely what storms do what; seasonal forecasts are a sketch,” he stated.
“But it surely’s a heads up should you’re in Halifax or Yarmouth — wherever you might be in Atlantic Canada and albeit again to Quebec and Ontario. Concentrate on the scenario, particularly into July and August with the pattern for tropical storms and hurricanes. “
Temperatures ought to be beneath regular in Yukon and Nunavut, whereas precipitation stays near regular.
Round Hudson Bay, he stated to count on above regular precipitation.
Scott famous that whereas excessive warmth situations are on the rise and can proceed in that course, among the current phenomena round excessive climate occasions, similar to extreme thunderstorms, are more durable to foretell.
“We’re getting extra warmth waves, completely 100 per cent. We’re additionally getting much less extreme chilly spells,” he famous.
“In between, you’ve got received this mixture of heavier rainfall, however then what’s occurring with extreme wind and hail and tornadoes? We do not actually know in that space. We could by no means as a result of it is a very advanced a part of climate.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Might 31, 2022