Most Canadians can look forward to a warmer-than-normal spring, but they should also brace for the season鈥檚 鈥減rofound mood swings,鈥� according to The Weather Network鈥檚 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.
鈥淥verall, we will average out above normal for temperatures across the vast majority of the nation, from Vancouver through to Montreal,鈥� the network鈥檚 chief meteorologist Chris Scott said in an interview. 鈥淏ut keep in mind that spring is a time of transition, and it is a roller-coaster.鈥�
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.
鈥�(This winter) we鈥檝e seen exceptional warmth, followed by some really bitter cold and then back to warm again. That鈥檚 going to be the case for the first half of spring,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淭hat very moody feel to the atmosphere is what we will experience.鈥�
But starting in late April, the season is expected to usher in more settled and drier weather in most regions, including some 鈥渜uintessential beautiful spring days where the temperature is 16 Celsius and it鈥檚 sunny,鈥� 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 鈥� which would be good news for the province鈥檚 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.
鈥淭his does not mean we鈥檙e predicting a bad fire season. It just means that the way the weather looks, we are concerned about the start of the season,鈥� 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.
鈥淣ow, the story does change in Atlantic Canada,鈥� 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 鈥渁 lot of ups and downs鈥� and dramatic pattern changes, he said. That could mean significant rain or snow events, depending on the storm tracks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the one part of the country where we think winter may hang on a bit longer,鈥� 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.
鈥淚 think the caution here is: don鈥檛 put away the salt or the shovel or the boots or that winter wardrobe just yet.鈥�
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