The Weather Network’s Spring 2019 Forecast

Oakville, Ontario, February 25, 2019 – Early March will look and feel like mid-winter in many areas across Canada. However, according to The Weather Network’s Spring Forecast, for March, April and May, most Canadians will not have to wait as long as last year for the arrival of an extended period of warm spring weather.

“It looks like a furious finish to winter east of the Rockies with some wild winter weather during early March. However, later in March we expect an abrupt flip in the weather pattern,” said Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist with The Weather Network. This will bring an extended period of mild spring weather about a month earlier than last year. However, it is important to remember that spring is a tumultuous season, and this year will be no exception with chilly interruptions to the warmer weather well into May.”  

Below are conditions expected across Canada this spring:   

Ontario & Quebec – Early March will feel more like January, but a pattern reversal is expected mid March with an extended period of warmer spring weather. This will bring a heightened threat for spring flooding, especially across northern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley, where the snow depth is well above normal. This extended period of warmer spring weather will be a welcome contrast to last year, which featured one of the coldest Aprils on record. Spring will struggle at times with significant shots of colder weather that will interrupt our mild pattern later in April and into May.

British Columbia – After a frigid and snowy February, a milder and gentler pattern is expected heading into March. Above seasonal temperatures are predicted to dominate during the spring, but it will not be smooth sailing all the way to summer. Periods of cooler and unsettled weather are still expected at times.  The warmth, along with periods of rain, will heighten the threat for flooding.

The Prairies – A rather wintry pattern will continue through early March, but a pattern change will bring some long-awaited relief mid to late March. Deeper than normal snow cover in some areas will bring a risk of flooding. The Prairies are notorious for their wild swings in weather, and this spring should solidify that reputation. After a period of warmer spring weather, threats of colder/wintry weather will continue through the season.

Atlantic Canada –  The beginning of March will feel like mid winter weather across Atlantic Canada. The rest of the season will bring temperature swings which should balance out to near normal for the season. Fewer than normal spring storms are expected, but a couple storms will tap into subtropical moisture and produce heavy rainfall. This will also bring risks for flooding, especially across regions with deeper than normal snow cover.

Northern Canada – Above normal temperatures are expected across the Yukon and western Northwest Territories. Near normal temperatures are expected elsewhere across the region. Above normal precipitation is expected across the Yukon and into adjacent parts of the Northwest Territories with near normal precipitation elsewhere.  

Spring 2019 Forecast
Region	Temperature Outlook	Precipitation Outlook
British Columbia	Above normal	Near normal for most of the province; above normal coastal regions north of Vancouver Island
Alberta	Above normal	Near normal for most of the province; except below normal south
Saskatchewan	Near normal for most of the province; near normal northeast	Near normal for most of the province; except below normal south
Manitoba	Above normal south; near normal north, including Thompson	Near normal for most of the province; except for above normal near Hudson Bay and below normal southwest
Ontario	Near normal for most of the province; except above normal northwest	Near normal for most of the province; except near Hudson Bay
Québec	Below normal for eastern parts of the province; near normal elsewhere	Near normal
The Maritimes and Newfoundland & Labrador	Below normal for Labrador; near normal elsewhere	Near normal
Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut	Above normal for Yukon and western Northwest Territories; near normal elsewhere	Above normal for Yukon and western Northwest Territories; near normal elsewhere

Complete Spring Forecast details are available at www.theweathernetwork.com/spring.