February 11, 2015; 6:02 AM ET
A late start to spring can be expected across a large portion of Ontario and Quebec, including Toronto and Montreal, as a chilly, northwesterly flow of air is forecast to dominate.
In addition, ice coverage is averaging 15-20 percent above normal on the Great Lakes. The combination of this higher-than-normal ice extent and the spring weather pattern will keep the lakes colder than normal through the spring, which will have an added cooling effect on areas directly downwind of the lakes.
These persistent winds will also deflect much of the lingering winter cold away from western Canada during early spring.
The stormy pattern across Atlantic Canada this winter will likely continue into at least the first half of spring with the potential for late-season snowstorms in cities such as Saint John, New Brunswick, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and heavy rain farther south and east in places such as Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. John's, Newfoundland, and Labrador.
The combination of a stormy pattern and deep snowpack across New Brunswick and northern Nova Scotia will increase the flood threat across the region during the first half of spring.
On the flip side, snowfall has been well below normal across southern Manitoba so far this winter and the lack of snowpack will reduce the risk of major spring river flooding in and around Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Farther west in Saskatchewan, the risk of spring flooding will be higher due to a more extensive snow pack and the expectation of above-normal spring rainfall in southern parts of the Province from Regina to the U.S. border.
For skiers and snowboarders, spring conditions will be good to excellent overall from the Rockies to Atlantic Canada.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AccuWeather, Inc. or AccuWeather.com
- Julien Corriveau · University of ManitobaSure hope we get a warm spring in southern Manitoba after two very cold springs in a row in 2013 and 2014... Even just a normal spring would be nice; snow didn't melt until late April the last 2 years which was just ridiculous. Snow depths currently only in the 10 to 25 cm range which is actually fairly low and good news for those of us who want an earlier spring.
Cory Morrison · Follow · Top Commenter · Sheridan College, OakvilleIt is an extremely similar setup to last year in Ontario. No sustained warmth until May. Unfortunately, spring and summer may be very similar to last year. Since early 2013, I feel like I have been living in Northern Quebec and not so much the GTA due to this stubborn trough.
Peter Kane · Top Commenter
Mike Rurak · Top Commenter · Lakeland Collage
Ron Hobson · Top Commenter · Controller at QUICKIE CONVENIENCE STORESNot surprised in any way.... this is becoming the new normal for us here in.
the soggy damp cold east.... go west old man is the cry we utter now.
Adithya Ramachandran · Top Commenter · University of SaskatchewanThanks for this forecast, Brett. I see that Saskatoon can finally expect a normal spring in terms of temperatures. Do you see all three spring months being near-normal?
Murray J Nesbitt · Indian Head High SchoolBrett, did you consult with Phil on these forecasts, if so we should start putting them in stone..lol.
Danny Et Annalisa Gualtieri · Top Commenter · Travel and TourismWhat else is new in this country!!!!
Allerton HillAny thoughts on Friday's weather?- Mike Rurak · Top Commenter · Lakeland Collage
Matthieu Guérin · Top Commenter · Gestionnaire données cliniques at BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)More of the same :( Do you think March will be cold as last year or even colder given the pattern? (Ont-Que)- Mike Rurak · Top Commenter · Lakeland Collage
- Cory Morrison · Follow · Top Commenter · Sheridan College, Oakville1979 had the highest ice coverage ever in the Great Lakes, but that March was warm (Though that was because the snowpack in March 1979 was not that big). This year, the snowpack seems to be big just like last year, which gives me this awful feeling that we may get another March that is 4-5C below average.
- Jean Claude MounicouMike Rurak
Lakeland Collage? Or is it college. :) Anyway, I am here "South of the border" in the Buffalo area, it snows just about everyday around here. So much so we are running out of room to put it. It's just plain ridiculous. I have lived here for 30 + years, I have witnessed the blizzard of 77, but this year tops it all. this second part of the week will be around minus 20 or 30 c. Last November we had 1.50m of snow in 3 days, could not get out of the house. If that makes you feel any better,
my geranium that I saved from last spring is now having 2 flowers and 2 more buds are growing. Yep, Spring is coming, so says the calender.
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