Summer across the nation to be warmer than usual

Good news, Canada. Most of the country will see warmer than normal temperatures this summer.

According to Dave Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, the summer forecast is looking promising.

“British Columbia, most of Alberta, the Ottawa Valley and eastward to Labrador will see see warmer than normal temperatures,” he said. “The southern Prairies, most of south and central Ontario will see near normal, maybe a little warmer.

Citing the harsh winter and difficult spring that the Prairies has had to endure, Phillips said,  “If there’s one area that deserves good weather, it’s the Priaries.”

Read: Your forecast

Although he said that the temperatures will be warmer, Phillips stressed that Environment Canada forecasts for a minimum of 3/4 of a degree. That means it could be 5°C warmer or just 1°C warmer. And that average is stretched out over the entire summer…which includes what could be a few weeks of cooler-than-normal temperatures.

Phillips also said that the one thing Environment Canada’s summer forecast can’t do is predict severe weather.

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Last year, he said, Saskatchewan had 33 tornadoes, more than Oklahoma had for the same period. He stressed that it’s important for people in the west to be aware of the possibility of severe weather over the summer months.

In Winnipeg, warning preparedness meteorologist Natalie Hasell said that due to daily variations, it’s impossible to forecast for severe weather. She added that that the peak for severe weather is in late June and July for the Prairies. “But I wouldn’t say it’s going to be more active than usual.”

“People should be prepared for whatever comes. So be prepared for severe weather of all kinds,” Hasell said.

Phillips added that while it will be a warmer summer for the most part, it’s not expected to be like last summer.

But Phillips welcomes the closer to normal weather.

“Normal weather is healthier weather,” he said.

“One thing I know will be normal,” Phillips added. “Canadians will be complaining about the weather.”

To get real-time weather for your area, download the Skytracker weather app.