MarketsFarm — June is expected to see a continuation of the hot and dry weather most of the Canadian Prairies has experienced in May, according to Scott Kehler, chief scientist for Weatherlogics.
“It looks like late spring/early summer is pretty hot across almost all of Western Canada. The Prairies are all above normal [temperature-wise],” Kehler said.
He noted Winnipeg alone has very likely had its second hottest May in the last 150 years.
“I’m anticipating June will be hotter and drier than normal across most of the Prairies. But with this early heat and humidity we are also seeing quite a few days with thunderstorms that will affect the rainfall situation on a small scale,” Kehler explained.
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To start this forecast period, we have an area of low pressure developing over Montana. This will help bring one more day of intense heat over southern Saskatchewan and a hot day over Manitoba. That same low will bring partly cloudy skies and the chance of showers to a good portion of Alberta.
He added those “thunderstorms will be hit-and-miss” when it comes to pockets of heavy rain over parts of the region. Nevertheless, the “broad pattern” points to a hot and dry June.
As the Prairies go through June, the region could see at least some of the transition into a El Nino weather pattern, he said.
“It’s on the upswing, but typically an El Nino would actually bring a more active weather pattern to the Prairies. We’re not really seeing that yet. However, the longer-range signs say we might turn a bit wetter later as we go into the summer.”
That said, he emphasized summer is by far the most difficult season to predict weather — especially any extended forecasts.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
