Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. The Weather Network is forecasting a sunny and warm summer for the nation.
According to the weather broadcaster’s annual summer forecast released on Wednesday, Canada will experience higher temperatures and fewer rainy days over the next three months, leading to humid conditions in several regions.
“We’d be very surprised, very surprised, if this didn’t turn out overall as a warm summer,” said Chris Scott, the Weather Network’s chief meteorologist.
Ontario and Quebec may see cooler periods in June, but the heat is expected to intensify, resulting in a “very hot and humid” summer with an increased risk of prolonged heat waves.
“Summer should come on very strong in July and August and even linger right through into September, so if you invested in a pool, this is when it should really pay off,” Scott added.
Canadians in the Atlantic provinces will also experience warm conditions, with temperatures peaking in July and August. However, these provinces face potential hurricanes and severe storms, as Scott cautioned, “Atlantic Canada, of course, is in the line of fire.”
In the northern regions, wildfires and poor air quality are of concern, especially in western Nunavut and eastern Northwest Territories, due to expected warm and dry conditions.
The Prairies are also at risk for wildfires and smoke, particularly in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where a very warm summer is forecast. Alberta may see a more “typical” summer, with the possibility of near-normal rain totals if active storms from the south move northward.
Precipitation in recent months has improved conditions for farmers, Scott noted. “This winter was not looking good,” he said, “but Mother Nature turned on the taps, and we’ve got quite a bit of moisture lately.”
British Columbia can expect less persistent and severe heat than in recent years, with more widespread showers and thunderstorms providing some relief.
“Back three years ago, we had the devastating heat wave in B.C.,” Scott recalled. “While we can’t rule out the risk of a heat wave, this does not look like a record hot summer for B.C., which I think is pretty good news for most people.”