Canada’s spring forecast is in, and it’s shaping up to be a chaotic clash of seasons, warns Chris Scott, chief meteorologist at the Weather Network. After a teasing taste of warmth, expect a return to spring’s signature wild swings—think snow one day, thunderstorms the next. “It’s going to be a wild ride,” Scott says.
Western Canada might feel a slight chill, but most of the country will hover near normal temperatures. Don’t unpack the flip-flops just yet, though—Scott predicts no early bloom for flowers, with warm spells too fleeting to settle in. “One day it’ll feel like May, the next like March. That’s spring for you,” he adds.
Southern Ontario and Quebec are bracing for a soggy season, with “intense” storms potentially brewing. Scott flags a heightened risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes spilling over from the U.S. tornado alley—especially around southwestern Ontario. “It’s got that vibe this year,” he cautions, though it’s too early to lock in. Cottage country could also face flooding if heavy rain meets melting snowpacks.
Farmers in Central Canada might curse the wet April forecast, with planting delays likely, though less frost risk offers a silver lining. Beyond Ontario and Quebec, only B.C.’s central coast and northern New Brunswick are pegged for extra rain, while the rest of Canada should see typical levels.
Out west, B.C. skiers could score bonus slope time thanks to cooler April temps and extra precipitation, before things normalize in May. The Prairies, meanwhile, aren’t shedding winter’s grip yet—expect a chilly March and April, especially in Alberta, before a warmer May kicks in.
Atlantic Canada, spared a harsh winter, isn’t out of the woods—late snowstorms could still crash the party, even with overall normal temps and rainfall. Up north, the territories look steady: Yukon and western Northwest Territories might dip below average, while Nunavut and the east stay typical.
Climate change keeps rewriting the playbook, with springs now averaging two degrees warmer since 1948, per federal data. Forecasts lean on the past 30 years for “normal,” but Scott’s already eyeing summer: a hot, dry U.S. trend could creep into Canada’s Prairie grain belt. “Moisture now will be critical,” he says.
Get ready, Canada—spring’s bringing the full weather circus!