Extended Dry Spells in the East and West

An unusual, early May blocking pattern will lead to an extended period of dry and warmer weather for much of eastern Canada and out across BC.

Large, blocking high aloft will just sit across the Northeast U.S. and extend up through Quebec and the western Maritimes through the weekend then slowly weaken next week.

Depending on what model you look at, areas from the GTA through Montreal may go through early next week without a drop of rain! Computer models will likely be underdone with the daytime high temperatures due to full sunshine and the low evaporation rates from the dry ground. On the other hand, nighttime temperatures will probably run cooler than model forecasts.

The situation will be fairly similar in the west across BC as another upper-level high builds in through at least Tuesday, leading to dry and pleasant weather. There may be a few showers tomorrow (Thursday) across the BC Rockies, but that is about the only story in terms of precipitation over the next five to six days.

Snow

A front will stall over Lake Superior through tomorrow (Thursday). This front will divide the warm air to the east from much colder air from the west. A band of steady precipitation will also persist up along the western (colder) side of the front tonight through tomorrow. At this point, it looks like the Thunder Bay, Ontario, region will be on the western edge of the accumulating snow late tonight into tomorrow morning. Some computer models shift most of the snow just to the south and east, while others keep the area in the steady snow through tomorrow morning. I expect a general 5-8 cm on grassy areas through tomorrow morning. Any snow that is still falling Thursday afternoon will just melt (May sun effect), as will the snow that accumulated on the warmer ground.

How cold was April in the Prairies?

Here are some of the impressive April 2013 temperature departures from the Prairies......

Regina, Sask.....-6.3 C. or -11.4 F. Brandon, Man.......-5.2 C. or -9.3 F. Edmonton, Abt.......-4.7 C. or -8.4 F. Saskatoon, Sask......-4.7 C. or -8.4 F. Winnipeg, Man......-4.5 C. or -8.2 F. Calgary, Abt.....-3.0 C. or -5.3 F.

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