Pattern Change after the 24th

Signs are pointing to a possible pattern change starting around the 24th, especially across the Prairies, which have been stuck in the deep freeze and will continue to run unseasonably cold for the next 8-10 days.

The current pattern will also set the stage for a slightly above-normal temperature pattern across a large part of Atlantic Canada for at least the next 10 days.

A strong high pressure ridge over northern Alaska combined with a large tough of low pressure extending down into northern Hudson Bay will continue to deliver waves of cold air down into the Prairies through the middle of next week.

However, there are indications that the Alaska ridge breaks down later next week and this allows more of a Pacific flow into the southern Prairies as the Arctic flow gets cut off. This Pacific air should send temperatures back toward seasonable levels (real Spring) after the 24th of April.

By the way, I will also post an update on the latest ECMWF model weeklies later this evening.

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March 2013 temperature anomalies. Image courtesy of Environment Canada.

As you can see, most of the Prairies were dominated by unusually cold conditions during March, while northeast Canada was warmer than normal as a blocking high set up shop between northeast Canada and Greenland, forcing the cold much farther south into the Prairies then the eastern half of the U.S.

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