A mild spring is in the offing for much of Canada this year although the transition to warmer weather may be delayed from British Columbia to Saskatchewan.

Drought concerns will also be on the rise across the Canadian Prairies as a dry weather pattern takes hold over the region.

Dry spring to unfold over Ontario, Quebec

A largely dry weather pattern is in the cards this spring from the shores of the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence River Valley.

“Drier-than-normal conditions are anticipated across southern and eastern Ontario and up through southern Quebec this spring, which should lead to a reduced flood threat,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

This includes areas around Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec.

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Although the dry weather translates to a low risk of flooding along streams and rivers, those along the shores of the Great Lakes should remain vigilant for coastal flooding.

“The Great Lakes water levels continue to run higher than normal, and this is expected through the spring, which may increase the risk of shore flooding,” Anderson said.

Flooding may also be an issue for residents across Atlantic Canada in the coming months.

“A mild spring is expected across Atlantic Canada with rapid snowmelt and an increased risk for flooding,” Anderson said.

Dry spring to bring drought concerns to southern Alberta, Saskatchewan

Drought conditions may expand across the Canadian Prairies throughout the spring as a dry and mild weather pattern takes hold across the region.

There are already pockets of moderate to severe drought across the region, including in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor.

These areas of drought could expand throughout the spring.

Drought conditions across the Canadian Prairies. (Image/Canadian Drought Monitor)

“I do not see any indications that we are headed toward a wet spring in this region,” Anderson said.

“Based on our forecast, we anticipate worsening drought for southern Saskatchewan and expanding into southern Alberta as the spring progresses,” he added.

This could add even more stress to farmers across Saskatchewan that have been coping with drought conditions since 2017.

While rain may frequent the Prairies, melting snow could cause some minor flooding issues during some warmups earlier in the season.

“I predict an average spring flood risk along the Red River in southern Manitoba,” Anderson said.

Major temperature swing forecast across Western Canada mid-spring

Winter will maintain its grip on western Canada throughout March, but a dramatic flip in the weather pattern is set to take place during the middle of the season.

Cold will linger from British Columbia to Saskatchewan through early spring after a harsh February, Anderson said.

“The main storm track is expected to shift up into northwestern British Columbia and southeastern Alaska by midspring, leading to persistent cloudy, windy and wet weather,” he said.

This northern shift in the storm track will allow frigid Arctic air to be replaced with milder air from Vancouver through Calgary.

Ski resorts across the Canadian Rockies may face an early end to the ski season due to the mid-spring warmup and the northern shift in the track of storms.

There may also be implications that last throughout the year, including the wildfire season.

“This may set the stage for a very warm and dry summer,” Anderson said.

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