False start to the summer? Cool May clings on, but change is coming
After a summer tease, Canada's spring turned cold, but the final week of May could finally switch the trend.
May arrived like a summer teaser for much of Canada—and then abruptly ended.
After a scorching stretch in mid-May that saw Regina and Winnipeg reach 32°C and 37°C, respectively (with three consecutive 30°C+ days) and Fort Frances in northwestern Ontario sweat through four, it appeared that summer had finally arrived.
But Mother Nature had different plans.
A stubborn cutoff low south of the Great Lakes brought in an unwelcome guest: unusually cool air.
A blocking pattern over the North Atlantic Ocean caused much of Canada to experience a cold spell that lasted for most of May.
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In fact, temperatures throughout nearly all of Canada have been below seasonal norms for the first three weeks—apart from the southern Prairies, where earlier heat tipped the scales.
So, if you felt like summer abandoned you, you're not alone.
But don’t pack up the patio just yet
The last week of May has shown signs of a shift. A developing area of high pressure over Hudson Bay is expected to gradually travel southward, serving as a weather bouncer, driving the remaining chilly air out of Eastern Canada.
The key concern is whether it can accomplish the job efficiently enough; yet, there is hope.
On the western side of this ridge, a continuous southerly flow will begin to funnel heat back into Western Canada. If all goes as planned, things should feel more like late-May rather than mid-April.
By the time we turn the calendar to June, the tables are likely to turn again.
What about that strange chill? It is expected to settle in the Eastern and Central U.S., leaving much of Canada to experience above-average temperatures.
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Still, one question remains:
Will the ridging north of the Great Lakes be strong enough to keep the cold from returning during a probable midweek low?
It's the kind of meteorological tug-of-war that keeps forecasters busy, while the rest of us bounce between sunscreen and jackets.
Stay with The Weather Network for more information and updates on your forecast across Canada.
Thumbnail image made by Anika Beaudry with Canva Pro.