Will Canada's April bring a summer preview or a winter rewind?
After March's turbulent ride, what will April bring across Canada? Don't expect too much warmth as the roller-coaster of weather that spring normally delivers will continue
Spring has been taking the scenic route across Canada, dropping bouts of wintry weather along the way as it backtracks and takes some detours.
While April brings a fresh month full of new possibilities, where is our weather heading this month?
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April will feel somewhat like an extension of March across Canada, but will still head in the right direction with warmer peaks and less painful dips.
A key feature of April will be the ongoing temperature divide across North America.
March saw record cold in Northern Canada while there was record heat in the U.S., putting Canada’s major cities in the rocky, middle ground.
In April, the cold isn't disappearing. In fact, most of Canada will continue to lean colder overall. However, warmer weather will make some welcome appearances.
The milder days will be noticeable when they do arrive, and could even tease us with brief hints of early summer before the month is over.
However, don't expect a consistently warm pattern. This roller-coaster will define April, especially in Eastern Canada.
Overall, we expect a continuation of our familiar March pattern: A back-and-forth of chilly air and brief warm-ups driving active weather.
In the first half of April, active weather will appear to be particularly busy. Storms developing in the central U.S. will frequently track into the Great Lakes, bringing rounds of precipitation and reinforcing the up-and-down temperature trend. This will include more heavy snow for parts of northern Ontario.
Farther west, the Prairies could see near- to above-normal precipitation, with a few systems bringing beneficial moisture. It will be a very welcome sight ahead of the wildfire and agriculture season.
Remember, it is very normal for April precipitation to fall as snow at times, especially on the Prairies.
In the final days of April or early May, there are signs for a quick transition to a much warmer pattern across Western Canada, though much uncertainty remains at this time.
Overall, April continues Canada’s bumpy weather--very much a classic Canadian spring.
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With files from Rachel Modestino and Dr. Doug Gillham, meteorologists at The Weather Network.