End of cold weather warms our hearts

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/03/2012 (5267 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s over.

As Winnipeggers spent the weekend wondering whether to put away their tuques and start planting petunias, Environment Canada’s medium-term forecast and its seasonal predictions suggest our weird winter may be essentially done.

Environment Canada meteorologist John McIntyre says Winnipeg is on the winning end of a flow of warm air that originates in the southern United States and even Mexico. Because of the way the pressure system sets up on the continent, Alberta and British Columbia are seeing chilly temperatures while southern Manitoba is enjoying a week of warmth.

And, it should last for another week — not quite as hot as Sunday and today, but well above normal.

Though longer-term forecasts tend to be less reliable, McIntyre says the most troubling thing on the horizon is a weather system coming in from the northwest around March 27. It might bring some spring rain, but temperatures will remain in the single digits.

The long-term, seasonal spring forecast calls for above-average temperatures with average rainfall.

“This could very well be it for cold weather,” McIntyre said.

Most golf courses in the city are open and wintertime activities such as cross-country skiing and ice-fishing are distant memories.

Many Winnipeggers spent the weekend getting an unexpected jump on their gardening, but Chad Labbe, vice-president of Shelmerdine garden centre, said green-thumbs need to hold off for a few more weeks.

“Try to hold strong until the Victoria Day weekend,” he said. “We’re all a little bit cautiously un-optimistic.”

Winnipeg will almost certainly see some frosty nights, and most nurseries are still scrambling to get annuals and perennials on shelves so eager gardeners can at least start planning their flower beds.

Labbe said it’s not too early to plant trees and shrubs and do some pruning and transplanting, though.

Early this week, a Colorado low is slated to track over southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. Traditionally, Manitoba would be next in line, but McIntrye says the snowy weather will instead head into Manitoba’s north.

The normal high for this time of year is 0 C. On Sunday, Winnipeg reached 21 C, obliterating the record high for March 18 — a measly 8.8 C set in 2000.

If you think that’s warm, today’s high is a July-like 25 C.

The good news doesn’t end there. McIntyre says the long-term predictions for summer, June through August, are for above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation.

That may not bode well for some parts of Manitoba, where drought is of growing concern.

maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca