With a stormy start to the season and many parts of the country predicted to see heavy rain and snow, here's what's in store for each province this spring.
The Farmer's Almanac has released its Extended Spring Weather Forecast for 2024, which provides a look at what to expect across Canada during the season.
While spring officially starts in Canada on March 20, 2024, meteorologically, the season will begin on March 1, 2024. Either way, it looks like Canadians will still have a fair bit of winter weather to get through before spring.
Unfortunately, the arrival of spring won't necessarily mean the end to the chill -- according to the Almanac, the warm weather will take its time arriving in Canada in spring 2024, with the season's outlook predicting chilly, cool, or cold conditions across the country.
Here's what to expect each month in each province, including what's in store for Easter and Victoria Day.
B.C.
In B.C., things are expected to be chilly, cloudy and "showery" this spring.
March will see rounds of rain and snow, with multiple storms predicted for the month. The month will end with cloudy skies and a slow clearing arriving in time for Easter.
In April, things will turn chillier, with more rain, showers, and lingering clouds. A new swath of rain and snow will sweep east from the Pacific Coast around the end of the month.
May will start off with more showers and cool and wet conditions thanks to a slow-moving storm system. Things will turn warmer by mid-month before turning chilly for Victoria Day, which will see more showers.
Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba
An early March storm will bring potential blizzard-like conditions to many areas, with things predicted to be very snowy and cold for the Rockies. The month will see two other storms bringing snow and precipitation to the Prairie provinces, with very cold air over the Rockies and mixed clouds and sun for Easter.
April will turn colder, with chilly air permeating the first couple of weeks, followed by a seesaw of storms as well as very cold air and freezing conditions.
May will start off showery, with "much colder air" moving in by the second week. Around mid-month, the Prairies will be warm, humid, and stormy. This will be followed by an unseasonably chilly Victoria Day over the Rockies and showery, humid conditions across all three provinces to end the month.
Ontario
March in Ontario will start with sunny and cloudy conditions paired with a "balmy" breeze. However, things are set to turn colder by the second week, with rain switching to snow. The third week will start "frigid" but dry, before a late-winter storm moves to the Great Lakes, bringing heavy snow. Things will turn milder before another heavy snowstorm ends the month, coinciding with Easter.
April will start with some cold air, with thunderstorms and showers during the second week, around the time of the total solar eclipse. After this, things will become unseasonably warm, with more thunderstorms. The last couple of weeks could see late-season wet snowfall, a "slap" of cold air and more wet snowflakes to end the month.
May will start off stormy and cloudy. Mid-month, a "very active" storm system near the Great Lakes will bring widespread thunderstorm activity, with downpours, damaging winds, hail, and even a possible tornado. Things will warm up for Victora Day, with colder air to end the month.
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick & Quebec
March will be stormy for the East Coast, with heavy rain and snow for Quebec and lesser amounts for the Maritimes within the first week. The region will turn frigid as Arctic air spreads in from the west by mid-month. Multiple storms will round out the month, with a "heavy snowstorm bringing a very unsettled Easter."
April will start out cold before unseasonably warm temperatures move in around the middle of the month. Unfortunately for eclipse-watchers, clouds are likely to eclipse the event for Montreal and the Maritimes, with showers and thunderstorms "an increasing threat."
The tail end of the month with finish with an East Coast storm, a sharp change to colder weather and possible flakes of wet snow over Quebec.
May will be cool with multiple thunderstorms and rain showers. Things are expected to clear with milder temperatures moving in, with a very warm Victoria Day predicted in New Brunswick. The end of the month will see clearing skies and seasonal weather after early showers, especially in Quebec.
Newfoundland & Labrador
March will begin "very unsettled" in Newfoundland and Labrador, although a "nice warm-up" is predicted in the first week. Unfortunately, this will be followed by a major coastal system that will bring gale-force winds and heavy precipitation to the region. The province will see multiple rounds of snow and storminess, with "moderating temperatures" in time for Easter Sunday.The first few days of April will see heavy precipitation followed by showers and wet snow, which will continue around the time of the total solar eclipse. The showery weather will continue until a "deceptively mild spell of weather" takes place mid-month. Unfortunately, this will be followed by a late-season snowstorm and a "sharp plunge" in temperatures.
May in the province could start out with some wet snowflakes, with unsettled weather and wet conditions predicted for the following weeks. After this though, skies will clear and temperatures will become milder in time for Victoria Day. The month will end with showers and "much colder weather."
If you're wondering what to expect across Canada as we close out winter, a winter weather forecast from the Old Farmer's Almanac released in 2023 predicts how the tail end of the season will play out in each province.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
