Forecasters predict higher than normal Ontario thunderstorm threat

Weather forecasters are predicting higher than normal amounts of precipitation in parts of southern Ontario this spring, though the temperature in March will not reach last year’s records highs.

In a blog post Tuesday, AccuWeather predicted temperatures this spring will be near or above average across most of eastern, northern and Atlantic Canada.

“Expect a more active storm track across the eastern Prairies and into northern Ontario, which will result in a wetter Spring and additional late-season snowfall across this region and extending up into central Quebec,” according AccuWeather.

“This primary storm track will also lead to a higher number of warm spells getting up into southern and central Ontario, which includes the Windsor to Toronto corridor.”

AccuWeather’s outlook comes a week after The Weather Network issued an outlook for March, April and May, predicting above normal precipitation for extreme southwest Ontario, the southern parts of northwestern Ontario and the area east of the Manitoba border.

“The overall threat for strong to severe thunderstorms will be higher than normal across southern Ontario during May and into June,” AccuWeather stated on its blog, adding it predicts near or cooler-than-normal conditions this spring for much of central and western Canada.

“This temperature pattern across the country (cooler West/warmer East/North) will have some similarities to last year’s Spring, but it will not be quite as warm overall,” AccuWeather said. “The Spring of 2012 was the 9th warmest on record for Canada.”

The Weather Network makes a similar prediction.

“While temperatures are predict to be above normal across parts of the country, Canadians east of the Rocky Mountains should not expect the record-setting warmth experienced last spring.”

According to the Ontario Weather Review for March 2012 posted on the Environment Canada website, a high-pressure area across eastern North America caused a warm spell last year starting March 14. Windsor recorded 10 consecutive days with temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius or more, while the highest temperature ever recorded in Ontario, 28.8 Celsius, was reported in Petawawa March 21, 2012.

For 2013, The Weather Network last week predicted above normal precipitation for south-central and the south-east portions of Manitoba, while AccuWeather predicted an average risk of widespread river flooding in southern Manitoba.

“A higher than normal amount of Atlantic storms will threaten eastern Newfoundland, including St. John’s, while narrowly missing the Maritimes,” AccuWeather stated.