More warm, dry weather in the forecast for Alberta: Environment Canada

A golfer walks a cart path while playing a round at the Shaganappi Point golf course in Calgary, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh.The soaring temperatures across much of Alberta this week could be a preview of the kind of weather we can expect this spring, according to the latest weather synopsis from Environment and Climate Change Canada .

While late winter finally brought some much-needed snow to the province, Northern Alberta was extremely dry with only 30 per cent of average precipitation over a large area. The agency says the Fort McMurray area experienced its second driest winter in the 105 years that records have been kept, while the Grand Prairie area was the third driest on record .

Weather experts say the primary cause for the unusual winter weather was a strong El Nino, a weather phenomenon or climate pattern characterized by warm, above-average sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that typically brings warmer temperatures and drier conditions to much of western Canada.However, Environment Canada says forecasting the weather this spring is much more uncertain.

“At this point, spring is predicted to be warmer and drier than normal in western Canada, which would not be good considering the current drought, but should El Nino transition into ENSO neutral quickly, it could increase our prospects of spring moisture,” said Dunphy.“A La Nina could develop later in the year but climate scientist are not sure at this point how likely it might be. La Nina typically produces conditions that are opposite of an El Nino.

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