Spring, so far, has been quite cool and wet — and that's good news, said Environment Canada meteorologist Alysa Pederson.
"As much as people want it to be nice, beautiful and hot, this is a good news story... the rain and snow is helping us with the drought, and the rain also helps to (suppress) fire season," she explained on Thursday.
Nearly 9.5 mm of rain/snow fell in Red Deer Regional Airport on the first day of May on Wednesday. And more wet stuff is expected early next week.
Pederson said rain and highs of 10 C are forecast for the Red Deer-area Monday through Wednesday when another storm system is expected to sweep through Western Canada.
This could help make up for a drier than usual April. Pederson said only 11.3 mm of snow fell last month, compared to a monthly average of 24.8 mm. "That's below 50 per cent of normal." April is supposed to be Red Deer's snowiest month.
Temperature-wise, this spring season ( considered by Environment and Climate Change Canada to start in March and go to the end of May) is the fourth coolest on record, said Pederson.
As May progresses, the cooler and wetter La Nina system of weather-impacting ocean currents is replacing the warmer, drier El Nino system.
Pederson said she looked back at three previous years in which spring weather patterns were similar to this year's — 2016, 2010 and 1998 — and discovered they all had higher than normal precipitation.
This is promising news for May of 2024, when "every drop of moisture is needed" to help quell the severe drought in Southern Alberta and the high fire risk in Northern Alberta.
Pederson cautioned that a few rainy weeks will not turn around several years of drought conditions, but she believes they will certainly help.
Environment Canada's long-term spring and summer forecast is for normal to above-normal temperatures and precipitation in Western Canada.
Red Deerians can expect to see some sun and a high of 15 C on Saturday and cloud and 16 C on Sunday. "The weekend looks good, so get out and enjoy it while you can," said Pederson. She noted the forecast highs for early next week are in the 10 C to 12 C range.