Expect a mix of weather as winter heads into hibernation.
Recent winter weather has many eagerly waiting for spring.
Snowfall over the span of a week in February, made the city more difficult to traverse, and left many questioning whether Toronto can properly manage significant weather incidents.
For context, the snow totals we saw last month were higher than what we’ve seen in recent years.
With daylight savings time now in effect – and warm weather already seen across the province, it’s safe to say that spring is on the way. David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, says we can expect the warm weather to continue.
“It looks like it’s going to be warmer than normal (March and after) … we could just call it frigid February, because I don’t see any warming going on … As March comes along, we get these longer days and more daylight and see some warm air coming from the United States and less artic air.”
Phillips emphasized that weather would always remain unpredictable and the best sign to indicate the arrival of spring would be through mother nature.
“How I know of spring is not through the calendar, it’s through nature.”
We can also expect a bit of stormy weather as Phillips notes “there is usually a battle between the cold air from winter and the warm air from summer … when they mix, there is a lot of dynamics that takes place and so you end up with these storms that can be really difficult.”
It is likely we will experience sudden changes in the weather conditions even within the same day. Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep oneself updated with the daily weather forecasts if you happen to have outdoor activities or travel plans.
As much as everyone wishes for the weather to improve and become warmer, Phillips warns about the risks associated with a sudden change in the weather conditions.
“What you don’t want is a rush to spring. You don’t want it (snow) to just all of a sudden melt, because you can’t handle that excess water and the ground is not ready to accept it and so therefore it runs off at the surface and you end up with basements filled and roadways washed and potholes.”
How Phillips would much rather prefer the weather to change is what he associates with the season for harvesting maple syrup.
“If you had your perfect kind of spring, it would just slowly ease from winter into spring. Get rid of the snow with no more snow to come. The ground begins to warm up, the frost gets off the ground and, you start seeing a few early flowers and that is the best kind of spring, an easy spring.”
