Expired News - May long weekend won't be feeling very summer-like across much of the country - The Weather Network
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The May long weekend is often referred to as the "unofficial kick-off to summer," but unfortunately for several parts of the country, it won't be feeling very summer-like at all.

May long weekend won't be feeling very summer-like across much of the country


Andrea Bagley
Digital Reporter

Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 9:31 AM - WHY AM I STILL WEARING MY WINTER CLOTHING?

Many of us, including The Weather Network's Emily Vukovic, were still wearing winter clothing well into the beginning of May, leaving several Canadians eager for a significant warm-up.


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"We're still seeing the upper air pattern that we had through much of the winter," says Weather Network meteorologist Doug Gillham. "Very warm water south of Alaska for much of the winter that really helped to build a ridge in the upper atmosphere and as a result, we've had northwesterly flow over central and eastern Canada that started late in the fall."

LONG WEEKEND OUTLOOK

The May long weekend is often referred to as the "unofficial kick-off to summer," but unfortunately for several parts of the country, it won't be feeling very summer-like at all.

"There's an absence of summer-like temperatures, for our unofficial start of summer," Gillham adds. "Although we do have some pretty nice weather into southern Quebec and into the Maritimes...Even parts of Newfoundland up around 20 degrees."

Most places across the country however, will remain below seasonal and will have a tough time reaching, or even coming close to, the 20 degree mark.

"The northwesterly flow of air will bring rather chilly temperatures to the Prairies and Ontario," Gillham says.

That means you likely won't be swimming this weekend.


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"You definitely shouldn't be," says Gillham.

While the ice coverage on the Great Lakes this past winter came up short of the record, the very slow melting of ice through the spring resulted in unprecedented ice coverage and ultimately extremely cold water temperatures.

"Temperatures in the Great Lakes are running about 5°C colder than average and that holds true for a lot of the inland lakes as well," Gillham warns.

ANY HOPE FOR SUMMER?

"Much of the country for the week AFTER the long weekend, we're forecasting temperatures to be above seasonal," adds Gillham. "This isn't a permanent pattern change, but after the weekend we do expect some milder temperatures for much of the country."

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