The Oldman River reservoir on southern Alberta on January 15, 2024. (Photo: Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area)

By David Opinko

Warm spring expected in Alberta: The Weather Network

Feb 28, 2024 | 9:21 AM

The Weather Network has released its forecast for spring 2024.

They say most of the country could experience above-normal temperatures in the months ahead. However, the weather forecaster is anticipating “even more dramatic temperature swings and bursts of winter-like conditions disrupting the path to consistent warmth.”

According to The Weather Network, that is because the current El Niño weather pattern is coming to an end and Canada will transition to a La Niña instead.

“This forecast presents both good and bad news. The good news is that the mild winter and lack of snow will decrease worries about spring flooding. On the other hand, areas with a drier-than-normal winter may face an early start to the wildfire season,” said The Weather Network.

In Alberta, the agency predicted warmer-than-normal temperatures to dominate the season, but with some periods of colder temperatures and a risk of a few “high-impact, late-winter-like events.”

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Southern Alberta and parts of central Alberta are expected to have “near normal” levels of precipitation, while the northern half of the province will likely have precipitation that is “below normal.”

The Weather Network said there will be a reduced risk of spring flooding due to below-normal snowpacks across the province, including the Rockies.

“Drought continues to be a major concern for much of the province, and wildfires will be an increasing concern late in the season,” they said.

The full report on the spring 2024 weather forecast can be found on The Weather Network’s website.

READ MORE: Alberta declares early start to 2024 wildfire season, invests in 100 new firefighters for quick response

READ MORE: Alberta government looking to mitigate drought risks