Greenhouse Canada

News
Few weather woes over May long weekend

May 21, 2010  By The Canadian Press


May 21, 2010 – Here’s a (generally)
good news holiday weekend forecast for plant retailers from Canada’s official meteorological
prognosticators.



May 21, 2010 – Here’s a (generally)
good news holiday weekend forecast for plant retailers from Canada’s official meteorological
prognosticators.

Advertisement

Green thumbs, rejoice. Snowbirds,
head home. From St. John’s to Vancouver, Mother Nature has a treat in store for
you this long-weekend.

Balmy temperatures and sunny skies
are expected to dominate the weather charts across Canada for the next three
days and provide a welcome escape for Canadians longing for a break from the
work-a-day grind, Environment Canada said.

Senior climatologist David Phillips
said the temperatures, which are expected to be at or above seasonal highs from
coast to coast, form a nearly ideal backdrop for typical long-weekend
activities. “This is the weekend we go from hibernation to migration,’’
Phillips said in an interview. “We break out of that winter mode of staying
indoors or around the property. We head out to the cottage or the garden
centres. It’s the get-action type of weekend.’’

Phillips said staff at the national
agency often feel pressure to ‘‘manufacture’’ spring-like conditions for what
he deems to be the ‘‘most important’’ weather weekend of the year. This year’s
forecasts have eased their burden. Canadians in Quebec and New Brunswick may
even feel Mother Nature has skipped a month, Phillips said, adding the
consistent sunshine and temperatures in the high 20s will feel more like July
than may.

“People in Quebec may be complaining
about the heat and the humidity rather than cool weather, but I think at this
time of the year they’ll take it,’’ he said.

Holiday-makers in the Maritimes and
Western Provinces will be able to bask in sun throughout the weekend,
Environment Canada said, adding temperatures in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
will be at least six degrees above the norm while residents of British Columbia
and Alberta can expect more seasonal conditions.

The sun is also expected to shine on
the territories throughout the weekend, where temperatures are forecasted to be
at least five degrees higher than normal for this time of year.

Rain may cloud the weekend outlook
for parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, but the forecast calls for warm
temperatures and stretches of sunshine.

Residents of Manitoba and
Saskatchewan may not have the same respite, Phillips said. Rain is expected to
fall across the eastern prairies for much of the weekend, he said, adding the
current wet weather may prove to be an advantage for aspiring gardeners.

“I always say that from a growing
point of view, you never turn down rain,’’ Phillips said. “Hey, the rain you
get may be your saviour later on when you get try kind of weather.’’

Ontario is poised to enjoy its first
seasonal long weekend in two years, Phillips said. Ontarians may have spent
last year’s May long weekend braving sub-zero conditions, but Phillips said
they can confidently sport summer attire this time around. Temperatures are expected
to hover in the low 20s with sun likely to shine for most of the weekend, he
said, adding the weather is likely to get better in northern parts of the
province.

The forecast came as welcome news to
Sharlah Morrison, a Toronto-based engineer who’s been suffering from “cabin
fever’’ since November. “I don’t usually make plans for the May-two-four
weekend because the weather’s so iffy,’’ she said. “This weekend I’m going to
take advantage of this as much as I can.’’

Plans include a patio rendezvous
with friends, a picnic in a local park and runs through a nearby nature trail. “It’s
a gem in a city of concrete,’’ she said, adding the balmy weather will allow
her to take advantage of the more rural setting without the trouble of
travelling to a distant cottage.

Whether plans involve urban exploration or nature-based excursions,
Phillips said Canadians can enjoy themselves in a nearly perfect holiday
climate this year. “It looks pretty good. I wouldn’t say it’s the perfect 10,
but it can never be the perfect 10 across the country,’’ he said.


Print this page

Advertisement

Stories continue below


Related