Canadian Weather Centre – Blog Outreach @ Wordpress – By Amateur Meteorologist Nicholas Tam

National – This blog entry is probably already covered in the news. Wacky weather we’re having here across Canada, eh? Canadians have probably heard that it is snowy and frigid cold in the west, while blazing dry and hot in the east. Well, more wacky weather seems to be on the way, a switch of pattern in place! This is in store for next week. I’ll explain more later in this entry.

Currently, a warm air mass that moved from the foothills of Alberta and into Eastern Canada stays stagnant in Eastern Canada. Meanwhile, chilly cold arctic air sweeps across the Western Prairies in order to replace the already moved warm air mass.

As of now, the warm air mass continues to advance north and east. The air mass is driven by the cold air from the west. There is currently several boundaries between this heat and the bonechill temperature. Much of Southern Ontario has already experienced the first one. As of 6 PM EDT, the front is pushing towards the Ottawa / St. Lawrence River Valley, scattering a thundershower or two. The front has not much use of all, frankly. The front is only responsible to change the wind direction, while only dropping Toronto’s high tomorrow by only 3 C. There will be a stronger front during the weekend. This front will provide possibly heavy thundershowers (not necessarily severe thundershowers). Ahead of this front, warm air (like the Eastern Canadians are experiencing now) will continue to push up north and east. Behind this front is the bone chill cold temperatures from the prairies. This front will be a major weather maker for the weekend, and I will not be surprised if hail is reported. Behind this front, temperature will drop significantly. It is forecasted that for next Tuesday in Toronto, that cold rain will fall with a high of only 2 C. Forecasts also suggest possible wet snow in the suburban areas of Toronto and Muskoka regions. Winter again, Ontarians?

It looks like if this warm pocket of air continues to push north and east, it looks like that areas as north as southern Baffin Island, Iqaluit, Apex, can achieve temperature as high as 5 C. The current forecast models suggest the leading edge of the warm air will reach as far north as Qikiqtarjuaq, and later move into parts of Southern Greenland. This can be some major thawing for some Arctic residents.

Alright, now let me explain the switch in patterns. We already understands the cooling trend for Eastern Canada next week. I’ll explain the warming trend for the West. This next warming trend is not going to be very impressive, but enough to bump the temperature in the Prairies up to the high single digits to mid teens. Currently, we are seeing a warm gulf of air near the shores of British Columbia, as well as south of the border near Washington State. These gulfs of air will eventually make way to the Prairies and the temperature will hence be bumped up. For example, temperature of Calgary will reach to 13 C by next Tuesday. Massive snowmelt is entirely possible, so beware of overflowing streams and flooded roadways.

See the pattern switch? While the east is bathing in heat for this Thursday (April 24), the west suffers from the bone chill temperatures. Next week, however, switch in patterns. The east will be suffering from cold rain and wet snow, while the west sees partly cloudy skies and temperature in the mid-teens. Well, I can only conclude with three words, EVERYTHING IS FAIR!

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