| By :
Molly Wider
As Canadians come out of the slumber of winter and enter into the Spring and Summer months, Environment Canada has released its forecast and expectations for the upcoming season. The prediction is a dry, warm summer with pleanty of rays for most of Canada. This is good news for those of you who've booked some time off to spend vacationing at home. However, climatologists with Environment Canada are reminding vacationers that with the dry, warm weather also comes the increased potential for forest fires, stretching straight across the country from British Columbia to the Maritimes. "This summer in June, July and August, it looks like it will be warmer than normal," said David Phillips, a climatologist with Environment Canada. This past April proved to be the warmest on record while most of Canada experienced a very inconsistent month of May. There was an increase in warm temperatures throughout central Canada with a snowfall and cold temperatures in Calgary, right up to, and including, the Mother's Day weekend. If you're planning a local vacation or road-trip this year for your summer holidays, don't let the wacky spring weather play a factor. "Our models are showing a consistent pattern for most of British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes...a warmer than normal summer," Phillips said. "That means all this warmth could be in June or the middle of August, something that could overcome what comes in between." As many Canadians take a peek at the traditional Harrowsmith's Canadian Almanac to see what the farmers have predicted, they too are calling for a hot summer season, especially around Ontario with hotter than normal figures in the southern parts as well as the eastern part of Quebec and all of the Maritimes. The rest of Canada should experience their normal summertime temperatures. "We are forecasting temperatures to be near or slightly above normal," said Martin Belanger, manager of briefing services with the network. "The outlook for this summer is for warmer and drier conditions for most of the country as compared to the past two summers. It will be wetter out west and drier than normal in Ontario, Quebec and maybe Atlantic Canada," he said. "The one thing that is a given is there's going to be a lot of hot spots." Environment Canada also wants to remind people that Canada is a wild-weather country, experiencing around 3 million lightening strikes a year and also averaging the second highest amount of torndaoes with around 80 and 100 per season. Combine that with strong winds, thunderstorms and hail storms, it's important to prepare for the weather as well as take caution when traveling. It's also important to take extra care when camping, ensuring all fires are put out.
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